Kori Ellis
05-09-2005, 12:27 AM
Spurs rattle Seattle: Parker, Duncan carry load to start series on right foot
Web Posted: 05/09/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA050905.1C.BKNspurs.gamer1.256fe4b97.html
Tony Parker paused for a moment to read his defender's eyes, and then he was gone. He darted left then right. A second later, Parker was at the rim, banking in a layup as Seattle point guard Luke Ridnour flailed, helplessly, at him.
It was the opening possession of the opening game of the Spurs' Western Conference semifinals series Sunday night, and it was clear no one needed to tell Parker to look for his shot. And he certainly didn't need to be reminded what happened two weeks to the day earlier.
If the Seattle SuperSonics felt a little overwhelmed after the Spurs' 103-81 victory at the SBC Center — if, as their coach suggested, they really were startled by the speed and aggressiveness of Parker and his teammates — they can blame some of their troubles on the Denver Nuggets.
Two weeks earlier, the Spurs took the floor against the Nuggets feeling just as confident as they did Sunday night. A little less than 21/2 hours later, they had lost not only the game, but also the home-court advantage they had worked all season to obtain.
"We didn't want to do the same mistake," Parker said. "It showed."
It showed in the 29 points Parker scored. In the way the Spurs set their screens, in the way they cut hard through the lane. It showed in the 35 points they limited Seattle to in the first half, along with their own 35 in the first quarter.
"I think we were a little surprised at the level of intensity in the second round," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "The level of play goes up, the energy, the effort. Scrappy plays happen every possession.
"Basically, that's what San Antonio did right from the start."
Seattle had other problems besides the intensity and final score. Ray Allen, the team's All-Star guard and leading scorer, missed most of the final three quarters after spraining his right ankle. Vladimir Radmanovic, one of the Sonics' top reserves, also left in the second quarter, also after spraining his right ankle.
X-rays for both players were negative. McMillan called the status of both day-to-day, though Radmanovic needed crutches to leave the arena. Allen's sprain didn't appear as serious.
"He means to them what Timmy (Duncan) means to us if Timmy sat down," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Allen. "He's huge. He makes the whole team more confident."
Parker took on that role Sunday. He set the tone, slicing through the Sonics for layups on the first three possessions. The Spurs made all but one of their 12 first-quarter baskets at the rim.
"Tony kind of picked up where he left off against Denver," Popovich said.
The Sonics, meanwhile, had made quick work of the Sacramento Kings in the first round, dismissing them in five games. Any momentum they gained in that series was gone three minutes into the game. The Spurs led by 13 points at the end of the first quarter, by 30 with a little more than two minutes left in the opening half.
"We looked like a college team," Sonics forward Rashard Lewis said. "It was like men playing against a bunch of little kids."
The second quarter only added injury to insult for Seattle. Radmanovic sprained his right ankle with 8:26 remaining in the half. Almost as soon as the Sonics finished carrying Radmanovic off the court, Allen came up limping on his right ankle.
Allen, who has taken exception to Bruce Bowen's physical defense during his 21/2 seasons, shoved Bowen less than three minutes into the game for an offensive foul. At the time of Allen's exit, the Spurs were already leading by 16.
Duncan scored 22 points — 17 in the first half — to go along with his nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks. The Spurs, who had made it a priority to keep the Sonics' big men off the offensive boards, outrebounded Seattle 46-31.
"We didn't focus on that (in Game 1) against Denver," said Popovich, who wasn't nearly as happy with the team's occasionally listless play in the second-half. "It really taught us a lesson."
During the Spurs' first-round victory over Denver, Parker grew accustomed to having his defenders stay with him off pick-and-rolls until he passed the ball. On Sunday, he had no trouble finding his way to the rim.
With 4.9 seconds left in Sunday's first half, Parker took the ball and streaked the length of the court. By the time Seattle forwards Vitaly Potapenko and Reggie Evans even bothered to turn around and look for the Spurs' point guard, Parker was at the rim, finishing a layup.
"Tony Parker's play and his aggressiveness is different than in the regular season," McMillan said. "There's no fooling around at this time of the season."
Web Posted: 05/09/2005 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA050905.1C.BKNspurs.gamer1.256fe4b97.html
Tony Parker paused for a moment to read his defender's eyes, and then he was gone. He darted left then right. A second later, Parker was at the rim, banking in a layup as Seattle point guard Luke Ridnour flailed, helplessly, at him.
It was the opening possession of the opening game of the Spurs' Western Conference semifinals series Sunday night, and it was clear no one needed to tell Parker to look for his shot. And he certainly didn't need to be reminded what happened two weeks to the day earlier.
If the Seattle SuperSonics felt a little overwhelmed after the Spurs' 103-81 victory at the SBC Center — if, as their coach suggested, they really were startled by the speed and aggressiveness of Parker and his teammates — they can blame some of their troubles on the Denver Nuggets.
Two weeks earlier, the Spurs took the floor against the Nuggets feeling just as confident as they did Sunday night. A little less than 21/2 hours later, they had lost not only the game, but also the home-court advantage they had worked all season to obtain.
"We didn't want to do the same mistake," Parker said. "It showed."
It showed in the 29 points Parker scored. In the way the Spurs set their screens, in the way they cut hard through the lane. It showed in the 35 points they limited Seattle to in the first half, along with their own 35 in the first quarter.
"I think we were a little surprised at the level of intensity in the second round," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "The level of play goes up, the energy, the effort. Scrappy plays happen every possession.
"Basically, that's what San Antonio did right from the start."
Seattle had other problems besides the intensity and final score. Ray Allen, the team's All-Star guard and leading scorer, missed most of the final three quarters after spraining his right ankle. Vladimir Radmanovic, one of the Sonics' top reserves, also left in the second quarter, also after spraining his right ankle.
X-rays for both players were negative. McMillan called the status of both day-to-day, though Radmanovic needed crutches to leave the arena. Allen's sprain didn't appear as serious.
"He means to them what Timmy (Duncan) means to us if Timmy sat down," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Allen. "He's huge. He makes the whole team more confident."
Parker took on that role Sunday. He set the tone, slicing through the Sonics for layups on the first three possessions. The Spurs made all but one of their 12 first-quarter baskets at the rim.
"Tony kind of picked up where he left off against Denver," Popovich said.
The Sonics, meanwhile, had made quick work of the Sacramento Kings in the first round, dismissing them in five games. Any momentum they gained in that series was gone three minutes into the game. The Spurs led by 13 points at the end of the first quarter, by 30 with a little more than two minutes left in the opening half.
"We looked like a college team," Sonics forward Rashard Lewis said. "It was like men playing against a bunch of little kids."
The second quarter only added injury to insult for Seattle. Radmanovic sprained his right ankle with 8:26 remaining in the half. Almost as soon as the Sonics finished carrying Radmanovic off the court, Allen came up limping on his right ankle.
Allen, who has taken exception to Bruce Bowen's physical defense during his 21/2 seasons, shoved Bowen less than three minutes into the game for an offensive foul. At the time of Allen's exit, the Spurs were already leading by 16.
Duncan scored 22 points — 17 in the first half — to go along with his nine rebounds, five assists and four blocks. The Spurs, who had made it a priority to keep the Sonics' big men off the offensive boards, outrebounded Seattle 46-31.
"We didn't focus on that (in Game 1) against Denver," said Popovich, who wasn't nearly as happy with the team's occasionally listless play in the second-half. "It really taught us a lesson."
During the Spurs' first-round victory over Denver, Parker grew accustomed to having his defenders stay with him off pick-and-rolls until he passed the ball. On Sunday, he had no trouble finding his way to the rim.
With 4.9 seconds left in Sunday's first half, Parker took the ball and streaked the length of the court. By the time Seattle forwards Vitaly Potapenko and Reggie Evans even bothered to turn around and look for the Spurs' point guard, Parker was at the rim, finishing a layup.
"Tony Parker's play and his aggressiveness is different than in the regular season," McMillan said. "There's no fooling around at this time of the season."