RELATED CONTENT

2005 Playoffs Homepage Sonics Prepare For Hostile Environment James Comes Through For Sonics Game 2 Gallery Sonics News Archive

2004 was an oddity on the first count, as all four Western Conference home teams swept the first two games. But of those four, only San Antonio - which would go on to sweep its series with the Memphis Grizzlies - won Game 3 on the road, the other three losing by a combined 57 points.

"It's tough to beat anybody three times, but it's not impossible," said Sonics Coach Nate McMillan after his team practiced Thursday afternoon in Seattle before flying to Sacramento. "It's going to be a hostile environment and a challenge for us. Our focus is to go down and try to play better than we did in Game 1 and Game 2."

"They weren’t going back in. I mean why should I? That other group was doing all the work." Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

The Kings played a pair of subpar games in Seattle, trailing by 20-plus in the third quarter of both Games 1 and 2. During the final period of Tuesday's game, Sacramento Coach Rick Adelman sent a message to his starters by benching them for the entire quarter, even after his bench rallied to get within single-digits.

"They weren’t going back in," Adelman said after the game. "I mean why should I? That other group was doing all the work. I don’t care if we are going back to Sacramento or not, if we allow them to be the aggressors all night long in everything they do then we won’t win this series, let alone win a game."

"Just listening to Coach Adelman's comments, I expect them to be more aggressive, more physical defensively, attacking more on the offensive end of the floor," said McMillan in response. "They have to be more aggressive. They've lost two. That situation, the way to come out is to be more aggressive. We have to come out the same way."

Before Game 2, the top key on the whiteboard in the Sonics locker room was to play aggressive. They did that, shooting twice as many free throws as the Kings (30 to 15) and outhustling Sacramento all night long. But the Kings intensity level should be up in Game 3, particularly with a raucous crowd behind them and residual anger from the first two games of the series.

"I'm sure they're not happy with what happened up here and the way they played, so yes, I expect those guys to be angry," said McMillan. "We have to go down there wanting that game and doing everything we can to get Game 3. I don't think you can come in and assume anything. We know they'll be aggressive and they'll come out angry and the crowd will be into the game. All of that, we've got to play through and find a way to win that game."

An oft-repeated scenario has the home team, powered by the crowd, racing out to an early lead and the visitors playing catch-up all night long. McMillan has talked with his team about the possibility and emphasized remaining calm and learning from Sacramento's fourth-quarter comebacks each of the last two games.

"That's playoff basketball - we talked about it here," McMillan said. "Not getting too high when you're up and not getting too low when you're down, staying calm and poised throughout that game. Keep your mind clear, concentrate on what you need to do in that time of the game. I think there are going to be swings throughout playoff games. We've had those. Hopefully, we've learned lessons from the two games here where we've had big leads and I think we've relaxed a few possessions and all of a sudden they're back in the game."

To control the ARCO Arena crowd, McMillan wants his team to play under control and limit Sacramento's fast-break opportunities. Sacramento had 32 fast-break points between Games 1 and 2. After Game 1 was played at a relatively slow pace, with 87 possessions a side, Game 2 was played at a breakneck 96-possession speed. (League average during the regular season is about 93 possessions.)

"Vlade's minutes will be up. I am allowed to increase those." Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

"We're going to have to control that tempo down there," said McMillan. "We can't go down there and run and gun. We will play our style, but we're going to have to be smart in our decisions down there."

More than anything else, the Sonics will need to stay hungry. Before Game 2, McMillan was asked his thoughts on Houston taking a second game on Dallas' home court the night before. McMillan mentioned he was impressed that the Rockets were greedy, while many underdogs in a series might be satisfied with winning one of the first two games on the road. McMillan's answer has been to preach to his players that every game is the first game of the series and a must win. Using that philosophy, the Sonics were greedy in Game 2. They'll have to be greedier still going to Sacramento.

Sonics forward Vladimir Radmanovic continues to progress in his recovery from a stress fracture in his right fibula. Radmanovic played 23 minutes in Game 2, scoring 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting.

"Vlade's minutes will be up," said McMillan. "I am allowed to increase those. We're close to being back to our normal rotation."

The Sonics bench combined for 35 points and 19 rebounds in Game 2. All four regular reserves scored at least eight points.

McMillan is uncertain whether the Kings will change their strategy of single-covering center Jerome James in the post. James made them pay with 19 points on 9-for-11 shooting in Game 2.0

"We've tried to prepare for all scenarios," McMillan said. "One is them not double-teaming. The second is a quick double-team. Another is designating someone to double-team off of. Just so we'll have a feel for whatever they may do, even the fact that they might play zone. I felt they would play some zone last game, and they did, they played a little zone. You try to prepare for all the things you think they may do."

As part of that preparation, McMillan took the court to run the point for a few minutes near the end of practice.

"(I was) putting them in different situations real quick to just drill how we want to line up, how we want to match up, where you should be in this set, this combination," he explained.

McMillan, who said he was going at 3/4 speed, took some ribbing from his players about being out of shape. He took particular offense to comments from forward Rashard Lewis, who is not practicing to rest his sore left knee.

"He's sitting on the sidelines, how about that?" said McMillan with a smile.