MadDog73
05-05-2005, 12:56 PM
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/news/acn3880934.htm
NBA Playoff Preview - San Antonio vs. Seattle
From The Sports Network
By Warren Blatt, NBA Editor
SAN ANTONIO SPURS: 2nd Seed, West (59-23)
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS: 3rd Seed, West (52-30)
(Sports Network) - The third-seeded Seattle SuperSonics return to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 1998, as they meet the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the best-of-seven series.
Last season, the Spurs, who defeated New Jersey in six games in the 2003 NBA Finals, were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the Western Conference semifinals, while Seattle has returned to the postseason after a two-year absence.
This is the third time that the clubs have met in the postseason. The Sonics lost to the Spurs in five games, 3-2, in the first round of the 2002 playoffs, The teams also met in the 1982 conference semifinals, as San Antonio eliminated Seattle, 4-1, in that series.
Both clubs needed five games in the first round to advance to the conference semifinals. San Antonio eliminated the seventh-seeded Denver Nuggets, while Seattle sent the sixth-seeded Sacramento Kings packing from the postseason
The Southwest Division champion Spurs were led by their two All-Stars Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili in the opening round. Ginobili, who started Game 1 of the first round but came off the bench the rest of the series, led the club in scoring (22.8 ppg), while Duncan contributed 22.0 points and a team-high 11.2 rebounds per game.
There is some good news for the Spurs, as Duncan seems close to being 100 percent healthy. The two-time league MVP seemed bothered early in the set against Denver by his right ankle, which he sprained severely on March 20th versus Detroit. The injury forced him to go on the IL and miss some significant time during the regular season. However, as the first round progressed the Wake Forest product appeared to get more comfortable and his play showed it.
Point guard Tony Parker also had a strong showing against the Nuggets. He averaged 18.2 points to go along with a team-best 5.8 assists. The 22-year- old Parker, who will turn 23 on May 17th, is underrated and always plays like a player with something to prove in the playoffs.
The Spurs will once again rely heavily on their big three, Duncan, Ginobili and Parker, against the Sonics. San Antonio, which was a league-best 38-3 during the regular season at home, owns the home-court advantage in this series.
San Antonio has lost in the conference semifinals in two of the last three years. The Spurs were eliminated by the Lakers both times (2002 and 2004).
Seattle was a pleasant surprise during the 2004-05 regular season, as it captured the Northwest Division and won its first division title since 1997-98, when it went 61-21 and won its third consecutive Pacific Division crown. The Sonics posted 50 or more wins for just the 10th time in franchise history and first since the 1997-98 campaign.
Against Sacramento in the opening round, the Sonics got unbelievable play from All-Star guard Ray Allen, while center Jerome James shocked the Kings with his dominant play in the middle.
Allen averaged team-highs in points (32.4 ppg) and assists (5.2 apg) in round one. The 29-year-old guard scored a playoff career-high 45 points in Game 4 against the Kings and was dominant throughout the series.
James played in 80 games during the regular season and averaged just three points and 4.9 boards. The playoffs have been a different story, as the 7-1 center has been a force on both ends of the court. He registered 17.2 points, a team-high 9.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game against the Kings. James's play gave Seattle the lift inside that it needs to compete in the postseason.
Seattle's other All-Star Rashard Lewis struggled at times against the Kings, but he seemed to find his range as the playoffs progressed. He averaged 16.4 points and 4.4 rebounds against Sacramento, which were below his regular- season averages of 20.5 points and 5.5 boards.
Forward Vladimir Radmanovic gave Seattle a spark in the first round, as he returned to the lineup after he had suffered a stress fracture of his right fibula in March. He played in 63 games and averaged 11.8 points and 4.6 boards before the injury sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season. Radmanovic, who is the sixth man for the SuperSonics, netted just 6.4 points per game against the Kings, but his play will continue to improve as he gets more court time and that is a good thing for the Sonics.
The Sonics will need to continue to get strong play from James if they hope to stay with the Spurs. The surprising low-post presence for Seattle was the difference in the first round, and they are definitely going to need a repeat performance from James in the semis. Allen and Lewis will play like All-Stars, but they are going to need a lot of help against San Antonio.
Seattle lost to the Lakers, 4-1, in the 1998 conference semifinals, and it also fell in seven games to Houston in the 1997 semis. The last time the SuperSonics were victorious in this round was in 1996 when it swept the Rockets. The Sonics defeated Utah in seven games in the conference finals and went on to play Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals. The Bulls beat Seattle in six games in the championship round.
During the regular season, the Sonics and Spurs split four contests. Both teams picked up a win at home and on the road.
FRONTCOURT: Duncan, Nazr Mohammed and Bruce Bowen represent San Antonio up front. All three players have different roles, as Duncan does it all, while the center Mohammed, who averaged 7.6 points and nine boards in round one, can score around the basket and is a solid rebounder. Bowen, who was the only Spur to play all 82 regular-season games, plays tough, physical defense against the opposition's best scorer.
If the Sonics get the same production out of James that they got in the first round, they will be fine. Reggie Lewis and Rashard Lewis will lineup alongside James against San Antonio's frontcourt. Reggie Lewis is strictly a rebounder who does not score much, as he averaged 4.6 points and 7.4 boards against the Kings. Rashard Lewis needs to pickup his scoring and become more active on the boards against the Spurs.
San Antonio's a much tougher team defensively down low than Sacramento. James will not be able to position himself in the low post against the Spurs like he did versus the Kings. Duncan's play keeps getting stronger, and that is a bad thing for the Sonics.
EDGE: SAN ANTONIO
BACKCOURT: Allen is playing great basketball for the Sonics, while point guard Luke Ridnour, who averaged 8.4 points and five assists against Sacramento, is solid. Ridnour is participating in his first-ever playoff action in the NBA, and he looks to be a bit nervous on the court.
The Spurs have inserted veteran Brent Barry, who played for the Sonics from 1999-2004, in the starting lineup next to Parker. The 6-7 Barry does not make a lot of mistakes and can play both guard spots. He can drain the three and fits right in with San Antonio's offensive and defensive schemes.
Parker once again will try to prove that he is indeed one of the best lead guards in the league. He should be able to have his way against
The five-time All-Star Allen, who is scheduled to become a free agent in the offseason, has proved that he can take a team on his back and lead it to victory. He made 51.4 percent of his shots from the floor, including 45.2 percent from beyond the arc in the first round.
With the way Allen is playing, how can anyone give the advantage to his opponent.
EDGE: SEATTLE
BENCH: With Ginobili coming off the bench, San Antonio's has become an even stronger squad. He gives them a spark on both ends of the court, and also provides energy that can help the Spurs come alive during tough times.
Veteran Robert Horry, who has played in 180 playoff games during his career, averaged 10 points and 4.6 boards against the Kings. He adds valuable experience and has a history of hitting clutch shots during crunch time in the postseason.
Glenn Robinson and rookie guard Beno Udrih will also see some time on the court for the Spurs. Both players provide a lift offensively for San Antonio.
Forwards Radmanovic, Nick Collison, and Danny Fortson and guard Antonio Daniels give Seattle a solid bench. Collison and Fortson both provide physical play down low and can score around the basket, while Radmanovic is dangerous from the outside. Daniels, who averaged nine points and 4.8 assists against Sacramento, will spell Allen and Ridnour, as he is versatile and excels in Seattle's up-tempo style of play.
Both teams have solid benches, but Ginobili is the difference here.
EDGE: SAN ANTONIO
COACH: Gregg Popovich has guided the Spurs to a pair of NBA championships (1999, 2003) during his tenure in San Antonio. He was named the 2003 NBA Coach of the Year and has led San Antonio to the NBA's best regular season record three times (1998-99, 2000-01, 2002-03). Popovich knows what it takes to win the big game and has the pieces to get the job done.
Nate McMillan was named Seattle's interim head coach on November 27, 2000 and then received a four-year contract on March 27, 2001. He spent his entire 12- year playing career with the Sonics and was a defensive standout during his days as a player. McMillan is in the final year of his contract and has done his best job as a coach in the 2004-05 campaign.
EDGE: SAN ANTONIO
PREDICTION: San Antonio is a team that is built to win in the postseason. Seattle has had a great season, but it will not be able to overcome the experience and defense of the playoff-tested Spurs.
SAN ANTONIO IN SIX
NBA Playoff Preview - San Antonio vs. Seattle
From The Sports Network
By Warren Blatt, NBA Editor
SAN ANTONIO SPURS: 2nd Seed, West (59-23)
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS: 3rd Seed, West (52-30)
(Sports Network) - The third-seeded Seattle SuperSonics return to the Western Conference semifinals for the first time since 1998, as they meet the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the best-of-seven series.
Last season, the Spurs, who defeated New Jersey in six games in the 2003 NBA Finals, were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the Western Conference semifinals, while Seattle has returned to the postseason after a two-year absence.
This is the third time that the clubs have met in the postseason. The Sonics lost to the Spurs in five games, 3-2, in the first round of the 2002 playoffs, The teams also met in the 1982 conference semifinals, as San Antonio eliminated Seattle, 4-1, in that series.
Both clubs needed five games in the first round to advance to the conference semifinals. San Antonio eliminated the seventh-seeded Denver Nuggets, while Seattle sent the sixth-seeded Sacramento Kings packing from the postseason
The Southwest Division champion Spurs were led by their two All-Stars Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili in the opening round. Ginobili, who started Game 1 of the first round but came off the bench the rest of the series, led the club in scoring (22.8 ppg), while Duncan contributed 22.0 points and a team-high 11.2 rebounds per game.
There is some good news for the Spurs, as Duncan seems close to being 100 percent healthy. The two-time league MVP seemed bothered early in the set against Denver by his right ankle, which he sprained severely on March 20th versus Detroit. The injury forced him to go on the IL and miss some significant time during the regular season. However, as the first round progressed the Wake Forest product appeared to get more comfortable and his play showed it.
Point guard Tony Parker also had a strong showing against the Nuggets. He averaged 18.2 points to go along with a team-best 5.8 assists. The 22-year- old Parker, who will turn 23 on May 17th, is underrated and always plays like a player with something to prove in the playoffs.
The Spurs will once again rely heavily on their big three, Duncan, Ginobili and Parker, against the Sonics. San Antonio, which was a league-best 38-3 during the regular season at home, owns the home-court advantage in this series.
San Antonio has lost in the conference semifinals in two of the last three years. The Spurs were eliminated by the Lakers both times (2002 and 2004).
Seattle was a pleasant surprise during the 2004-05 regular season, as it captured the Northwest Division and won its first division title since 1997-98, when it went 61-21 and won its third consecutive Pacific Division crown. The Sonics posted 50 or more wins for just the 10th time in franchise history and first since the 1997-98 campaign.
Against Sacramento in the opening round, the Sonics got unbelievable play from All-Star guard Ray Allen, while center Jerome James shocked the Kings with his dominant play in the middle.
Allen averaged team-highs in points (32.4 ppg) and assists (5.2 apg) in round one. The 29-year-old guard scored a playoff career-high 45 points in Game 4 against the Kings and was dominant throughout the series.
James played in 80 games during the regular season and averaged just three points and 4.9 boards. The playoffs have been a different story, as the 7-1 center has been a force on both ends of the court. He registered 17.2 points, a team-high 9.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game against the Kings. James's play gave Seattle the lift inside that it needs to compete in the postseason.
Seattle's other All-Star Rashard Lewis struggled at times against the Kings, but he seemed to find his range as the playoffs progressed. He averaged 16.4 points and 4.4 rebounds against Sacramento, which were below his regular- season averages of 20.5 points and 5.5 boards.
Forward Vladimir Radmanovic gave Seattle a spark in the first round, as he returned to the lineup after he had suffered a stress fracture of his right fibula in March. He played in 63 games and averaged 11.8 points and 4.6 boards before the injury sidelined him for the remainder of the regular season. Radmanovic, who is the sixth man for the SuperSonics, netted just 6.4 points per game against the Kings, but his play will continue to improve as he gets more court time and that is a good thing for the Sonics.
The Sonics will need to continue to get strong play from James if they hope to stay with the Spurs. The surprising low-post presence for Seattle was the difference in the first round, and they are definitely going to need a repeat performance from James in the semis. Allen and Lewis will play like All-Stars, but they are going to need a lot of help against San Antonio.
Seattle lost to the Lakers, 4-1, in the 1998 conference semifinals, and it also fell in seven games to Houston in the 1997 semis. The last time the SuperSonics were victorious in this round was in 1996 when it swept the Rockets. The Sonics defeated Utah in seven games in the conference finals and went on to play Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals. The Bulls beat Seattle in six games in the championship round.
During the regular season, the Sonics and Spurs split four contests. Both teams picked up a win at home and on the road.
FRONTCOURT: Duncan, Nazr Mohammed and Bruce Bowen represent San Antonio up front. All three players have different roles, as Duncan does it all, while the center Mohammed, who averaged 7.6 points and nine boards in round one, can score around the basket and is a solid rebounder. Bowen, who was the only Spur to play all 82 regular-season games, plays tough, physical defense against the opposition's best scorer.
If the Sonics get the same production out of James that they got in the first round, they will be fine. Reggie Lewis and Rashard Lewis will lineup alongside James against San Antonio's frontcourt. Reggie Lewis is strictly a rebounder who does not score much, as he averaged 4.6 points and 7.4 boards against the Kings. Rashard Lewis needs to pickup his scoring and become more active on the boards against the Spurs.
San Antonio's a much tougher team defensively down low than Sacramento. James will not be able to position himself in the low post against the Spurs like he did versus the Kings. Duncan's play keeps getting stronger, and that is a bad thing for the Sonics.
EDGE: SAN ANTONIO
BACKCOURT: Allen is playing great basketball for the Sonics, while point guard Luke Ridnour, who averaged 8.4 points and five assists against Sacramento, is solid. Ridnour is participating in his first-ever playoff action in the NBA, and he looks to be a bit nervous on the court.
The Spurs have inserted veteran Brent Barry, who played for the Sonics from 1999-2004, in the starting lineup next to Parker. The 6-7 Barry does not make a lot of mistakes and can play both guard spots. He can drain the three and fits right in with San Antonio's offensive and defensive schemes.
Parker once again will try to prove that he is indeed one of the best lead guards in the league. He should be able to have his way against
The five-time All-Star Allen, who is scheduled to become a free agent in the offseason, has proved that he can take a team on his back and lead it to victory. He made 51.4 percent of his shots from the floor, including 45.2 percent from beyond the arc in the first round.
With the way Allen is playing, how can anyone give the advantage to his opponent.
EDGE: SEATTLE
BENCH: With Ginobili coming off the bench, San Antonio's has become an even stronger squad. He gives them a spark on both ends of the court, and also provides energy that can help the Spurs come alive during tough times.
Veteran Robert Horry, who has played in 180 playoff games during his career, averaged 10 points and 4.6 boards against the Kings. He adds valuable experience and has a history of hitting clutch shots during crunch time in the postseason.
Glenn Robinson and rookie guard Beno Udrih will also see some time on the court for the Spurs. Both players provide a lift offensively for San Antonio.
Forwards Radmanovic, Nick Collison, and Danny Fortson and guard Antonio Daniels give Seattle a solid bench. Collison and Fortson both provide physical play down low and can score around the basket, while Radmanovic is dangerous from the outside. Daniels, who averaged nine points and 4.8 assists against Sacramento, will spell Allen and Ridnour, as he is versatile and excels in Seattle's up-tempo style of play.
Both teams have solid benches, but Ginobili is the difference here.
EDGE: SAN ANTONIO
COACH: Gregg Popovich has guided the Spurs to a pair of NBA championships (1999, 2003) during his tenure in San Antonio. He was named the 2003 NBA Coach of the Year and has led San Antonio to the NBA's best regular season record three times (1998-99, 2000-01, 2002-03). Popovich knows what it takes to win the big game and has the pieces to get the job done.
Nate McMillan was named Seattle's interim head coach on November 27, 2000 and then received a four-year contract on March 27, 2001. He spent his entire 12- year playing career with the Sonics and was a defensive standout during his days as a player. McMillan is in the final year of his contract and has done his best job as a coach in the 2004-05 campaign.
EDGE: SAN ANTONIO
PREDICTION: San Antonio is a team that is built to win in the postseason. Seattle has had a great season, but it will not be able to overcome the experience and defense of the playoff-tested Spurs.
SAN ANTONIO IN SIX