Live From The Press Box - Sonics vs. San Antonio (Game 4)
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Series Even
Posted at 6:40 p.m.
The change in mood between tonight and Tuesday night after the Sonics dropped Game 2 is hard to fathom. Just as much, how about the change in mood from this afternoon before the game when Nate McMillan announced that Rashard Lewis would not play? After the game, Reggie Evans paraded around Lewis’ jersey a little bit to show that the Sonics were winning this one for Lewis. Too many heroes to name tonight, with Damien Wilkins stepping up with 15 points, Antonio Daniels very solid with 19, Luke Ridnour with 20 and Ray Allen a superstar with 32 points.
Now it’s on to San Antonio as this becomes a best-of-three series with the Spurs hosting two of the three games. Be sure to tune in Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on TNT for Game 5. The Sonics will be back here for Game 6 Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and tickets will go on sale to the general public tomorrow morning, so stay tuned. I’m off to San Antonio myself - I’ll catch you on the other side.
Conceding?
Posted at 6:25 p.m.
Tim Duncan is on the bench now with 5:27 to play and the Sonics leading 95-77. Does this mean San Antonio is conceding? Brent Barry is the only starter left in there. I’m stunned Gregg Popovich would bench his starters with so much time left on the clock, even if the lead is nearly insurmountable. Glenn Robinson misses a dunk, a fitting description of the Spurs evening.
The Pop Theory
Posted at 6:20 p.m.
As mentioned previously, Gregg Popovich said he was scared of the Sonics playing without Rashard Lewis tonight. It’s his job as a coach to be scared about everything that could go wrong, and personally I’ve never bought the better without a player theory (well, perhaps in some cases, but certainly not an All-Star like Lewis). Remember Game 4 of the Sonics 2002 series with San Antonio, when Tim Duncan was out because of his father’s death, and people were scared about the Spurs? The Sonics led by 26 at the halftime of that one. I’ve never seen a team step up without a star the way the Sonics have tonight.
Electric
Posted at 6:10 p.m.
I’m not sure I can describe the energy in KeyArena right now to anyone who is not actually in the building. Let’s just say that it is very, very special and not something you feel too often. The only place in this arena that isn’t amped up is the Spurs bench. (Maybe the press box as well, yours truly excluded. And David Locke - he’s always amped up.) The calls are going the Sonics way, as are the loose balls. It’s 84-67 Sonics with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Spurs will have to get going in a hurry if they’re going to come out of here without a tie in the series.
Stretch of the Season
Posted at 6:05 p.m.
I am prone to hyperbole, but that was the best stretch of the season right there for the Sonics and maybe the most important as well. Over the final 2:26 of the third quarter, the Sonics not only played San Antonio even, they outscored the Spurs 12-4, scoring on all six of their possessions. Luke Ridnour was the catalyst, scoring on the last three possessions with a jumper, a 3-pointer from the baseline and a runner near the buzzer. Luke now has 19 points, a career postseason high and only two points away from his high in any game.
Ridnour’s play overshadows great contributions form the Sonics other youngsters, Nick Collison getting on the boards and Damien Wilkins still providing spark and some timely scoring (his 11 points are also a playoff career high).
The Sonics go to the fourth quarter leading by 16 points and Ray Allen has been resting up on the bench. Think he might be ready to unleash some more points when this period gets underway?
The Key is Rocking
Posted at 5:55 p.m.
I think KeyArena is louder right now than it was at any point during Game 3. Ray Allen brings the fans to their feet with a left-handed throwdown in the face of Spurs 7-footer Rasho Nesterovic. Allen has 28 points now, his high for the series, and the Sonics have opened up an 11-point lead. Gregg Popovich keeps Tim Duncan on the bench, but brings in Bruce Bowen to defend Allen and Devin Brown, looking for an offensive spark. Rookie Beno Udrih hits a 3-pointer and now Tim Duncan is back in the game with 2:26 to play. Ray Allen out for the Sonics - this is a crucial stretch for them to play even with the Spurs.
Momentum: Sonics
Posted at 5:47 p.m.
The Sonics have reclaimed the momentum with a 9-3 run to take a six-point lead and force a Gregg Popovich timeout. The KeyArena crowd is standing and cheering during the timeout, most fans waving the pompoms they got when they arrived for today’s game.
The Sonics have gotten a couple of baskets from Ray Allen, who now has 21 points. Luke Ridnour also has six points in this quarter to give him a series-high 10 for the game. Luke is playing with a lot of confidence right now and has also added four assists.
This is rapidly shaping up as a classic along the same lines of Game 3. We’ve got a matchup of stars with Ray Allen and Tim Duncan. Duncan will get his usual rest for a couple of minutes right now and Manu Ginobili is also on the bench, putting a lot of offensive pressure on Tony Parker. The Sonics need to take advantage of this lineup.
Nick Collison draws his second charge of the game. Is this guy great or what?
Duncan Time
Posted at 5:37 p.m.
Tim Duncan has eight of his team’s 12 points in the first 3:42 of this second half as the Spurs have tied the game at 52. After a disappointing Game 3 (because of missed free throws), Duncan is having an MVP game tonight, already up to 28 points. Duncan has forced Nate McMillan to take a timeout to reevaluate the Sonics defensive strategy. Jerome James is also out of the game because of fouls.
For the second time in this series, Gregg Popovich has Manu Ginobili in the game to start the second half, with Brent Barry on the bench.
This series is getting a little tense, as shown on the last Sonics inbounds play. Ray Allen and Bruce Bowen were both called for technical fouls as they jostled for position and then Allen was called for an offensive foul the next time the Sonics tried to bring it in. This is obviously the referees’ effort to stop anything between these players before it starts, but if either player gets a technical the rest of the way, that cheap one is going to cost their team more than it ought to.
Captains Allen and Duncan seek explanations from the Mike Callahan during the timeout.
Halftime Stats
Posted at 5:28 p.m.
A few important things from the box score at the half … .
The Sonics had four 3-pointers, which may not seem like a lot, but it ties their high in this series. And that was in 15 attempts, as opposed to seven in the first half.
Tim Duncan 7-for-8 from the free-throw line; Spurs 13-for-15 on free throws as a team. Can we count on those percentages to continue in the second half?
The Sonics forced an incredible 15 San Antonio turnovers (including eight steals), but turned them into only 10 points, a very poor rate.
Sonics Lead at Halftime
Posted at 5:12 p.m.
I’ll turn to Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich to explain this half.
“It’s the worst possible scenario for all the obvious reasons,” Popovich said when told by reporters that Rashard Lewis would be sitting out for the Sonics. “You worry about your own group letting up a bit subconsciously. The other guys get more aggressive.”
It’s tough to say how much of the first half is that, but the Sonics lead 46-40 at halftime. Tim Duncan has 20 points, but the rest of the Spurs have really been shut down offensively. On the Sonics side, Ray Allen has 17 points but he’s gotten more help, as Antonio Daniels has added 11 and Damien Wilkins, taking full advantage of the extra playing time, has nine points and three steals.
If there’s a worry at halftime, it’s rebounding - 24-14 for the Spurs at the half despite the fact that they’ve shot worse. The three-guard lineup has been a bit vulnerable on the boards.
I’m not as big about finishing quarters as some people (read: Doug Collins), but I loved what the Sonics did before halftime. The Spurs got it down to one, but then the Sonics closed the half strong with Antonio Daniels scoring the half’s last points. Tim Parker’s buzzer-beater rimmed out.
Dueling Blogs
Posted at 5:05 p.m.
A reminder that you can get another blog perspective (from courtside) from KJR 950 AM’s David Locke. Check it out at lockedonsports.blogspot.com. In San Antonio, we had three blogs - David’s, mine and the Spurs.com “Fanalysts” blog.
Sonics Clamping Down
Posted at 5:02 p.m.
You can’t find two quarters more different than the first and second quarters of tonight’s game. After an offensive explosion in the first half, the two teams have been all about defense in quarter number two. San Antonio has scored just six points during the first eight minutes of the period, while the Sonics have opened up their lead by scoring 11. Credit for that has to go to Damien Wilkins, who was very active and received a loud (and well-deserved) ovation when he checked out of the game. An Antonio Daniels steal and dunk gives the Sonics a 39-32 lead with 4:04 to play and forces Gregg Popovich to call a timeout.
Legendary
Posted at 4:55 p.m.
The NBA’s Destination Finals Legends tour hit Seattle this weekend, and four legends were introduced on the court at the last timeout: former Sonics player and coach Lenny Wilkens, a regular at KeyArena during the postseason; former Sonics player Detlef Schrempf; Hall of Famer Rick Barry (who’s seeing his son, Brent, play for the Spurs) and former Sonics coach and Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who rightfully drew the most recognition.
It was obvious standing on the floor near Russell before the game the respect current players have for him. Spurs forward Linton Johnson (who is not on the playoff roster) came over and humbly introduced himself, while Russell said hello to several players he already knows, including Robert Horry.
Sweet
Posted at 4:51 p.m.
Luke Ridnour with a left-hand lookaway bounce pass in the lane to a cutting Damien Wilkins, who scores the layup to give him six points on the evening. If this keeps up, we’re going to have to call Ridnour ambidextrous. (Or, as one NBA player infamously said many years ago, “amphibious.”)
The Sonics have opened up a 37-31 lead after Ray Allen’s 3-pointer gives him 17 points on the evening.
Channeling Nash
Posted at 4:41 p.m.
The comparisons between Luke Ridnour and Steve Nash are tired, even if Sonics fans surely don’t mind hearing them. But Ridnour just did make the exact same move the MVP made on Friday, going to his left hand for a shot in the lane. Okay, Nash’s was a hook and it went in, while Ridnour’s runner missed, but how many shots do you see with the off hand?
Gregg Popovich opens this quarter by cornering Mike Callahan on the baseline and speaking his peace on some subject.
Damien Wilkins’ injury has sparked the Sonics in this quarter. Wilkins had a putback off glass and then nearly stole a pass he tipped on ensuing Spurs possession.
Sonics by Two
Posted at 4:37 p.m.
A Tim Duncan 3-pointer just before the first-quarter buzzer - Duncan only hit three 3-pointers during the regular season, but he’s got the range - pulls San Antonio within two after one quarter, 28-26. This is a score you’d expect out of the game that follows us (Dallas-Phoenix) more than this series. Ray
Allen and Antonio Daniels really powered the Sonics attack, combining for 19 points.
During the quarter break, a message from UW Coach Lorenzo Romar wishing the Sonics good luck plays. LoRo is in the house tonight and surely enjoying a Sonics attack reminiscent of what his Huskies did this season.
Marshall wins a suite for 20 for next Saturday’s Seattle Storm Opening Day with some hot shooting of his own in the Sonics half-court shootout.
He’s a Keeper
Posted at 4:34 p.m.
A couple of simply phenomenal plays by Nick Collison in the last minute or so. On the offensive end, he got open under the basket and then was smart enough to head fake and then go up with his layup attempt, letting the defense go by him. On the defensive end, he took a ball almost off the glass to block it. He is a definite keeper.
This crowd, displeased with an illegal screen called against Danny Fortson, gets very loud when Ray Allen draws Manu Ginobili’s second foul of this period and gets to the free-throw line. The stars are out tonight: Allen has 12 points, Tim Duncan 10.
Is This Ray’s Night?
Posted at 4:29 p.m.
The Spurs defense is so good and so relentless that you don’t expect to get a lot of big nights against them. But Ray Allen might do it anyway tonight. Ray’s already got 11 points after his last 3-pointer and is playing with a lot of fluidity right now given he sprained his ankle a week ago today.
In case you were wondering: the Spurs have started 7-for-8 at the line.
This officiating crew (Ron Garretson, Bill Spooner and Mike Callahan) does not seem on top of its game tonight. Some late calls and they’re buying some acting by both teams.
Open It Up
Posted at 4:20 p.m.
The reason Nate McMillan gave for going to a small lineup to start this guard was that he wanted to space the floor as the Sonics did in Game 3 with a small lineup with Rashard Lewis at power forward. It’s worked to perfection so far, giving the Sonics guards room to operate. Ray Allen has eight points, Antonio Daniels five and Luke Ridnour four. Combined, they’ve shot 7-for-10 from the field. This is as smooth as the Sonics offense has looked all series.
The Sonics do need to do a better job of getting back on defense, giving San Antonio a couple of fast-break scores as the Spurs have gotten within 18-14 with 4:54 left in the first quarter. Nate McMillan calls a timeout to remind his team what they need to do.
Let’s Talk It Over
Posted at 4:12 p.m.
After the Sonics convert their second steal thus far into a Luke Ridnour fast-break layup, Gregg Popovich calls a full timeout to talk about adjusting to the Sonics effective starting lineup. It’s 10-4 Sonics with 8:24 to play and a still-filling KeyArena loves it.
On Guard
Posted at 4:10 p.m.
To replace Rashard Lewis, the Sonics have gone to a three-guard lineup of Luke Ridnour, Antonio Daniels and Ray Allen. So far, that group has produced all seven of the Sonics points, with Daniels hitting a 3-pointer and Allen scoring four points. On the other end, the Sonics small lineup has given San Antonio some problems with its quickness, forcing a shot-clock violation and getting a steal with active hands. Because Bruce Bowen and Brent Barry are not post-up players, the Sonics don’t really lose much by not having size on the court.
Signing On
Posted at 3:55 p.m.
The clock is counting down towards Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the San Antonio Spurs and your Seattle SuperSonics, but unfortunately, we must start tonight on something of a down note. Rashard Lewis’ sprained toe will keep him out of tonight’s game. We’ll have much more on this in a little bit and excitement from KeyArena all night long, so stay with us and make sure you’re hitting refresh to get the latest.
