Sunday, May 15, 2005

SONICS V. SPURS GAME 4 -- LIVE BLOG

Place any questions or comments about the game in the comment zone and I will get to them during the live blog.

SONICS WIN IN COMMANDING FASHION
WHAT A PERFORMANCE !!!!!!
SERIES IS TIED 2-2

SONICS 101 SPURS 89 FINAL SCORE
THIS IS AMAZING !!!! WHAT A WIN !!! WE HAVE A SERIES !!!!!
Damien Wilkins defense and energy.
Ray Allen's super human play
Luke Ridnour's third quarter explosion.
Nick Collison, Jerome James, Danny Fortson and Vitaly all commanding the middle.
Antionio once again playing in total control.

What do you think their post-game huddle was like.


SONICS 99 SPURS 81 with 2:52 left in the Game
Ray Allen checks out with 32 points in 41 minutes.
How do the Spurs react considering last year they won the first two games against the Lakers and then they took away Tony Paker and the Spurs lost the next 4.

SONICS 95 SPURS 77 with 5:06 left in the 4th Quarter.
Is this the most improbable win since they won in Dallas in Game 2 of 1986-87. Which was Nate McMillan's rookie year. The Sonics went on to win the series.
Spurs did not win a regular season game when they allowed 100 points.

SONICS 95 SPURS 77 with 5:27 left in the 4th Quarter.
Sonics have just gone small. Wilkins is at the 4.
Where is Tim Duncan ?

SONICS 95 SPURS 75 with 6:36 left in the 4th Quarter
If they hold on you have to go back awhile to find a more impressive win then this win by the Sonics.
Crowd going nuts --- SUPER --- SONICS --- SUPER --- SONICS
The Sonics are in a terrific rhythm. They are recognizing the mismatches. Hitting guys on picks. It is neat to watch.

SONICS 87 SPURS 70 with 9:22 left in the 4th Quarter
The only issue left is energy. If the Spurs get rolling do the Sonics have the energy to hold them off. The real question is whether or not the Spurs have it to get rolling?
Danny Fortson is in the head of the Spurs.

SONICS 82 SPURS 66 end of the 3rd Quarter
THIS IS TOTALLY UNREAL !!!!
The Sonics scored on 8 straight possessions to close the quarter and 15 of their final 16 and 18 of their final 20 possessions of the quarter. Against the best defense in the NBA.
Ridnour is 7 of 7 in the quarter and has 19 points.
The score was 70-62 when Allen checked out !! That is huge.
You have to give Duncan credit. He came to the arena early to do work on his free throws and he has hit 14 of 17 free throws

SONICS 75 SPURS 64 with 1:21 left in the 3rd Quarter
Spurs have just 4 stops in the quarter and 2 of them came on the first two possessions of the quarter.
Fortson is making Duncan work so hard. You wonder if impacts his free throw shooting in the final moments of the game.

SONICS 70 SPURS 59 with 2:54 left in the 3rd Quarter
Ray Allen has 28 points -- he just buried the nastiest left hand jam in traffic.
If you can keep Parker and Ginobili under 20 the Sonics will win? Parker has 10 and Ginobili has 11.
This building may not have a roof in a few moments. Either because Ray busts through it or becasue the noise blows it off.

SONICS 64 SPURS 55 with 4:34 left in the 3rd Quarter
Could they really do this?

SONICS 61 SPURS 55 with 5:23 left in the 3rd Quarter
Ridnour and Collison have dealt with the playoffs terrificly.
The Sonics are fronting Duncan and it is not working. They are trying to push him off the block becasue he usually will curl over the front to get post position and will be farther off the block, but tonight they are lobbing over the smaller Sonics defenders.
RAY ALLEN HAS TAKEN OFF AGAIN
If you are near a radio turn it on -- KEVIN IS ON FIRE !!!! YOU HAVE TO HEAR KC RIGHT NOW !!!!!


Remember Kevin Pelton has another blog going on at Supersonics.com that is worth checking out.

SONICS 52 SPURS 52 with 8:20 left in the 3rd Quarter
JJ out with 4 fouls at the 10:20 mark -- Collison in
Tim Duncan is 11 of 12 from the field with 28 points. Sonics don't want to double him, but they might have to.
Sonics don't have a stop in the 2nd half.
Double Techs called on Bowen and Allen. Ray is frustrated with Bowen right now.

LOOKING TO THE SECOND HALF
Three things
1) Can they maintain the energy. Guys are being asked to play huge minutes without Rashard.
2) Where are they going to get their offense? The Sonics aren't going to get all the turnovers so they need to find a way to score
3) Can they rebound? This will be tough since they need to go small

HALFTIME STATS
Pace of Play: 43 possession (2nd quarter was very slow)
Offensive Efficiency: 101 (this is lower than game 3)
Defensive Efficiency: 96 (right where the Sonics were in game #3)
Effective Field Goal%: 51 (series high)
Defensive E Field Goal%: 40 (series low)
Offensive Rebounding %: 26%
Defensive Rebounding%: 47% (that means the Spurs are at 53% of eligible offensive rebounds)
Offensive Turnover%: 15%
Defensive Turnover%: 36%

SONICS 46 SPURS 40 at halftime
Damien Wilkins is the story of the 1st half.
I think Ray Allen has been pacing himself in the later part of the 2nd Quarter. He realizes he will have to carry this thing in the 2nd half and probably play around 46 minutes. That is why he is such a smart player.



COMMENT FROM THE COMMENT ZONE
filthy mcgreedy said...

how many points off t/o's for the sonics?
With 1:30 left in the quarter the Sonics have 10 points off 14 turnovers.

SONICS 39 SPURS 38 with 1:53 left in the 2nd Quarter.
The scary thing is the Sonics are playing as well as you could imagine. The Spurs were just 2 of 12 for the quarter with 4 turnovers and the Sonics are only up by 1.
The Sonics have gone to Wilkins as the 4. Wilkins is playing amazingly well. However, with him at the 4 the Sonics can't rebound.

SONICS 39 SPURS 32 with 4:04 left in the 2nd Quarter
The Spurs have committed an amazing 14 turnovers. The Sonics defense is every where.
Seattle is playing better then anyone could have anticipated.

Reminder Kevin Pelton at supersonics.com has another blog going that is worth checking out.

SONICS 37 SPURS 32 with 5:25 left in the 2nd Quarter
One of the issues tonight is going to be if Seattle can maintain this type of energy. They are off the charts with their energy but they are so short on the bench that Ridnour, Allen and AD will all have to play about 40 minutes. Can they keep it up?

SONICS 37 SPURS 31 with 5:54 left in the 2nd Quarter
Spurs had just 4 points in the first 5:30 of the 2nd Quarter
Ridnour hit Wilkins on an unreal bounce pass of the dribble through the teeth for a Wilkins lay-up.
Ray Allen is in the zone with 17 points.

COMMENT FROM THE COMMENT ZONE
zsonic said...

Nate has done an amazing job adjusting to opposing defences this year, but we have to give a lot of credit to all the regulars for executing the offense. This game is a prime example of taking the midrange jumper as opposed to dropping the ball off on the pick and roll
Great point on both accounts. Nate has an amazing feel for this team. Great pick up on the mid range jumper. The Spurs are denying the three therefore the Sonics have to take the mid-range shots.

SONICS 28 SPURS 26 END OF 1 QUARTER
Seattle badly misplayed the final 30 seconds of the quarter and had a non-possession and then gave up a wide open three to Duncan.
The ball bounced the Spurs way. On a great defensive stand the offensive rebounded rolled to Ginobili for a lay-up.
The Sonics are being very physical. Collison blasted Duncan at the hoop and then Fortson lowered the boom on Ginobili with a huge pick.
Nick Collison is a terrific defensive player. He is always in the correct spot.
The Sonics have knocked the Spurs out of any offensive rhythm.


SONICS 23 SPURS 20 with 2:33 left in the 1st Quarter
Spurs are in the bonus at the 3:43 mark of the 1st Quarter
AD and Ginobili could both spend time in Hollywood considering the acting they do on the floor.
Spurs have scored on 8 of the last 9 possessions.

SONICS 18 SPURS 14 with 4:54 left in the 1st Quarter
Sonics scored on 8 of 9 possessions.
Ray Allen looks very comfortable and has 8 early points
Defensive rebounding is not as good as Game 3

SONICS 10 SPURS 4 with 8:24 left in the 1st Quarter
A focus on the Spurs pick n roll defense -- they went under the pick on AD and he buried a 3. (Defender try to either go above the pick on a good shooter or under the pick if they don't mind if he shoots. The Spurs went under)
Great defense early by the Sonics. Forcing four turnovers. The only Spurs buckets are on Parker outside jumpers, which the Sonics will live by.


LAST NOTE BEFORE TIP-OFF
+/- from Game 3
Lewis +6
James +5
Allen +3
Daniels +3
Ridnour 0
Collison 0
Fortson -8
Wilkins -10

HOW MANY POINTS WILL THE SONICS SCORE?
Without Rashard the Sonics could have a really hard time coming by points tonight. The Sonics offense has been predicated on spreading the floor to create opening for the pick and roll. Without, Lewis the only way to do that is to play Damien Wilkins at the power forward with Allen, Daniels and Ridnour. The problems with that line-up are numerous. First it is so small, next Ridnour, AD and Wilkins don't put a lot of fear in the opponent from 3. Therefore, points are going to be hard to come by. I would set the over/under 80.

SONICS WITHOUT VLADY AND RASHARD
2-7 in the regular season without Vlady and Rashard.

RASHARD LEWIS INJURY UPDATE
Rashard Lewis is a scratch from the game tonight. He is not ruled out of Game 5.
The Sonics will start Daniels and Ridnour with Allen, Evans and James.

TIM DUNCAN FREE THROWS
Tim Duncan arrived at the arena before the team bus and came into the arena to just shoot free throws.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

Wow, wouldn't it be nice to have Ibo Kutlay now?

Locke said...

No the Sonics don't need Ibo, he would have never been on the playoff roster.

Anonymous said...

Nate has done an amazing job adjusting to opposing defences this year, but we have to give a lot of credit to all the regulars for executing the offense. This game is a prime example of taking the midrange jumper as opposed to dropping the ball off on the pick and roll

Anonymous said...

I like how our big men are in position under the basket today to challenge Ginobli and Parker. The guards are also switching on backdoor cuts which helps the perimeter defense.

Anonymous said...

You have to wonder why one of the most level headed players in the league can be so phased by Bowen. Allen just cost the sonics a scoring opportunity

Anonymous said...

You have to wonder why one of the most level headed players in the league can be so phased by Bowen. Allen just cost the sonics a scoring opportunity

Anonymous said...

Why havent the Sonics been faking the double team more often? It seems like when the weak side defender comes over it really brings some chaos into the spurs offence.

Anonymous said...

As impressive as Wilkins' offense has been tonight, I'm more impressed with his defense. In the last two games, it looks to me like he has pretty much shut down Ginobli whenever he's gone man up with him.

Anonymous said...

You mentioned on KJR last night that the 8 minute Calabro clip was on supersonics.com. Can you provide a link? I've been unable to find it. Thanks!