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TONIGHT'S NOTES |
With tonight’s win, the Seattle Sonics sweep the season series with Indiana for the second time in the last four years and the third time in the last 19 seasons that they have met.
After scoring just nine points at Milwaukee, 2/27, Rashard Lewis’ game-high 30 points was his fourth 30-point effort of the season.
With a team-high five assists and no turnovers, Anthony Johnson has had 36 assists and eight turnovers in the last six games for an assists-to-turnover ratio of 4.5:1.
As a team, the Pacers had just nine turnovers, their fifth game this season with single-digit turnovers and their third in the last eight games. While having three more turnovers than the Pacers, Seattle scored 15 points off turnovers and allowed Indiana just 11 points off turnovers.
Tonight’s win is Seattle’s seventh in its last nine road games and the Sonics are 19-8 on the road this season.
With the loss Indiana has lost two in a row since losing at Philadelphia, 1/31, and vs. Toronto, 2/2.
The Pacers outrebounded the Sonics on the offensive boards, 13-7, but were outscored by Seattle, 16-7, in second chance points.
With seven rebounds tonight, Jerome James tied his most this season.
Antonio Daniels also tied his season-high six rebounds tonight.
Fred Jones’ first point tonight was the 1,000th of his NBA career.
Seattle’s 12 assists tonight tie the opposition’s season-low. Indiana also held the Orlando Magic to just 12 assists, 2/22. The Pacers lead the Eastern Conference, and are second in the NBA, with a defensive average of 19.16 apg.
With seven tonight, James Jones tied his most of the last 19 games and he has hit at least one 3-pt FG in five straight games, his second longest streak of the season. In those five games, he has shot 5-13 3-pt FGS (.385).
The loss was the Pacers’ eighth of the season (21-8) when leading after three periods. It is the team’s fifth loss at home (14-5) when taking a lead into the fourth quarter.
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March 1, 2005
SONICS COACH NATE MCMILLAN:
On the Sonics team meeting after the Milwaukee loss:
It really wasn’t a team meeting; we just needed a reminder of what got us here so far this season. Everybody contributed tonight. We had solid bench play and I thought we played a solid overall basketball game. It was really a tough game; but I felt like our offense picked it up in the second half.
On Rashard Lewis' performance:
He really had it going from the start, as you could see he was 6-7 in the first half. We really started trying to move the ball around to more people, especially Jerome (James) in the paint and Ray (Allen) on the outside. But he really had it going and the other guys really stepped in. Once we got him in with a lot of mismatches, we went to him to create a lot of different situations and he hit a lot of big baskets for us down the stretch.
On dealing with the officials:
I told our guys that it’s no use screaming at them, that they need to go up to the official and talk to them with respect. I told them we had to keep our heads, no matter what the call and keep our focus on the game.
GUARD RAY ALLEN:
On the Sonics success this season:
I think it comes down to unselfish play. Everybody is bringing what they are capable of bringing as a basketball player. It is important for us to do team activities, things like passing the ball, shooting the ball, rebounding the ball and running the ball. We are always looking for easy opportunities in transition and if we don’t get that, we work our half-court game of moving the ball and finding the open man.
On the Sonics three-point shooting:
Well, that is how we got back into the game tonight, shooting the 3 in transition. We got three or four of them in a row there in that one stretch, but that’s what we do. We force teams to guard the perimeter and they can’t fall asleep on us at anytime or the tide will turn for us that quick.
FORWARD RASHARD LEWIS:
On bouncing back after losing to Milwaukee:
We just committed ourselves to getting back to playing our old way, and that is playing NBA basketball the right way. We had a couple of team meetings where we talked about playing together and playing better defense. We have so many shooters on this team that players have no choice but to move the ball. Ray and I draw so many double teams that when we are moving the ball correctly, it gives other guys on the team wide open looks.
On Anthony Johnson switching on to him down the stretch:
I just look at my defender and see who it is, and what I can do against him. I take them into the post if they’re small and use my size to my advantage; or if I’m guarded by somebody bigger I’ll just step outside and use my quickness against them. Usually, I can get a good look that way.
INDIANA COACH RICK CARLISLE:
On the game:
It was a tough loss. We fought hard to get back in it. I give
Mike Brown credit for coaching us back in it and putting us in a position to win. The 3s in the fourth quarter and Rashard Lewis were the keys.
On his ejection:
I disagreed with two calls and was ejected.
INDIANA ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH MIKE BROWN:
On the game:
They key was when they hit those three 3s in a row. We didn’t find their shooters. That was the ball game right there. In the NBA, if you relax 45 seconds, you can go from five up to four down. The guys did a nice job pushing the ball in our early offense. We were forced into going small with
Jermaine (O'Neal)’s fouls. I’m the type that if something works, we’ll stay with it.
On replacing Carlisle:
As an assistant coach, you kind of know in the back of your head that it can happen at any time. When it happened, it felt normal. I had help from two great coaches, Kevin O’Neill and Dan Burke.
FORWARD STEPHEN JACKSON:
On the game :
We didn’t have the intensity tonight. We played well and we were able to keep them away from the 3 until the fourth quarter. Then it was a lot of miscommunication. We let them have too many open shots and they made them. In order to get some wins on the road, we’re going to have to come out with intensity and play our style of basketball.
GUARD FRED JONES:
On the game:
This was definitely disappointing this evening. We’re getting ready to go on a four-game road trip and it was important to get a win at home to leave on a good note.
On the Sonics:
They made big shots. They got out in transition and hit huge 3s that we weren’t able to answer.
2004-05 Postgame Quotes/Notes Archive
