Thursday, May 12, 2005

LIVE BLOG FOR GAME 3 --- SONICS V. SPURS

If you have any questions or comments place them in the comment zone. I will check them and respond during the Live Blog.


DUNCAN MISSES AND THE SONICS WIN !!!!!!

SONICS 92 SPURS 91 with 2.9 seconds left in the game
Allen goes 1 on 1 with Bowen and misses the shot. Spurs rebound.
Spurs will in bound in front court.

SONICS 92 SPURS 91 with :29.3 seconds left
The Sonics have the ball
Barry and Horry missed wide open threes. The Spurs get a third opporunity with Ginobili getting the offensive rebound and he hit just one of the two free throws.

SONICS 92 SPURS 90 with 1:46 left in the 4th Q
Jerome James has fouled out. He was terrific on the pick and roll offensively.
James was 7 of 7 and at least 5 were dunks.
Allen still no field goals since the 5:08 mark of the 3rd Q
Free throw shooting is killing the Spurs

SONICS 92 SPURS 89 with 1:56 left in the 4th Q
AD nails 4 straight free throws

SPURS 88 SONICS 88
Allen and Lewis are a combined 9 of 31.

SPURS 88 SONICS 86 with 3:00 left in the 4th Quarter
Allen's last bucket was Seattle 65th point mid way through the 3rd Q
Allen just missed an open 3. It was the first possession with a shot from Allen or Lewis since the 5:20 mark.
Lewis still out of the game.
Daniels going to the line with a chance to tie
Reggie Evans has an injury to his back.
Spurs have scored on just 2 of last 10 possessions.


SPURS 87 SONICS 84 with 4:00 minutes left
Barry in for Horry and playing the power forward -- that is going small.
Rashard Lewis just left the game with an ankle injury.

SPURS 85 SONICS 82 with 5:49 left in 4th Quarter
Seattle has just had two straight poor offensive possessions. AD forced a shot on the baseline, Ray went into the death zone and left Luke to die as the shot clock expired and
Duncan nails a 20 footer --- he is so good.
No 3 point shooting at all in the game 2 of 15 for the game
Sonics have Daniels, Ridnour, Allen, Lewis and James
Spurs have Parker, Ginobili, Bowen, Horry and Duncan.

SPURS 81 SONCIS 81 with 8:34 in the 4th Quarter
This an amazing game.

SPURS 79 SONICS 79 with 9:25 left in the 4th Quarter
Jerome James in for Nick Collison with score 79-77 Spurs.
Sonics have Ridnour, Daniels, Allen, Lewis and James
Spurs have Udrich, Barry, Bowen, Horry and Duncan
Duncan will check out at the next whistle

SPURS 78 SONICS 77 with 10:21 left in the 4th Quarter
Both teams have gone small with Lewis and Horry playing the power forward.
Tim Duncan has the most amazing hands on rebounds
Seattle is not giving Tim Duncan anything easy -- he will have to make free throws.
Rashard Lewis has by-passed two open looks and tried to drive into the DEATH ZONE. Both times turnovers. Lewis must not feel right if he is by-passing that shot.
Ray Allen returns.

SPURS 75 SONICS 75 END OF 3rd QUARTER
Talk about a learning experience for a young team -- HERE WE GO.
Robert Horry hits two dagger threes in the 3rd quarter.
When tied going into the 4th Sonics are 1-2 and the Spurs are 1-3.
Key Arena has been wonderful and should be incredible in the 4th.

SONICS 73 SPURS 71 with 1:30 left in the 3rd Quarter
Seattle is scoring again. They have scored on 8 of their last 11 possessions.

SPURS 70 SONICS 67 with 3:59 left in the 3rd Quarter
This has become an offensive display. The teams combined to score on 8 straight possessions.
The Spurs got back to back three's from Horry and Ginobili which were back breakers.
Again the Spurs never blink or seem frazzled.

SONICS 65 SPURS 64 with 4:55 left in the 3rd Quarter
Ray Allen just got caught in the DEATH ZONE and shot an airball.
For those just joining us, the DEATH ZONE is below the free throw line and near the baseline on either side when the Sonics have the ball. The Spurs double every time and Seattle have been incapable of getting the ball out of the DEATH ZONE. Until now.
Next play the Sonics ran a pick n roll where Allen starts toward the DEATH ZONE and curls back to the middle for an open jumper. Next play after that Allen goes to the DEATH ZONE and bounces the pass to JJ for a dunk. Good coaching and great execution.
Then Seattle got out of it again when Allen threw a cross court pass to Ridnour. That is a break down by the Spurs that passing lane is not supposed to be open.


SPURS 57 SPURS 57 with 8:31 in the 3rd Quarter.
Less ball movement in the opening moemnts of the 3rd Quarter. They are scoring but it is not in the correct fashion.
The Spurs are not flapable. They seem unconcerned everytime the Sonics get hot.
The Spurs game plan tonight is to work Duncan in the post.
Continued good defense on Parker.
Ray Allen scored on the first two possessions of the 3rd quarter and both were off running opportunities.

BIG QUARTER AHEAD
Spurs when leading going into 4th= 48-4
Sonics when leading going into 4th= 42-3

HALFTIME STATS
Pace of Play: 44 trips (very slow)
Offensive Efficiency: 114 (above their season average despite shooting 38%)
Defensive Efficiecny: 106 (best of the series)
Effective Field Goal%: 39%
Defensive Field Goal%: 58% (this is where they have been all series)
Offensive Turnover %:9%
Defenisve Turnover %: 19%


SPURS 51 SONICS 49 at the HALF
Seattle has played much better tonight. The Spurs are playing brillant basketball and Seattle is still in the game. If the Spurs play well they dictate who wins games, but the Sonics are in position if the Spurs blink
Duncan has been dominant in the first half.
Vitaly played Duncan well but Duncan is impacting the game on every possession offensively and defensively.
Seattle's offensive in the 2nd quarter was very efficient despite not shooting well.
The Sonics are getting to the free throw line tonight. 18 to 5 over the Spurs


SPURS 47 SONICS 47 with :48 seconds left
Seattle had slowed down the Spurs offense. They had stops in 8 of 10 possessions. Then the Spurs scored on three straight possessions.
Allen big 3 in transition. It was a running opportunity and Seattle took advantage.
Seattle has had 5 running opportunites in the quarter.

SPURS 41 SONICS 39 with 3:04 left in the 2nd Quarter
Tim Duncan is so good. His defensive block on Vitaly was brillant. His effort on the offensive end is terrific. His use of angles is unequaled.
Seattle stll just shooting 35%

SPURS 41 SONICS 39 with 3:04 left in the 2nd quarter
10-2 run by the Sonics gets the Sonics to within 2 until Paker makes an unreal play driving to the basket.
As we guessed Vitaly Potapenko is playing a large role tonight.
Luke just committed a turnover by getting caught in the DEATH ZONE.
If you are watching on TV watch the Spurs defense when the Sonics try to go to the post with Lewis the defender just sits on his outside shoulder and forces him baseline into the double team. The double team is always there. The Sonics rarely get out of the DEATH ZONE

ANOTHER BLOG -- REMEMBER KEVIN PELTON HAS A BLOG AT SUPERSONICS.COM

SPURS 39 SONICS 33 with 5:29 left in the 2nd Quarter
Allen just got his first feld goal at the 6:11 mark of the 2nd quarter
The Sonics have only two running opportunites in this quarter and had only 4 in the 1st quarter.
They are taking them when they get them but it is not often.


SPURS 37 SONICS 29 with 6:42 left in the 2nd Quarter
Nazr Mohhamed just committed a foul that was identical to the flagrant foul by Danny Fortson but no call.
This game is getting chippy.
Ridnour is back on Parker -- he is playing him well.

SPURS 35 SONICS 25 with 8:44 left in the 2nd Quarter
The Spurs don't lose double digit leads.
Sonics ball movement is great. This is largely becasue they are staying out of the Death Zone of the Spurs defense.
Glenn Robinson is now in as the Spurs power forward.
The Spurs are playing Parker at the 2, this puts AD on him rather than Luke. Is this what the Spurs want?


SPURS 29 SONICS 21 END OF THE 1ST QUARTER
A terrible call on Fortson changes the complexion of the game to close the first quarter. It was gave the Spurs an extra 3 points when Horry hit a 3 on the extra possession.
Seattle looked much better and yet they still trail by 8.
They can't afford to fall any farther behind it is too hard to come back against the Spurs
Sonics shooting just 32%

SPURS 26 SONICS 21 with :20 seconds
Interesting match-ups. The Sonics are playing two bigs with Collison and Fortson. The Spurs have Duncan with Horry who is basically a three.
Damien Wilkins is getting Flip Murray's minutes
The flagrant foul on Danny Fortson was a terrible call.


SPURS 19 SONICS 19 with 2:24 left in the 1st Quarter
The Sonics have had 4 running opportunities in the game thus far -- they have 4 points off of those.
Parker has only 2 points when guarded by Ridnour on 1 of 3 shooting.
The Sonics are doing a much better job reacting to San Antonio's defense in the half court. The ball movement was terrifc lead by Ridnour.

SPURS 19 SONICS 18 with 3:06 left in the 1st Quarter
How good are the Spurs? One play tells the story. Tony Parker ran a pick and roll and the Sonics defended it perfectly and he was denied by great help by the Sonics big men. Then he dished back to Ginobili who then penetrated the defense and the Sonics rotated again but he found a gap to pass to Mohammed for a dunk. It is too hard to guard both of those guys penetrating and not leave a passing lane open.
Sonics are exploiting the Spurs over aggressive help defense with the pick n roll pass back to the big man.
Great hard foul by Nick Collison on Ginobili.
The crowd is riding Rashard Lewis hard tonight.



SONICS 11 SPURS 4 with 7:54 left in the 1st Quarter
In Games 1 and 2 the Sonics trailed 18-8 this time they are putting down the pain.
Luke Ridnour has been brillant in the opening moments, making hustle plays, defending and executing the offense.
The Spurs focus early is to get the ball to Tim Duncan
The Sonics are moving Lewis around and he is getting the ball at the top of the key and places other than the DEATH ZONE. The DEATH ZONE is the area next to the baseline at the post where the Spurs push the ball and let the teeth of their defense go to work.


THINGS WE ARE WATCHING AND CHARTING
Running opportunities for the Sonics
Match-ups
Defense on Parker by LR and AD
Lewis double team and how they react

SOME FUN STATS FOR YOU.
DEFENSE ON TONY PARKER

Game 1 v. Luke In 19 minutes Parker was 8 of 14 and scored 21 points. 5 of those field goals were lay-ups and 2 came on the fast break.
Game 1 v. AD In 9 minutes Parker went 3 of 4 and scored 8 points. 1 of those was a lay-up
Game 2 v. Luke In 17 minutes Parker was 6of 11 for 12 points. Two of those baskets came on the fast-break and just 1 on a lay-up in the half court.
Game 2 v. AD In 20 minutes Parker was 1 of 4 but scored 10 points. That was a fast break field goal.

You can see they did a much better job in Game 2.


+/- FOR THE SERIES

Player --- G 1G 2Total
Luke -- -13 -16 -29
Allen -- -16 -15 -31
Lewis -- -23 -10 -33
Evans -- -12 -7 -19
James -- -6 -15 -21
AD -- -17 -3 -20
Nick -- -4 -6 -10
Danny -- 4-4 0
Flip -- 7 -1 6


ADJUSTMENTS
My guess is that either Nick Collison or Vitaly Potapenko will get an increase in minutes. Seattle must get two things. One they need one of their bigs to make some shots. In addition, they need defenders who execute the plan and that is not a strength of Reggie Evans and Jerome James.

STARTING LINE-UPS
No surprises tonight.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Getting some stops, but what the heck is up with our shooting percentage?

Anonymous said...

Knowing what goes through the mind of an NBA Referee during a game would be like discovering one of the secrets of the universe. Not complaining, some missed calls, but the refs won't lose the series for either team. What do these guys see? What do they ignore? Right or wrong, he's earned his rep, but I do feel bad for Fortson. He could really have an impact for us, but he'll earn a foul for :30 he's on the floor.

Anonymous said...

Amazing win! Total prize fight - great heart! KeyArena sounded like it was blowing up all night. Fans definitely brought it. Man I hope Rashard isn't hurt badly.....

Anonymous said...

Did the Sonics actually win a game where they shot 12 percent on three-pointers this year before this one?