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TONIGHT'S NOTES |
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The Sonics won Game 1 of a playoff series for the first time since the 1998 Western Conference Semifinals vs. L.A. Lakers and got their first playoff win since 5/1/02 vs. San Antonio.
Seattle improved to 24-18 in Game 1s.
Sacramento last lost a Game 1 in the 2002 Western Conference Finals vs. the Lakers. They had won four straight, including two at home.
Jerome James had a double-double of 17 points and 15 rebounds, both playoff career highs. His 15 rebounds topped his regular-season career high of 12.
James added five blocks, a playoff career high and as many as in any regular-season game.
Reggie Evans also pulled down 15 rebounds for the Sonics.
James and Evans became the first Sonics players since Shawn Kemp (5/7/97 at Houston) to grab at least 15 rebounds.
Ray Allen led the Sonics with 28 points and added 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Peja Stojakovic led the Kings with 24 points. Stojakovic was limited to two in the fourth quarter. Cuttino Mobley scored 10 of his 22 points in the final period.
The Sonics opened the game with a 9-1 run.
A 12-3 run midway through the second quarter pushed the Sonics lead to 18.
Sacramento closed the third quarter on a 22-7 run.
During the first half, both teams rebounded at least half of their own missed shots that were rebounded (Sacramento 16/32, Seattle 10/18).
The Kings shot just 32.7% in the first half.
The teams combined for 43 offensive rebounds. The Sonics held a 51-44 advantage on the glass.
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April 23, 2005
SONICS COACH 
NATE MCMILLAN:
On the game:
I thought we played a solid first half. We didn’t rattle Sacramento; they were poised. In that third quarter it looked like we were emotionally drained. They came out aggressive; we knew they would. We lost
(Peja)
Stojakovic a few times in the third quarter and
(Cuttino) Mobley started getting aggressive and put his head down and got to the basket. Defensively we weren’t getting the stops that we were in the first half. In the fourth quarter, we came back with our bigs.
Jerome (James) and
Reggie (Evans) made it really difficult for their bigs to catch and really controlled the boards. That was huge. I thought tonight in the fourth quarter they established a presence in the paint.
On Mike Bibby's poor shooting:
I don’t think you shut down Mike. He had some open looks throughout the game and missed some shots that he is capable of knocking down. I thought our guards did a good job of making those guys work. That was the game plan, just be there and try to stay close and not give them open looks. You saw what happened when Stojakovic got loose. He was able to knock down some shots. I thought our guys did a good job of making (Bibby) work.
On the Sonics mindset:
I saw this team really focused on tonight’s ballgame. When we talked about what we need from players and how to approach the game, they were pretty serious. I liked our attitudes the last two days preparing for this game. I thought we came out tonight and played pretty controlled basketball. I thought 
Ray (Allen) and 
Rashard (Lewis) did a good job of playing under control and allowing the game to come to them. And our bigs did what they do best - defensively they can defend and rebound the ball. They did that tonight. Jerome was really big, just clogging and making it tough for them to get anything.
GUARD 
ANTONIO DANIELS:
On defending Bibby:
We just have to try and make it as difficult as possible on him. He’s a heck of a player. He’s their engine, he gets them going. Me and
Luke (Ridnour) have to take it personal and try and come out and shut him down. It’s very easy to say and very difficult to do. He’s very crafty and very intelligent with the basketball.
CENTER JEROME JAMES:
On the game:
I felt we came out tonight and executed Coach Nate’s game plan. It was one of those situations where we were very well prepared. We’ve had two or three days to basically dissect the Sacramento Kings and thankfully our coaching staff prepared us very well for the game tonight.
On the Sonics offensive rebounding dominance:
Ray and Rashard allowed us to do that. They had to double-team Ray and Rashard so much tonight it allowed us to get into good rebounding position. If they’ve got two guys committed on Ray and he takes a jump shot, then Reggie and myself will be around the basket for those little rebounds that come off.
On stepping up his performance:
This is the playoffs. The regular season prepares us for this moment. This is my seventh year in the NBA and I know exactly what this moment means. Some guys go 15, 20 years without the opportunity to play on this stage at this stage of your career so I’m going to take advantage of it. I’m going to encourage my teammates to cherish the moment because next year is not promised.
SACRAMENTO HEAD COACH RICK ADELMAN:
On the game:
I was just trying to find any combination I could that would work, especially on the boards and actually the whole way through. We always say that each game is a different game, so we certainly have a lot to learn and to look at. The fact is that we came back and we had them down to a one-point lead. We get backdoored in the last possession and we don’t pick up the loose ball and we have a chance to win. I think that’s a positive. We have to do a better job and concentrate in areas that we have talked about. Our guys played hard down the stretch and we had a chance.
On Brad Miller's return to the lineup:
Brad Miller got through this pretty good but I couldn’t take a chance and leave him out there. I don’t know how he’s going to feel tomorrow. I don’t want him to have a step backwards so I had to get him out.
On adjustments for Game 2:
We are just going have to take a long, hard look at what we have to do to give ourselves a chance. You get so far behind and you miss free throws. Then it’s hard. One thing can beat you.
On the difference in the second half:
When I got Brad and (Greg) Ostertag on the floor we had a little bit of size. They were killing us on the boards before that. Cuttino got going and we needed somebody besides Peja to get going offensively. We've got to feel that Mike and Bobby (Jackson) are going to be better the next game. It was a lot better in the second half. They started missing some opportunities and we got momentum. We talked about not giving in and staying into it. We had a chance. We had a chance to win it.
GUARD MIKE BIBBY:
On the game:
Missed shots and we missed our chance to win the game. I shot 1-for-16 and Bobby shot 1-for-7. We usually score more than that. It’s a plus if you look at it, we didn’t shoot good and I doubt it will be like that again.
On his poor shooting:
I missed the first couple of shots and then I think it got into being confidence. I missed a couple shots … a lot of shots, actually. You just have to swallow it and go to the next one.
On Game 2:
We just have to watch a little film and see what we can do against them. It’s just too bad that the next game is Tuesday instead of Monday. We want to get back after it.
CENTER GREG OSTERTAG:
On the Kings comeback:
We pulled together there and started to put a little run together. You can’t spot a team like Seattle 19 or 21 points and expect to come back and beat them in their gym. We made a valiant effort but we needed about two more minutes.
On James' performance:
Jerome played well. Jerome was a giant part of their win tonight. You know Ray is going to get his and Rashard is going to get his. When Jerome gets 17 points and 15 rebounds, that is just a huge boost for them.
On being ready:
I play for a coach that says no matter what, be ready. It was frustrating to sit down there, but I am a veteran so I just have to be ready to go. When Coach calls on you, you need to be ready to go out there and do the things he asks you to do.
2004-05 Postgame Quotes/Notes Archive
