Any Seattle Articles on Game 2???

[johnny00]

If you could oblige Z?

or anyone else who would care to lend a hand?

[ZStomp]

Give me a couple of minutes..

[ZStomp]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002270477_soni11.html

Sonics closer, but not enough

By Percy Allen
Seattle Times staff reporter

SAN ANTONIO — The basketball danced enticingly along the rim before shooting straight up and falling through the net with a second remaining on the clock.

San Antonio center Nazr Mohammed kept his arms frozen in his follow-through as he watched the three-pointer that ended last night's Western Conference semifinal at the SBC Center and sent the Sonics back to Seattle with a 108-91 defeat and a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series.

It was the final indignity in a game in which the Sonics believed they were tantalizingly close to stealing a victory. But they were never truly in the contest, despite Ray Allen's gutty performance on a sore right ankle.

"There is no need for anyone in this locker room to hang their heads," Allen said. "There were just a lot of breaks in this game and it seemed like none of them went our way. By no means is this team coming apart. ... We just have to go home and give our fans a show."

Game 3 is tomorrow at KeyArena and Game 4 is Sunday.

The Sonics were scheduled to arrive in Seattle early this morning. They bring with them a small piece of hope that they can do what only 15 other NBA teams have accomplished and win a playoff series after losing the first two games.

To do, they believe they must somehow rediscover the formula that led to their 52-30 season and two regular-season victories against the Spurs.

Luke Ridnour dressed in relative silence in a corner of the locker room reminiscing on all of the times he failed to create easier shots for teammates. The Sonics guard finished with one assist, which was indicative of Seattle's performance.

"They got us playing their game," Ridnour said. "And they're better at it than we are."

The Spurs have won 13 playoff series since 1999 and a pair of NBA championships playing this way, while the Sonics, who averaged 98.9 points in the regular season, are more accustomed to a quicker pace.

Despite the absence of Vladimir Radmanovic, who rolled his ankle in Game 1 and won't play again in the series, the Sonics will attempt to find a way to extend a San Antonio defense that held them to 26.1 percent (6 of 23) shooting in the first quarter.

"We don't have everyone, but it's hard to score in the half court and doing post-ups all the time," Ridnour said. "We can do that, but against this team we can't keep on doing that. We've got to play our game, and that's what they've done. They've taken us out of playing our game.

"All season long, we were pushing the ball. We were the aggressors and now we're on the defense and letting them come at us, and we can't win like that."

It's as if the Sonics and Spurs switched roles before last night's game.

San Antonio dominated the fast-break points (22-8), sank more three-pointers (5-4), finished with more assists (20-12) and constantly attacked Seattle's backpedaling backcourt with guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

"We are lucky to all be so unselfish, share the ball and find our open teammates," said Parker, who finished with 22 points and seven assists. "We move the ball and wait for our turn to make plays."

Ginobili, however, waited for no one. He came off the bench and almost immediately took charge while scoring a game-high 28 points on 9-for-11 shooting.

"I really don't know what he does (out there)," forward Tim Duncan said while laughing. "He just kind of puts his head down, and we pray for the best."

The Spurs guards drove into the lane repeatedly, where they scored almost at will. Duncan appeared to play in spurts but still managed 25 points and nine rebounds. The Spurs' Big Three outpaced Seattle's contingent, which was led by Allen's 25 points.

He provided an emotional lift in the early minutes — until the Spurs took control of the game and forced the Sonics to play from behind. With Duncan on the bench, the Spurs went on a 7-0 run and stretched a 13-8 first-quarter lead to 20-8.

San Antonio kept a double-digit lead throughout the quarter and led 54-42 at halftime.

With 3:03 remaining in the third quarter, Allen cut the Sonics' deficit to seven with a pair of free throws before San Antonio scored seven straight points and began the fourth quarter with a 79-65 lead.

San Antonio maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the game.

Allen did all he could to deliver the Sonics an upset 48 hours after rolling his ankle in Game 1. He overcame defender Bruce Bowen and a sold-out crowd that booed him every time he touched the ball to convert 6 of 14 field-goal attempts, including three three-pointers.

His performance stopped San Antonio from duplicating its 103-81 blowout in the series opener, but the Sonics' Big Three of Allen, Rashard Lewis (22) and Antonio Daniels (16) were unable keep pace with the Spurs' contingent of Duncan, Ginobili and Parker.

"For some reason, we can't get any good looks from behind the line," Lewis said. "We're a good three-point shooting team, and if we're going to beat them, we've got to do a better job shooting the three."

The Sonics sank 4 of 15 three-point attempts last night after going 2 for 10 in Game 1.

To rediscover their missing three-pointers, Allen believes Seattle needs to play at a faster pace.

"It requires the players have to be in shape and the coach has to let us get a little wild and crazy," he said. "That's what we have to do. We've just got to go out there, throw the ball up and just go."

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or [email protected]

[ZStomp]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002270615_soniside11.html

Spurs easily win backcourt battle

By Greg Bishop
Seattle Times staff reporter

SAN ANTONIO — Because teammates of Tim Duncan have bestowed him the nickname "Scarface" for the cut that runs underneath his right eye, he can now shout out a famous line from the movie of the same name after the Spurs backcourt again dominated their Sonics counterpart in Game 2.

"Say hello to my little friend!"

He could say that about Tony Parker, the Spurs' pint-sized point guard, after he outscored every player on the floor in a Game 1 victory. He can say that about Manu Ginobili, the Spurs' spindly shooting guard who dropped 28 points last night. And he can say that about former Sonic Brent Barry, who helped frustrate Ray Allen into a "quiet" 25 points.

Little friends indeed, although they pack a larger impact than their height belies.

Parker Ginobili and Barry are the Spurs' backcourt. The three combined for 59 points and 15 assists last night, while opening up the inside for Duncan and again rendering Sonics point guard Luke Ridnour a non-factor.

They are dominating this series — positing problems with matchups, forcing the Sonics defense to adjust, controlling two games without needing as much dominance from Duncan as is normal.

"You saw what they've done out there," Spurs forward Bruce Bowen said. "It's pretty obvious."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich likes to call it "corporate knowledge," and that's the concept Barry pointed to when asked why his current backcourt has outplayed his former one.

The Spurs have young guards — Parker is in his fourth season; Ginobili is in his third — but both have played at least 69 games a season the last three years. Most important, they've played the vast majority of those games together.

"I point to the experience," Barry said. "Those guys have been through so many playoff battles together. The Sonics are left with experience that's hard to match up against."

That's why the Spurs say they can understand what Ginobili is going to do before he even knows what that might be. Ginobili again came off the bench last night, after Barry replaced him in the starting lineup six playoff games ago.

Ginobili drilled two three-pointers early against the Sonics, forcing them to move out and play him tighter. Then he started driving, imitating Parker's performance from Game 1.

Which is funny, because the Sonics collapsed their defense after Parker tore through it, allowing Ginobili the opening outside in the first place. Once he started driving, Parker followed, adding 20 points.

That's the way these guards work, Barry said. When he's needed to play defense — like helping out on Allen last night because of Bowen's foul trouble — Barry can do that. When the Spurs need scoring off the bench, Ginobili can do that. And when they need Parker to assert himself in the first quarter, well, Parker can do that, too.

Ginobili led the Spurs in scoring during their first-round series win against Denver. He led them again in scoring last night. He darts around the court like a pinball, never knowing which way he's going until he bounces next.

Because of that experience, Barry said, the Spurs have a better feel for where Ginobili is going to be.

"We don't ever know what he does," Duncan said. "He puts his head down and goes, and we pray for the best. It usually works out, though."

Greg Bishop: 206-464-3191 or [email protected]

[ZStomp]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002270531_kell11.html

Allen valiant in return, but Spurs stay in high gear

By Steve Kelley
Seattle Times staff columnist

SAN ANTONIO — The predictable waterfall of boos greeted Ray Allen last night when he ran — yes ran, not hobbled — onto the floor for pregame warmups.

With his sprained right ankle heavily braced, Allen glided through the layup line. He stretched on the floor on top of the San Antonio Spurs' logo. He launched and drained jump shots as fluid as mercury.

In short, he looked like himself.

This game wasn't going to be some facsimile of Willis Reed limping out for the final game against the Lakers in 1970. Allen wasn't making a cursory, inspirational cameo in the game.

He looked ready for another 40-plus minutes of fight with Bruce Bowen.

And in the first five minutes, Allen drew two fouls on Bowen. Fighting through the pain, he scored four points in the first quarter, including a tough ankle-testing drive to the basket.

Allen, who complained bitterly Monday about the way Bowen plays defense, calling him "dirty," stood up to the heat his remarks caused. He did what he could do. He grossly outplayed Bowen, who had five fouls in only 17 minutes.

"I think a big case can be made for it [Allen's effective lobbying]," Bowen said after the game. "But if you ask the official that question, I'm sure they would say they don't play favorites. It's unfortunate I got so many fouls. They [Manu Ginobili and Brent Barry] did a good job on him. Look, the guy got a lot of free throws [10]. He had a good game for them. That's what they needed."

Allen gave the Spurs his full arsenal. A three in the face of Ginobili. A tear-drop drive in the lane. A long three from the corner after a San Antonio turnover.

Maybe it was his public complaining, but more likely it was because he was more aggressive than Bowen that Allen got every iffy call.

He played heroically, occupying the Spurs' defense. Forcing the Spurs to pay attention every time he touched the ball, every time he made a cut. In 42 amazing minutes, Allen scored 25 points.

He tired in the fourth quarter, however, scoring only two points and, in the Sonics' 108-91 Game 2 loss, it became obvious that Allen, at 80-something percent, isn't nearly enough to beat a team as good as San Antonio.

So who is going to fill the void in this Western Conference semifinal series?

With Vlade Radmanovic gone and Allen hurting, who among the Sonics will raise the level of his game to match the moment? Rashard Lewis? Nick Collison? Flip Murray? Luke Ridnour? Antonio Daniels?

Which matchup could the Sonics exploit?

The logical choice was Brent Barry on Lewis. On this night, unlike what he did in the first game, Lewis needed to punish Barry. Take him into the paint and score over him. Take him outside and blow by him.

Any hope of winning the game belonged to Lewis. He had to play like an all-star, like a superstar. He had to be the first and second options. Lewis had to score, early and often. He had to set a tone.

The Sonics needed Lewis to play great, not good. They needed him to score from the get-go, but he missed all five of his first-quarter shots.

These are the games that make reputations. Lewis played well, but he wasn't the difference-maker he has to be for the Sonics to win even a game or two.

In 45 minutes, he scored 22 points. The Sonics needed more.

Sure they played with more life, more confidence, less fear. In another hostile arena, they played with resilience — and they still lost by 17 points.

The Sonics' effort offered some hope for the home games, if not the series.

The pattern, however, was similar to the first game. The Sonics couldn't get shots to drop early, and their missed jumpers sparked the Spurs' fast breaks.

San Antonio beat the Sonics to loose balls. The Spurs played another game in a much higher gear than the Sonics. They had 22 fast-break points. The Sonics had eight.

"I think we are playing better. Making fewer mistakes. Playing more aggressively than in the Denver series," said Spurs guard Ginobili, who scored 28 points. "But we have to stay humble. We've got to keep the same focus and go there [Seattle] and try to win at least one game. We've got a lot of room to improve, and we really want to do it."

Eight minutes into the game, the Sonics were down double digits and, against maybe the best front-running team in the league, they couldn't catch up. They hung around. They played much harder.

In the fourth quarter, when they cut a 15-point lead to 10 with 3:18 to play, Daniels played brilliantly. Collison argued for more minutes.

The Sonics ran their offense better. They had some offensive success going small, with Lewis at power forward and, defensively, they slightly contained Spurs point guard Tony Parker.

But nobody stopped Ginobili. Nobody stopped Tim Duncan, who scored 25. Nobody stopped the San Antonio fast break.

San Antonio is an inexorable force, running to an inevitable Western Conference finale with Phoenix.

[bbxsbs]

a good source of sportspages across the country is sportspages.com...once you get to the website, for example to get Seattle sportspages, click on "West" under regions and the two Seattle papers will be listed with others....

[johnny00]

Thanks Z,

2 of 3 articles conceding this series to the Spurs.

The Sonics have to be shellshocked, after the way they handled Sacramento they just ran into a buzzsaw coming to S.A.

[boutons]

"a lot of breaks in this game and it seemed like none of them went our way."

Ray, have gotten tons of calls in Game2, is now whining about not getting "breaks"? He is truly amazing.

Sonics "are more accustomed to a quicker pace"

Spurs were +14 in FB points. You want them to go quicker?

"We don't have everyone"

Vlad didn't do shit vs Kings. They miss him?

"For some reason, we can't get any good looks from behind the line," Lewis said. "

He still can't figure out why? whine, bitch, moan, complain, confused. Losers.

"Fighting through the pain"

melodrama as good as any daytime soap opera!

[FromWayDowntown]

Ray Allen as a heroic figure? Give me a break. What "hero" ever grovels for special treatment?

It's shameful that the NBA indulges whining and carrying on like that and it's unfortunate that it seems like nobody will call Ray publicly on his whining. Why not ask the guy something like: "Ray, would you attribute the ridiculous touch fouls you drew tonight to officials bailing you out, or is it a byproduct of all of your complaining?"