Notebook | Ray who? Green fails Sonics history exam

Jeff Green doesn't make his Sonics elders flinch often, but when he asked "Ray who?" to a reporter's question before the team's game against Boston, Kurt Thomas and Chris Wilcox nearly jumped out of their chairs.

"Please don't tell him [Ray] that until after the game," Wilcox said.

"Ray who?" would be All-Star Ray Allen, the shooting guard to whom Green will forever be linked. Sonics general manager Sam Presti traded Allen to Boston for Green, the fifth overall pick, and Celtics veterans Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West.

Thursday night's game was the first between the teams this season, each headed different directions.

While Allen and the Celtics helped produce the Sonics' second KeyArena sellout of the season, Allen is eying an NBA championship. The team that dispatched him is in the midst of rebuilding and possibly relocating.

"I was disappointed in the trade," said Allen, who played for the Sonics from February 2003 through last season. "I feel very much a part of this team because I know what the guys stand for, and they are very much like my little brothers. I stay in their ear as much as I can even when I'm not around them."

Green said he doesn't wonder what his rookie season would have been like in Boston. But he was excited about the game because of forward Kevin Garnett, after whom Green has tried to pattern his game.

Presti praised Green's ability to adapt to the professional game, particularly in playing both forward positions. Yet some wonder if Green, who's 6-foot-9, will ever become the elite player Allen is.

Green is averaging 8.6 points and 5.4 rebounds as a reserve.

Allen, an 11-year veteran, received two standing ovations from the KeyArena crowd -- one during player introductions and one to recognize his work in the Seattle community through his Ray of Hope Foundation.

"It's very overwhelming," Allen said. "I don't like people to make too much of a fuss over me at any time. I don't even like birthday parties."

Ridnour out

Luke Ridnour's left quadriceps flared up while playing 17 minutes against Portland on Tuesday, and Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said he's going to keep the point guard out for possibly two games. Carlesimo said Ridnour could barely move, and the coach wants him to heal.

Full house

The Sonics had their second sellout of the season on Thursday -- an announced crowd of 17,072. The first sellout was the season opener in November against Phoenix. A team spokesman said the Sonics were expecting a sold-out crowd for the Portland matchup in February, but with top draft pick Greg Oden (knee) out for the season, it has been a tough sell.

The Sonics are trying to draw fans in a rebuilding season while ownership makes moves toward relocating the team to Oklahoma City.

BOSTON
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Pierce	43:23	11-27	10-11	2-6	4	1	37
Garnett	33:43	8-22	7-11	6-14	2	0	23
Perkins	23:34	3-4	2-5	3-8	1	1	8
Rondo	30:32	0-3	1-2	1-4	5	3	1
RAllen	38:03	4-13	0-0	0-1	3	0	10
Pollard	13:33	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	4	0
TAllen	14:34	0-3	2-2	0-2	3	2	2
Posey	24:09	3-6	2-2	1-3	2	2	10
House	17:46	5-8	3-3	1-4	1	2	13
Scalabrine	0:44	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0
Totals		34-86	27-36	14-42	21	15	104

Percentages: FG .395, FT .750. Three-point goals: 9-19, .474 (Pierce 5-7, R.Allen 2-4, Posey 2-5, House 0-3). Team rebounds: 10. Team turnovers: 5 (6 PTS). Blocked shots: 3 (Garnett 2, Perkins). Turnovers: 4 (Garnett, Perkins, Pierce, Pollard). Steals: 4 (Garnett 2, House, Pierce). Technical fouls: Defensive three second, 2:48 fourth.

SEATTLE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Wilkins	18:54	1-5	0-0	0-2	1	1	2
Wilcox	27:16	6-10	1-2	1-8	1	3	13
Thomas	29:37	2-4	3-3	5-14	1	6	7
Watson	27:39	3-9	0-0	0-1	5	2	6
Durant	37:01	10-23	4-4	1-5	2	4	25
Collison	18:58	2-6	0-0	4-6	1	2	4
Szczerbiak	24:14	5-11	2-2	0-3	0	2	14
Green	14:41	1-2	2-4	0-3	0	1	4
West	25:13	6-8	6-8	0-4	8	1	19
Gelabale	10:59	0-1	0-0	0-2	0	1	0
Petro	5:29	1-2	0-0	0-2	0	0	2
Totals		37-81	18-23	11-50	19	23	96

Percentages: FG .457, FT .783. Three-point goals: 4-13, .308 (Szczerbiak 2-4, West 1-1, Durant 1-4, Collison 0-1, Wilkins 0-1, Watson 0-2). Team rebounds: 8. Team turnovers: 12 (8 PTS). Blocked shots: 10 (Thomas 4, Green 2, Collison, Durant, Wilcox, Wilkins). Turnovers: 11 (Durant 3, Green 3, Szczerbiak 2, Collison, West, Wilcox). Steals: 3 (Durant, Green, Watson). Technical fouls: None.

Boston	24	23	23	34 -- 104
Seattle	19	27	21	29 -- 96

Attendance: 17,072 (17,072). Time: 2:29. Officials: Jim Clark, Tommy Nunez, David Jones.