Gooshie
01-31-2005, 02:07 AM
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/basketball/210007_sonx31.html
Sonics may be short-handed against Spurs
McMillan flies home to be with ill mother; Allen suffering from flu
By DANNY O'NEIL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Sonics head coach Nate McMillan was in Raleigh, N.C., yesterday to be with his mother, who is gravely ill.
Top scorer Ray Allen missed practice because of the flu.
Whether McMillan will be back for tonight's game against San Antonio was undecided yesterday, and Allen's status for tonight was equally unclear. But amid those concerns and questions, one apparent certainty at the Sonics' practice: The Spurs were headed to town with a bur in their britches after losing two games to Seattle this season.
"San Antonio is most definitely coming looking for payback," Sonics forward Rashard Lewis said.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich likely will do more than touch on the fact the Sonics are the only team to beat the Spurs twice this season.
"They're going to come in there and be extremely pumped up about paying us back," guard Antonio Daniels said. "'Pop' is that type of guy -- a very intense coach who wants to bring the best out in his players."
Daniels should know. He played four seasons in San Antonio, and in that time the Sonics scored 100 points or more against the Spurs only twice. Entering this season, those were the only two times Seattle had scored 100 points or more in its previous 23 games against the Spurs.
In the first 40 days of this season, the Sonics hit triple figures twice against the Spurs. The Sonics (30-12) are the only visiting team to win in San Antonio this season.
"They're going to psyche themselves up," Seattle center Jerome James said. "They had the best home record in San Antonio and we came in there and whupped 'em in there.
"So I'm not really worried about it. Bring your best, and we'll bring our best."
The Sonics haven't just had the Spurs' number this season. They've had their number programmed on speed dial. Why?
"Me," James answered.
He kept a straight face for about a second before melting into a smile. "Just kidding," James said. "I'm just playing around."
Seriously, though. Seattle had beaten San Antonio only once in the previous two seasons. That was on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Brent Barry on Nov. 24, 2002, in San Antonio. Seattle had lost seven consecutive games to the Spurs before their Nov. 7 victory.
"We have success against teams with post-up guys, because we force them to go to something else," James said. "We don't allow them to execute their games."
The Sonics roll big men into the game in waves. Reggie Evans and Jerome James start. Nick Collison and Danny Fortson come off the bench. None average more than 10 points individually, but collectively they add up to an intimidating physical presence. Evans and Fortson are among the top five players in the league in rebounds per minute. Fortson, James and Collison rank first, second and third in the NBA in fouls per minute.
The inside quartet was a central factor in the Sonics' first victory over San Antonio this season, when two-time league MVP Tim Duncan shot 4-for-16 from the field and scored 17 points. But on Dec. 8 Duncan had 39 points and Seattle still won. How?
Seattle's bench outscored San Antonio's bench 41-19 in the second game. Seattle also held an edge in bench scoring the first time at 46-28. The Sonics are 16-2 when their bench scores 40 or more points.
Seattle outrebounded San Antonio for the second consecutive game as well. The Sonics were outrebounded in all eight previous games against the Spurs.
Statistics are great for autopsies of past performances. As for predicting the future, there are other numbers that might be more telling:
Seattle has allowed an average of 100.6 points in 14 games this month after giving up an average of 94.2 the first two months of the season.
The Sonics have allowed more than 100 points in each of their six losses in January.
Associate head coach Dwane Casey -- who ran Seattle's practice in McMillan's absence yesterday -- said the team must find a way to increase its defensive intensity.
"If that light switch is not on, it could be a long night," Casey said.
FAMILY MATTERS: McMillan left yesterday morning to fly to Raleigh, where his mother is ailing. It's the second time this month McMillan has had to leave the team for a family emergency. His aunt, who had helped raise him, died this month of cancer. Now his mother is ill.
"It's most definitely a hard day today, Nate not being here and the concern for his mom," said Lewis, one of Seattle's co-captains. "I know he wants to be here with us as a team, but that's your mom. That's the person who raised you from the day you were born."
McMillan has missed two games in his four-plus seasons as coach. In January 2002, he left the team to be with his mother, who was ill, and then this month to attend the funeral for his aunt.
ALLEN AILING: Allen was out sick yesterday because of the flu, and Casey said if he can't play tonight there are three possible replacements: Antonio Daniels, Ronald Murray or Vladimir Radmanovic if the Sonics choose to use a three-forward lineup with Luke Ridnour the only guard.
Allen is one of five Sonics players to play in every game this season, and Lewis said he won't be surprised if Allen is in the lineup tonight.
"I think he will (play), just Ray being Ray," Lewis said. "He's trying to get well, but regardless if he's sick tomorrow or not, I think he's going to come in and try to give as much energy as he can."
RARE ROMPS
After going 1-7 against San Antonio the past two seasons, the Sonics have posted two victories over the Spurs this season:
Nov. 7, 2004: The Sonics snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Spurs as Rashard Lewis scored 27 points and Danny Fortson chipped in 15 and 13 rebounds in a 113-94 rout. The Sonics, who had not defeated San Antonio since Nov. 24, 2002, led 25-19 after 12 minutes and never trailed thereafter. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili scored 21 points apiece for San Antonio, but Tim Duncan was held to 17 on 4-for-16 shooting. Even with Ginobili making 7 of 12 shots, San Antonio's starting five combined to shoot 39 percent (23-for-59). The Spurs also committed 20 turnovers. Seattle shot 51 percent (39 of 77), including 6-for-13 shooting from beyond the arc, and missed just 4 of 33 free-throw attempts.
Dec. 8, 2004: Ray Allen scored 29 points as the Sonics built a big lead and held on for a 102-96 victory that snapped San Antonio's eight-game winning streak. Behind Allen's 19 points and a zone defense that throttled the Spurs, Seattle raced to a 60-41 halftime lead. During its winning streak, San Antonio allowed 60 points through three quarters just twice. Lewis scored 16 points, and Antonio Daniels and Fortson added 14 each for the Sonics. Duncan scored a season-high 39 points for the Spurs.
-- P-I staff
SPURRED ON
When the Sonics played the Spurs on Nov. 7, it had been three years since Seattle had scored more than 100 points against San Antonio. Now it's happened twice in the first two months of the season. The numbers against San Antonio:
2002-04 2004
Record 1-7 2-0
Scoring 85.3 107.5
FG pct. 41.1 49.0
3-point pct. 33.6 42.9
Sonics rebounds 37 37
Spurs rebounds 44 34.5
SONICS VS. SPURS
WHEN/WHERE:
7 tonight, KeyArena
TV/RADIO: FSN; KJR-AM/950
P-I reporter Danny O'Neil can be reached at 206-448-8209 or dannyo'[email protected]
Sonics may be short-handed against Spurs
McMillan flies home to be with ill mother; Allen suffering from flu
By DANNY O'NEIL
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Sonics head coach Nate McMillan was in Raleigh, N.C., yesterday to be with his mother, who is gravely ill.
Top scorer Ray Allen missed practice because of the flu.
Whether McMillan will be back for tonight's game against San Antonio was undecided yesterday, and Allen's status for tonight was equally unclear. But amid those concerns and questions, one apparent certainty at the Sonics' practice: The Spurs were headed to town with a bur in their britches after losing two games to Seattle this season.
"San Antonio is most definitely coming looking for payback," Sonics forward Rashard Lewis said.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich likely will do more than touch on the fact the Sonics are the only team to beat the Spurs twice this season.
"They're going to come in there and be extremely pumped up about paying us back," guard Antonio Daniels said. "'Pop' is that type of guy -- a very intense coach who wants to bring the best out in his players."
Daniels should know. He played four seasons in San Antonio, and in that time the Sonics scored 100 points or more against the Spurs only twice. Entering this season, those were the only two times Seattle had scored 100 points or more in its previous 23 games against the Spurs.
In the first 40 days of this season, the Sonics hit triple figures twice against the Spurs. The Sonics (30-12) are the only visiting team to win in San Antonio this season.
"They're going to psyche themselves up," Seattle center Jerome James said. "They had the best home record in San Antonio and we came in there and whupped 'em in there.
"So I'm not really worried about it. Bring your best, and we'll bring our best."
The Sonics haven't just had the Spurs' number this season. They've had their number programmed on speed dial. Why?
"Me," James answered.
He kept a straight face for about a second before melting into a smile. "Just kidding," James said. "I'm just playing around."
Seriously, though. Seattle had beaten San Antonio only once in the previous two seasons. That was on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Brent Barry on Nov. 24, 2002, in San Antonio. Seattle had lost seven consecutive games to the Spurs before their Nov. 7 victory.
"We have success against teams with post-up guys, because we force them to go to something else," James said. "We don't allow them to execute their games."
The Sonics roll big men into the game in waves. Reggie Evans and Jerome James start. Nick Collison and Danny Fortson come off the bench. None average more than 10 points individually, but collectively they add up to an intimidating physical presence. Evans and Fortson are among the top five players in the league in rebounds per minute. Fortson, James and Collison rank first, second and third in the NBA in fouls per minute.
The inside quartet was a central factor in the Sonics' first victory over San Antonio this season, when two-time league MVP Tim Duncan shot 4-for-16 from the field and scored 17 points. But on Dec. 8 Duncan had 39 points and Seattle still won. How?
Seattle's bench outscored San Antonio's bench 41-19 in the second game. Seattle also held an edge in bench scoring the first time at 46-28. The Sonics are 16-2 when their bench scores 40 or more points.
Seattle outrebounded San Antonio for the second consecutive game as well. The Sonics were outrebounded in all eight previous games against the Spurs.
Statistics are great for autopsies of past performances. As for predicting the future, there are other numbers that might be more telling:
Seattle has allowed an average of 100.6 points in 14 games this month after giving up an average of 94.2 the first two months of the season.
The Sonics have allowed more than 100 points in each of their six losses in January.
Associate head coach Dwane Casey -- who ran Seattle's practice in McMillan's absence yesterday -- said the team must find a way to increase its defensive intensity.
"If that light switch is not on, it could be a long night," Casey said.
FAMILY MATTERS: McMillan left yesterday morning to fly to Raleigh, where his mother is ailing. It's the second time this month McMillan has had to leave the team for a family emergency. His aunt, who had helped raise him, died this month of cancer. Now his mother is ill.
"It's most definitely a hard day today, Nate not being here and the concern for his mom," said Lewis, one of Seattle's co-captains. "I know he wants to be here with us as a team, but that's your mom. That's the person who raised you from the day you were born."
McMillan has missed two games in his four-plus seasons as coach. In January 2002, he left the team to be with his mother, who was ill, and then this month to attend the funeral for his aunt.
ALLEN AILING: Allen was out sick yesterday because of the flu, and Casey said if he can't play tonight there are three possible replacements: Antonio Daniels, Ronald Murray or Vladimir Radmanovic if the Sonics choose to use a three-forward lineup with Luke Ridnour the only guard.
Allen is one of five Sonics players to play in every game this season, and Lewis said he won't be surprised if Allen is in the lineup tonight.
"I think he will (play), just Ray being Ray," Lewis said. "He's trying to get well, but regardless if he's sick tomorrow or not, I think he's going to come in and try to give as much energy as he can."
RARE ROMPS
After going 1-7 against San Antonio the past two seasons, the Sonics have posted two victories over the Spurs this season:
Nov. 7, 2004: The Sonics snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Spurs as Rashard Lewis scored 27 points and Danny Fortson chipped in 15 and 13 rebounds in a 113-94 rout. The Sonics, who had not defeated San Antonio since Nov. 24, 2002, led 25-19 after 12 minutes and never trailed thereafter. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili scored 21 points apiece for San Antonio, but Tim Duncan was held to 17 on 4-for-16 shooting. Even with Ginobili making 7 of 12 shots, San Antonio's starting five combined to shoot 39 percent (23-for-59). The Spurs also committed 20 turnovers. Seattle shot 51 percent (39 of 77), including 6-for-13 shooting from beyond the arc, and missed just 4 of 33 free-throw attempts.
Dec. 8, 2004: Ray Allen scored 29 points as the Sonics built a big lead and held on for a 102-96 victory that snapped San Antonio's eight-game winning streak. Behind Allen's 19 points and a zone defense that throttled the Spurs, Seattle raced to a 60-41 halftime lead. During its winning streak, San Antonio allowed 60 points through three quarters just twice. Lewis scored 16 points, and Antonio Daniels and Fortson added 14 each for the Sonics. Duncan scored a season-high 39 points for the Spurs.
-- P-I staff
SPURRED ON
When the Sonics played the Spurs on Nov. 7, it had been three years since Seattle had scored more than 100 points against San Antonio. Now it's happened twice in the first two months of the season. The numbers against San Antonio:
2002-04 2004
Record 1-7 2-0
Scoring 85.3 107.5
FG pct. 41.1 49.0
3-point pct. 33.6 42.9
Sonics rebounds 37 37
Spurs rebounds 44 34.5
SONICS VS. SPURS
WHEN/WHERE:
7 tonight, KeyArena
TV/RADIO: FSN; KJR-AM/950
P-I reporter Danny O'Neil can be reached at 206-448-8209 or dannyo'[email protected]