LIVE BLOG FOR GAME 6 -- SONICS V. SPURS

Put your question or comments in the Comment Zone. I will try to respond throughout the game. REMEMBER TO HIT REFRESH TO GET THE LASTEST INFORMATION.

THE MOST MARVELOUS OF SEASONS COMES TO AN END!
SPURS WIN THE SERIES 4-2

SPURS 98 SONICS 96
Duncan knocks down a little hook off a Ginobili drive to give the Spurs the game winner.
Horry hits the 3. He is unreal.
Think about all the missed opportunities earlier in the game.

SPURS 90 SONICS 89 with 2:00 left in the game.
This is all about making plays at this point.
Luke and Nick just made a great play. Allen lead to Wilkins.
4 guys are guarding Ray right now, but he has to be the player who makes the decisions.
Nick is doing a solid job on Duncan
Line-up to close the Season in the Western Conference Semi-Finals: Ridnour, Daniels, Allen, Wilkins and Collison. What would have you guessed at the beginning

SPURS 86 SONICS 84 with 4:57 left in the 4th Quarter.
The coaching staff is concerned to play Colison on Duncan, but I think Colison has to be on the floor. The coaching staff is correct that he might not be able to stop Duncan and that could cost you the game. Duncan is just to long.
Collison enters the game -- let's see how it works.
Collison a rookie guarding Duncan for the season. WOW

SPURS 83 SONICS 82 with 5:49 left in the 4th Quarter
Tim Duncan has stayed in the game -- what a battler
Ray Allen is working so hard right now to get the ball. He has scored the last 5.
I have never seen Ray work this hard. This is the work of a champion caliabler player.
It is a pleasure and a honor to watch these two stars play. This is what the game is all about. These guys play with so much pride.
Brent Barry has just fouled out. Ginobili enters.

SPURS 78 SONICS 77 with 8:08 left in the 4th Quarter
TIM DUNCAN HAS JUST HURT HIS LEFT ANKLE ON A DRIVE TO THE BASKET.
This is not the same ankle he hurt during the season.

SPURS 76 SONICS 75 with 8:59 left in the 4th Quarter.
No Ray Allen to start the quarter. He checks in at 10:00
The officials are scared of Greg Popovich. He is yelling at Danny Crawford at mid court and he swallowed the whistle.
Nick Collison just missed a lefty lay-up. Ouch.
The Spurs got the ball to Tim Duncan all of the first three possessions. No touches on the next three.


IS YOUR HEART PUMPING ?? THIS IS SO CRAZY !!!!!!

SONICS 73 SPURS 72 end of 3rd Quarter
The officials just blew the call on a fast break by Wilkins he didn't touch Ginobili.
Then Collison misses a fast break lay-up when he got his feet caught
Then the next play Fortson commits a flagrant foul on Duncan. He hits both free throws.
Allen then hits a nasty 3 -- Udrich follows.
WHAT INSANE ACTION !!!!! EVERYONE IS ON THEIR FEET. EVERYONE !!!!
The Sonics forced 8 turnovers but got just 4 points off those turnovers.
The amount of missed opportunites is the second most amazing thing in this game.
THE MOST AMAZING IS THESE GUYS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN. HOW I WILL NEVER KNOW?

SONICS 67 SPURS 67 with 2:33 left in the 3rd Quarter.
HOW DO THEY DO THIS -- HOW DO THEY DO THIS -- THEY ARE UNREAL !!!!!!!
Duncan out of the game. Spurs lead the game by 3.
Sonics still don't have a three. Allen hits the first three with 3:05
Fortson in for JJ with 3:44 left -- Spurs by 3. JJ has 4 fouls.
8 second chance opportunites in the quarter for the Spurs. However, the Spurs have turned it over.


SPURS 67 SONICS 64 with 4:11 left in the 3rd Quarter
JJ just sent two great picks that ingnited the offense. What a difference?
Have they gotten over the tough part to get back in the game.
The issue is how many possessions they have wasted in this game with turnovers and a lack of defensive rebounding. You can't do that and overcome it.

SPURS 67 SONICS 59 with 4:48 left in the 3rd Quarter
Collison in the game 6:10 left and down 6. Let's see what Mr. +/- does.
The Spurs worst +/- player Brent Barry is on the floor and Ginobili is out, their best.
Tim Duncan is so relentless. JJ blocked his shot and then TD got it back and dunked.
Way too many second shots. You can't do this in a close playoff game.
Defensive rebounding has been one of the keys in wins v. losses.


SPURS 61 SONICS 53 with 6:47 left in the 3rd Quarter.
Nate just got a technical. It happened after the Sonics battled for three extra looks but Reggie and JJ couldn't finsh. Nate felt their was a foul and it looked like contact, but it may have been as much of frustration on the lack of a finish.
Seattle can complain all they want but he fact is they aren't rebounding. The last 5 points have been on second chance opportunites. Evans and James are getting crushed again.

SPURS 55 SONICS 53 with 7:59 left in the 3rd Quarter
James has missed on the first 4 picks he has set of the quarter
AD just got a technical. That is not smart. That is the veteran. He is supposed to be the model.
Seattle is coming unglued they need something to happen to save them.
The Spurs smell blood. I think this one is going to be over in 5 minutes if they aren't careful.

GUARDING TIM DUNCAN
James/Evans combo 5:30 5 touches 0 points and 0 fouls drawn
Forston 5:40 3 touches 2 points and 1 foul drawn.
James 5:30 2 touches 4 points and 2 fouls drawn
Vitaly 3:32 1 touch 2 points 1 foul drawn

HALFTIME NOTES
The foul trouble killed the Sonics.
Ginobili enters with the Sonics up 5 and with him on the floor their was a 10 point swing.
Fortson went out with his second foul at the 9:34 mark and the Sonics lead by 6. An 11 point swing when the Sonics had to rely on James and Evans on the floor.
The Spurs offense has dicated this series and they are rolling.
You can't play Reggie Evans for extended minutes.
Damien Wilkins was -11 in the second quarter - think the Sonics miss Lewis and Radmanovic.

SPURS 52 SONICS 47 at the Half.
I am not sure Ray Allen has hit an outside shot tonight. He has been aggressive to the basket and that is how he is getting his points.
Sometimes this sounds so simple, but the ball is just not falling for Seattle right now.
I love Vitaly Potapenko he does great things when he is on the floor.
Seattle looked dead in the water and now have battled back. That is a good sign it felt like this thing could have been over by halftime.
Ray Allen's turnovers have been awful in the first half. Turnovers have been the difference in wins and losses. A bad sign for this game.


SPURS 47 SONICS 41 with 2:57 left in the 2nd Quarter.
The season is slipping away
The Spurs are on a 16-2 run.
The Spurs have scored on 11 straight possessions.
The Sonics are wearing down under the pressure. It is too hard to play without Vlady and Rashard and have offensive success and the burden is showing.

SPURS 45 SONICS 41 with 3:25 left in the 2nd Quarter
Tim Duncan re-enters. The Sonics lead 36-31 when Duncan went out.
Spurs take their first lead. At 4:30 mark of the 2nd Quarter
The foul trouble is a huge issue.
Antonio Daniels doesn't seem to be on his game tonight.
Spurs have scored on 9 straight possessions

SONICS 40 SPURS 39 with 4:40 left in the 2nd Q
This thing is headed in the wrong direction right now. The Sonics are not playing smart.

COMMENT FROM THE COMMENT ZONE

MattB said...

Hey, does anyone know the status of Ray Allen and his contract negociations? I have heard they offered him $100 mil and he turned it down.

Matt, that is not true. They offered a 5 year 70 million dollar deal and it was close to getting done but fell apart at the last moment. The Sonics thought the new collective bargaining agreement was going to come to fruition which would limited other teams to just 4 year contract. That may not happen.

SONICS 38 SPURS 35 with 6:07 left in the 2nd Quarter
Tim Duncan gets his 2nd foul at the 8:30 mark. Duncan only fouled out of 1 game in the regular season and 1 playoff game.
Brent Barry another brief stint. He is a shadow of the player that was in Seattle. It is looking smart to not re-sign him.
Sonics scored on 7 of thier first 8 possessions of the second quarter.
Ginobili checks back in at the 7:18 mark with the Sonics up 5. He has been a positive +/- player in every game.
Sonics defense is struggling. The Spurs have scored on 5 straight.
The Sonics have the Evans/James combo in that killed them in game #5.

SONICS 33 SPURS 25 with 8:45 left in the 2nd Quarter.
Small line-up to start the Quarter
The Sonics are pounding the ball right now instead of moving it. AD and Ray have been the culprits.
Foul trouble is a major issue. Collison has three and Fortson has two. The Sonics need those two on the floor.

LAY-UPS
The Spurs did not have a lay-up in the half court or on a fast break in the Quarter.

GUARDING TIM DUNCAN
Evans/James combo for 5:30. Duncan had 5 touches 0 points and 0 fouls drawn
Fortson for 2:40. Duncan had 3 touches and 2 points and 1 foul drawn

SONICS 25 SPURS 20 end of the 1st Quarter
Nick Collison picked up three fouls in a span of 3 possessions. That hurts. He is the only player who has been + in the +/- category for the series.
Tim Duncan finshes the quarter with no field goals and only 2 points.
Interesting Nate has played two bigs for the entire Quarter. The little line-up has been very effective in the series
Damien Wilkins denies Manu Ginobili 1 on 1 on the final possession of the Quarter.

SONICS 20 SPURS 15 with 2:56 left in the 1st Quarter
James and Ridnour check out at +5 on the +/-
Starting Line-up gets a huge thumbs up for their 1st half work.
Ray Allen has been very sloppy with the ball -- three open court turnovers.
Free throws have been a key all series and the Sonics have been to the line already 8 times.
Check out the numbers on wins v. losses at the bottom of the blog post.
Brent Barry got pulled after just three minutes on the floor.

SONICS 14 SONICS with 5:36 left in the 1st Quarter
Duncan 5 touches -- 0 points -- 0 fouls committed on him

SONICS 14 SPURS 6 with 6:00 left in the 1st Quarter
The first 6 minutes have dicatated every game of this series. Let's hope that stands.
Ray Allen has 6 points.
Brent Barry checks in. His +/- the last three games has been awful. Scan down for all the +/- of the series.

SONICS 6 SPURS 0 with 8:58 left in the 1st Quarter
Right before tip-off the arena was the loudest it has been all season.
The picks early in the game have been much better
Not sure where JJ is on the energy level

THOUGHT BEFORE TIP-OFF
Enjoy this game it has been an incredible season.
Who are we seeing for the last time at Key Arena?

Rashard Update
MRI on Rashard showed a bone bruise and tissue damage. The injury is more than just his toe.
Nonetheless, Rashard taped up and tried to go at shoot around and it hurt significantly just standing on the sidelines.

Things to keep an eye on tonight
• Start to the game
• Ginobili penetration
• Sonics starting line-up has to perform
• Banging on Duncan
• Ray Allen swinging the ball out of the double team


STARTING LINE-UPS
same as the last two nights.

EARLY STARTS MUCHO IMPORTANTE
STARTS TO GAMES
Game 1: Spurs 15-8 at 6 minute mark
Game 2: Spurs 13-8 at 6 minute mark
Game 3: Sonics 15-13 at 6 minute mark
Game 4: Sonics 16-9 at 6 minute mark
Game 5: Spurs 9-4 at 6 minute mark.

+/- RATINGS FOR THE SERIES
This is no different then hockey. When the player is on the floor the team outscores or is either outscored.

SONICS +/-
Player Total
Ridnour -31
Allen -27
Lewis -27
Evans -32 (in limited minutes)
James -43 (-46 in the losses)
AD -27 (-40 in the losses)
Nick 12 (only positive player who plays regularly)
Danny -2
Flip 6
Damien -5

SPURS +/-
Player Total
Parker 35 (+58 in wins)
Ginobili 43 (only player positive in every game)
Bowen 14
Duncan 39
Nazr 13 (big in games 2 and 5)
Barry -6 (-34 in the last 3 games)
Horry -5
Robinson 32 (33 in games 1 and 2)
Udrich 9
Nestorvic 17

WINS V. LOSSES
Here is a breakdown of what has been separating wins and losses for the Sonics in this series. Some of it is a bit surprising.

On the offensive side of things ….

1. Good offensive rebounding has not lead to wins. In wins they are grabbing just 24% of the offensive rebounds, but in losses they are at 41%.


2. Shooting hasn’t been a big issue either. In wins they are shooting 45% and in losses 44%. A better indicator is effective field goal % which accounts for 3pt shooting and in wins they are 48% and in losses 46%. This is not the discrepancy you would imagine.


3. The big indicator has been turnovers. In wins the Sonics are turning it over just 12% of their possessions and in losses 17% of their possessions.


4. The other indicator has been free throws in the 2 wins the Sonics have gone to the line an average of 30 times a game and in the two losses they have averaged 22.3 free throws a game.