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The Sonics have taken the NBA by storm in the fresh new season.

Last season, Seattle “Flipped” out to a 7-4 start without Ray Allen. This season there’s no Flip Murray yet, and Ray has led them to 6-1 out the gate. The question is, can these magnificent early season Sonics carry themselves to January without losing the boom?

Last week Allen dropped 34 on the Griz, 30 on the Nuggets and 29 on the Raptors. He’s averaging 26.0 ppg and shooting 52% from the field. The Sonics are at the top of the Northwest division.

At the start of last season, Flip Murray similarly averaged 23.9 ppg and shot 50% from the floor. Doing his best Allen impression he hit a game-winner on Minnesota for a 29-point haul and scored 20 or more in the Sonics’ first six games. The team was atop the division. But, soon after that, Seattle turned chronically awful, and Nate McMillan seemed a certainty for a Dr. Phil special on young professionals who burn out before middle age.

This season, the Sonics have some of the best legs in the NBA (not including the Sonics Dance Team) but they don’t have stamina. This band of young guns are frighteningly accurate shooters, currently averaging 47% from the field and 41% from three point territory. When the Sonics are hitting, there aren’t many teams that can match their tall and springy scorers such as Vladimir Radmanovic and Rashard Lewis, both at 6’10, Allen at 6’5 and Murray at 6’4.

McMillan’s defensive sale to his players seems to finally be reaping dividends. The space in that notorious doughnut defense has slowly begun to close. Rebounds are falling into the hands of Sonics players. Danny Fortson is averaging 7.8 rpg. Reggie Evans, once as soft as a Starbucks bagel with cream cheese, has become an absolute monster inside with 9.3 boards a contest. Jerome James and Nick Collison are also providing useful size and strength.

What bodes well for the Sonics in 2004-05 is that when the team’s legs do drop out from under them like Mike Tyson in the fourth round, they now have more depth than last year. Evidence of this came against Toronto last week when even after Ray Allen fouled out with five minutes left in the game, Seattle was able to dig in and pull off a narrow win. Antonio Daniels and Lewis assumed scoring responsibilities, and Evans shined brightest of all with 16 rebounds and plenty of contributions that didn't show up on the stat-sheet.

Another nice surprise so far has been the play of point guard Luke Ridnour. He's still shooting badly, but his passing, ball control and various other aspects of his game are on the rise.

Whether it’s Ray or Flip (once he plays) lighting it up for the green and gold this season, it will be on the Supes’ big guys to push this team beyond the fringes of the final eight. And Seattle beyond the fringes of a Frappucino town.