RELATED CONTENT

Sonics Playoff Homepage Allen's All-NBA Nod Reflects on Teammates Slow Starts Doom Sonics Sonics News Archive

Rashard Lewis

Lewis did not practice Wednesday, leaving early before talking to reporters to undergo an MRI on the toe.

Sonics Coach Nate McMillan told reporters Lewis was making progress.

"There's some improvement," said McMillan. "He's walking. He still hasn't done any running, but we'll see again tomorrow. We'll have him in shootaround and see if he can get up and down the floor. He'll go out again before the game and see what he can do, but he hasn't done any running since the injury occurred."

"He'll go out again before the game and see what he can do, but he hasn't done any running since the injury occurred." Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

After the Sonics won Game 4 handily with Lewis on the sidelines, there was speculation the Sonics didn’t need him back in the lineup. While Lewis may still not help the Sonics if he's limited in his movement, in which case he likely won't suit up, the team certainly needs him.

"That's an All-Star; of course we miss him," said McMillan. "When we played well in Game 4 without him, I think a lot of people were writing him off and thinking we could win this thing without him. That's foolish thinking. You may get away with it for a game or so, but he's been a big part of what we've done all season long."

Weighing into Lewis' decision tomorrow will be the knowledge that a Game 6 would end the Sonics season.

"If he doesn't play tomorrow and we don't win, the season's over with," said Ray Allen. "There's nothing left. Rashard's got to take care of his body; he's got to decide whether he's going to try and give it and if he can't, he'll sit down. But there's nothing left after this; there's no more basketball."

Neither his Sonics teammates nor the coaching staff will put pressure on Lewis to play. Ultimately, it is the player's decision, and it will depend on how Lewis feels tomorrow. It is an unenviable position.

Heightened Home-Court Advantage

Through the first five games of this series, the team with home court is 5-0, outscoring the away team by an average of 12.2 points per game. The last time a seven-game Sonics series went to form like that was 12 years ago in the Western Conference Semifinals against Houston (the home team also won Games 6 and 7 of that series, as the Sonics advanced).

"Honestly, I never thought it (home-court advantage) was a factor," said Allen. "Then we come into this season and we play so well on the road. Then we come back home down 2-0 and the building, it does something to the opposing team, it does something to the home team. It affects referees and what they do. I think it's something that you can't see; fans have a big role in determining that team's championship that particular year."

McMillan has observed teams playing differently at home during this series.

"What I've seen is that the team at home has been the aggressive team," said McMillan. That's particularly manifested itself in the first and third quarters of games, when the home team has often opened up an advantage.

Center Danny Fortson credits the crowd at the SBC Center for the Spurs 38-3 record at home during the regular season (one of the three defeats was to the Sonics in December).

"It's loud down there in San Antonio," said Fortson. "You can barely hear Luke (Ridnour) call a play or Coach say something. I think that's the main thing - it's the fans getting into the game and making noise. For the opposing team, it's difficult to get into a play."