alamo50
05-19-2005, 11:48 AM
Lewis' return still a game-time decision
The Associated Press
Updated: 9:42 p.m. ET May 18, 2005
SEATTLE - The Seattle SuperSonics returned home only hours before dawn Wednesday, a little bleary-eyed but lacking no confidence despite a 3-2 series deficit against San Antonio.
“This is where we want to be,” center Jerome James said. “It’s a series, and we’re down 3-2. They’ve got to come out and prove they’re the best team. All we’ve got to do is just go out and play.”
Coach Nate McMillan believes some minor adjustments will help his team recover from a 103-90 loss Tuesday night in Texas — a game where Spurs guard Manu Ginobili broke out for 39 points.
“It was more us than them,” McMillan said. “I feel we can still win. As poorly as we executed, we were close. Ginobili had a huge night, but if we do the things we’re capable of — what we’ve already done — we can win.”
The Sonics don’t know the status of All-Star forward Rashard Lewis for Game 6 on Thursday night. He didn’t practice again Wednesday, and it’s been a week since he sprained his left big toe in Seattle’s Game 3 victory.
The injury is quite painful but even at less than full strength, Lewis could contribute just by being on the floor. McMillan agreed he’d have to consider limiting Lewis’ minutes or bringing him off the bench.
“He’s still a game-time decision,” McMillan said. “He didn’t do any running, but he did get on the treadmill for a few minutes. There’s some improvement. He’s walking. He still hasn’t done any running. We’ll see tomorrow.”
The Sonics would prefer to have Lewis back, even just to draw defenders. Ray Allen shot 8-for-19 after facing double teams and sometimes even triple coverage Tuesday when San Antonio trapped him on Seattle’s pick-and-roll.
The Spurs had to do something.
The Sonics devastated San Antonio on pick-and-roll plays in their two homecourt wins. James got free in the lane if defenders rolled to cover Allen in Game 3, and Luke Ridnour tossed in open jumpers when they rolled with James in Game 4.
Having Lewis on the floor would restore a dimension for the Sonics, forcing San Antonio to spread the defense and create the kind of perimeter spacing that Seattle’s shooters thrive on.
“I don’t know how Rashard feels,” Allen said. “I’ve just got to trust him to make the right decision.”
The Spurs can thank Ginobili for helping them regain the momentum. Coach Gregg Popovich played an instinct and started “El Contusion” — the nickname Brent Barry gave the star from Argentina for his tendency to draw contact.
Nazr Mohammed added a playoff career high 19 points, and Ginobili bowled his way to a 10-of-15 shooting performance from the floor. His aggressive play got him to the free throw line, where he shot 15-of-17.
“Our goal now is to go there and finish because we didn’t play well there in 3 and 4,” Ginobili said.
San Antonio survived despite only six points off the bench and a so-so performance by Tim Duncan — 20 points and 14 rebounds.
“That’s the thing about our team. If I have an off night, if Tim has an off night, we have three guys who can score. Pop will choose who’s hot,” said Tony Parker, who shot 4-of-13 for 11 points.
The Sonics, though, aren’t giving up. Even if Lewis is unable to suit up, McMillan sees plenty of reasons to believe Seattle can force a decisive seventh game Sunday in San Antonio.
“This is a test for us — to see how bad we want it,” McMillan said.
The Sonics also need to keep Ginobili and Parker from penetrating.
Once the Spurs guards get in the lane, they’re quick enough to slash for baskets or pass to Duncan underneath. Look for the Sonics to return to the more physical defense they showed in Games 3 and 4.
To contain Mohammed, the Sonics will need James and Reggie Evans to stay home defensively and protect the weak side from putbacks and easy baskets.
“They didn’t run one play for (Mohammed). It was dribble penetration. They were dropping it down to him,” McMillan said.
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Associated Press
Updated: 9:42 p.m. ET May 18, 2005
SEATTLE - The Seattle SuperSonics returned home only hours before dawn Wednesday, a little bleary-eyed but lacking no confidence despite a 3-2 series deficit against San Antonio.
“This is where we want to be,” center Jerome James said. “It’s a series, and we’re down 3-2. They’ve got to come out and prove they’re the best team. All we’ve got to do is just go out and play.”
Coach Nate McMillan believes some minor adjustments will help his team recover from a 103-90 loss Tuesday night in Texas — a game where Spurs guard Manu Ginobili broke out for 39 points.
“It was more us than them,” McMillan said. “I feel we can still win. As poorly as we executed, we were close. Ginobili had a huge night, but if we do the things we’re capable of — what we’ve already done — we can win.”
The Sonics don’t know the status of All-Star forward Rashard Lewis for Game 6 on Thursday night. He didn’t practice again Wednesday, and it’s been a week since he sprained his left big toe in Seattle’s Game 3 victory.
The injury is quite painful but even at less than full strength, Lewis could contribute just by being on the floor. McMillan agreed he’d have to consider limiting Lewis’ minutes or bringing him off the bench.
“He’s still a game-time decision,” McMillan said. “He didn’t do any running, but he did get on the treadmill for a few minutes. There’s some improvement. He’s walking. He still hasn’t done any running. We’ll see tomorrow.”
The Sonics would prefer to have Lewis back, even just to draw defenders. Ray Allen shot 8-for-19 after facing double teams and sometimes even triple coverage Tuesday when San Antonio trapped him on Seattle’s pick-and-roll.
The Spurs had to do something.
The Sonics devastated San Antonio on pick-and-roll plays in their two homecourt wins. James got free in the lane if defenders rolled to cover Allen in Game 3, and Luke Ridnour tossed in open jumpers when they rolled with James in Game 4.
Having Lewis on the floor would restore a dimension for the Sonics, forcing San Antonio to spread the defense and create the kind of perimeter spacing that Seattle’s shooters thrive on.
“I don’t know how Rashard feels,” Allen said. “I’ve just got to trust him to make the right decision.”
The Spurs can thank Ginobili for helping them regain the momentum. Coach Gregg Popovich played an instinct and started “El Contusion” — the nickname Brent Barry gave the star from Argentina for his tendency to draw contact.
Nazr Mohammed added a playoff career high 19 points, and Ginobili bowled his way to a 10-of-15 shooting performance from the floor. His aggressive play got him to the free throw line, where he shot 15-of-17.
“Our goal now is to go there and finish because we didn’t play well there in 3 and 4,” Ginobili said.
San Antonio survived despite only six points off the bench and a so-so performance by Tim Duncan — 20 points and 14 rebounds.
“That’s the thing about our team. If I have an off night, if Tim has an off night, we have three guys who can score. Pop will choose who’s hot,” said Tony Parker, who shot 4-of-13 for 11 points.
The Sonics, though, aren’t giving up. Even if Lewis is unable to suit up, McMillan sees plenty of reasons to believe Seattle can force a decisive seventh game Sunday in San Antonio.
“This is a test for us — to see how bad we want it,” McMillan said.
The Sonics also need to keep Ginobili and Parker from penetrating.
Once the Spurs guards get in the lane, they’re quick enough to slash for baskets or pass to Duncan underneath. Look for the Sonics to return to the more physical defense they showed in Games 3 and 4.
To contain Mohammed, the Sonics will need James and Reggie Evans to stay home defensively and protect the weak side from putbacks and easy baskets.
“They didn’t run one play for (Mohammed). It was dribble penetration. They were dropping it down to him,” McMillan said.
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.