Spurs/Sonics GAme Thread

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Insider Preview - Sonics vs. San Antonio
Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM


The San Antonio Spurs entered 2005-06 as the favorites to defend their NBA Championship and take the crown for the third time in four years. They had done nothing to change that expectation before meeting the Dallas Mavericks in an epic intrastate Western Conference Semifinals matchup. When the Mavericks took a 3-1 lead in the series and ultimately prevailed, the reaction was severe - explanations ranged from Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich's decision to bench his centers and play smallball during the series to the aging of several key players to the rules re-interpretations limiting contact on the perimeter.

The Spurs front office ultimately decided not to make wholesale changes. They did move to get younger and quicker in the middle, trading center Rasho Nesterovic to Toronto for sharpshooter Matt Bonner and replacing free agent Nazr Mohammed with Francisco Elson. The Spurs also imported veteran Jacque Vaughn to replace Nick Van Exel and give them more quickness in the backcourt off the bench. Overall, however, this is a similar Spurs team to last year's incarnation. Of the 10 Spurs to play at least 200 minutes this season, Elson is the only newcomer.

San Antonio's decision not to overreact to the results of a playoff series loss in which five games were decided on the final possession or in overtime seems to have paid off. While the Spurs have rarely started quickly under Popovich, their 10-3 record ranks second in the NBA, as does their +6.9 point differential. San Antonio's defense once again leads the NBA by allowing just 100.6 points per 100 possessions. Don't expect to get to the line against the Spurs. Their opponents average just 22.5 free-throw attempts per game, a league low - no other team allows fewer than 24 attempts per game.

The Spurs depth could be tested tonight, however, as guard Manu Ginobili is questionable because of a lower back contusion. Ginobili, who has combined to play 47 minutes the last two games, did travel to Seattle with the Spurs. If he is unable to play, former Sonics guard Brent Barry might be the top candidate to replace him in the starting lineup.

The Seattle SuperSonics enter their matchup with the Spurs still looking to establish momentum at KeyArena after Friday's 109-100 loss to Sacramento. Aside from the fourth quarter of Monday's win over New Jersey, in which the Sonics were +16, they have been outscored by 28 points over their last four home games. Ray Allen's 6-for-22 shooting effort against the Kings dropped his 3-point percentage this season to a career-worst 33.3%. Though Allen's scoring average - 25.9 points per game - remains a career high, he has not been playing in rhythm. Tonight's clash with Spurs stopper Bruce Bowen will make it difficult for Allen to get going.


LAST TIME

The Sonics visited San Antonio on Apr. 11 to kick off a two-game road trip. The Spurs controlled the first half, but the Sonics were within five early in the third quarter before San Antonio went on a 14-0 run to blow the game open. The Sonics battled back to make the final score a respectable 104-95, but never got back in the game. Seattle shot just 38.6% from the field, and no Sonics player scored more than 15 points. Parker scored 27 points on 14-for-17 shooting to lead the Spurs.

INJURIES

Sonics - Centers Danny Fortson (sore left knee) and Robert Swift (torn right ACL) are out.

San Antonio - Guard Manu Ginobili (lower back contusion) is questionable.

I look for the Spurs to bounce back tonight. The Spurs are not a team that loses two in a row very often and they always play well after a loss. Manu's injury will be a factor only if Brent and Michael Finley have an off night. Unless he is really needed the Spurs should rest him and hope he feels better to play agains Golden State on Monday. The Sonics have been a tough opponent the last couple of seasons with Ray Allen, but I look for Bruce to contain him again. I expect to see the Spurs get back on the winning track.

I think you're correct - I just wish the SPurs would start playing a bit better at home...

Well Bowen is going to bug Allen tonight as well.

There is no Sonic who can stop Tim and Tony will have a good game as well.Spurs win.

Maybe Bruce can get RayRay whining so much he'll get ejected? That'd be fun.

GO SPURS GO!

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6206586

Coming off a home loss to their biggest rival, the San Antonio Spurs look to extend the best road start in franchise history when they begin a three-game trip on Sunday against the Seattle SuperSonics.

The Spurs (10-3) are the league's only team that has not lost away from home, setting a team record by opening the season with six straight road victories. They have won 11 consecutive regular-season games on the road dating back to last season, when they finished with the best road record in the NBA (29-12).

"We are really playing better on the road than at home," Manu Ginobili said after the team's most recent road win, 107-98 at Portland on Tuesday.

"We have a better mentality. We grind games out for 48 minutes."

San Antonio was eight points down at the half in that game, one night after having to erase a 13-point deficit to win in Sacramento. That recent trend of falling behind early caught up to San Antonio on Friday against red-hot Dallas.

The Spurs trailed by 14 after the first quarter and by nine at halftime en route to a 95-92 loss that ended their four-game winning streak.

"It's a bad habit," San Antonio's Tony Parker said. "We need to find a way to get a better start."

Tim Duncan scored 29 points and made 10-of-16 from the field, but the Spurs lost at home to the Mavericks just as they did in Game 7 of last season's Western Conference semifinals.

"We put ourselves in a hole these last couple games and we have to find a way to get away from that," said Duncan, who is averaging 23.2 points - nearly five more than last season.

Ginobili, off to a slow start with 13.8 points per game, did not play in the fourth quarter Friday because of what the team said was a lower back contusion. It's uncertain if he will be able to play Sunday.

After facing Seattle - the only Western Conference team with a sub-.500 road record (2-4) - San Antonio visits Golden State on Monday before closing this road trip against Utah, the league's only team without a home loss.

The SuperSonics (6-8) are coming off a 109-100 home loss to the Sacramento Kings on Friday. Rashard Lewis led the team with 26 points - 19 in the first half - and Luke Ridnour added 20.

Seattle trailed by as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter and never truly challenged the Kings, who hit 51.2 percent from the field. The Sonics are 1-5 this season when allowing the opposition to shoot 50 percent or better, compared to 5-2 when they don't.

"Our defense was like a sieve tonight," coach Bob Hill said. "We were a step behind them all night. It was a bad performance."

Ray Allen is coming off one of his worst offensive performances of the season. He was 6-of-22 from the field, tying a season low with 18 points.

"There are moments when you don't shoot the ball well, but you can do some other things out there," said Allen, who is averaging 25.9 points. "I've done it my whole life and had bad games, but I don't worry about it. I just think about making the next shot and making the team better."

Seattle has lost four of six overall, and four of the past five meetings with the Spurs.

That Utah game is going to be very tough for us.But I think that right now the Spurs are the better team.

But lets win tonight's game first.

POP just said MANU is doubtful...crap! i hope he is ok. maybe its just for precautionary reasons.

good win now we need soem at home...

Spurs' Duncan reaches 15,000-point mark
Associated Press
Posted: 41 minutes ago



SEATTLE (AP) - San Antonio's Tim Duncan became the third player in Spurs history to reach 15,000 points, accomplishing the feat Sunday night against Seattle.

Duncan came into the game needing 10 points and reached 15,000 when Seattle's Nick Collison was called for goaltending on Duncan's short jumper with 2:05 left in the first half. It gave San Antonio a 47-37 lead. Duncan had 10 points and nine rebounds in the first half.
Duncan, an eight-time All-Star, joined David Robinson (20,790) and George Gervin (19,383) as the only Spurs to reach 15,000 points.

Teammate Michael Finley isn't too far behind. Finley entered Sunday's game 172 points shy of 15,000 for his career.

Ok, it looks that it was rather easy win for us.
And I agree with Blondie, that we need more wins at home. This should be our advantage. Anyway, I'm not against winning one the road

Does anybody know when Manu will be back?

Tony really took over in that 4th quarter and put the Sonics away. I don't know what is up with the lineups Pop is starting these 4th quarters with. Those jokers were looking like they were going to give the game away. At least Vaughn didn't jack up any shots this time. Huge games for Duncan (18 and 16), Parker (20 points with 12 in the fourth), and Fabricio (7 of 8 shooting and 16 points). The play of game had to belong to Ridnour with that shot from the knee though.

Spurs Improve to 7-0 on the Road

By TIM BOOTH
Associated Press Writer
Published November 27, 2006


San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker (9), of France, drives past Seattle SuperSonics' Luke Ridnour in the first quarter of NBA basketball action Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jim Bryant)

Tony Parker was blunt in his own assessment. For three quarters, he did very little to help San Antonio. Parker's nearly perfect fourth quarter, however, kept the Spurs perfect away from home.

Parker scored 12 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, and the Spurs improved to 7-0 on the road with a 98-78 win over the Seattle SuperSonics on Sunday night.

"I was just trying to be aggressive," Parker said. "The first three quarters, I didn't get a lot of shots so I was just trying to make something happen."

After sitting for nearly seven minutes, Parker re-entered with 9:14 left and the Spurs' lead down to 74-71. Determined to be more aggressive, Parker scored 10 of the 13 points in a 13-2 run that turned the close game into a rout.

The Spurs are the only unbeaten road team left in the NBA, and the fourth team in the last 10 years to start 7-0 or better on the road. The Spurs will be tested twice more on their current three-game road trip - Monday night at Golden State and Wednesday in Utah.

Seattle made it interesting for three quarters, before Parker took over, a message he got from coach Gregg Popovich.

"He told me to be more aggressive," Parker said. "Basically I was doing nothing for three quarters, so he wanted me to shoot more."

Parker made 6 of 7 shots in the fourth, scoring three times driving in the lane and three times on jumpers. The Spurs outscored Seattle 27-15 and improved upon the best road start in franchise history. San Antonio has won 12 straight regular season road games dating back to last season.

Tim Duncan scored 18 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and made team history, despite the efforts of Seattle's defense. The eight-time All-Star became the third Spurs' player to eclipse 15,000 points in his career, joining David Robinson and George Gervin. Duncan needed 10 points, and reached 15,000 when Nick Collison was called for goaltending on Duncan's short jumper with 2:05 left in the first half.

Fabricio Oberto also made a significant contribution with 16 points, including San Antonio's first 10 of the second half.

"He's so intelligent as a player. He doesn't get enough credit for that," Duncan said of Oberto. "He's not going to jump over anybody or do anything like that. He will find open spots and will make the right play just about every time."

Ray Allen led Seattle with 21 points and Collison added 15 off the bench, but the Sonics' were held to a season-low 78 points and Rashard Lewis was held to season-low eight points, 15 below his average.

Afterward, Seattle coach Bob Hill was extremely frustrated with the play of his bench.

"There is no help for the first group," Hill said. "Our first group missed a lot of shots around the basket because of their length, which has been a problem for us. And as soon as we go to the bench, it's just a struggle to score points."

Aside from Collison, Seattle got 10 points from its reserves. Earl Watson made just 1 of 8 shots.

The Spurs were without Manu Ginobili, bothered by a lower back contusion suffered in the third quarter of Friday's loss against Dallas. Brent Barry picked up some of the scoring slack with all 12 of his points in the first half.

Oberto dominated his matchup with Seattle's Johan Petro, scoring San Antonio's first 10 points of the second half. Oberto scored off perfect passes from Duncan and Parker, then knocked down a 9-foot jumper as the shot clock expired to give the Spurs a 57-41 lead two minutes into the half.

"He knows how to play the position and Timmy is really enjoying playing with him," Popovich said.

Luke Ridnour added 11 for Seattle, including a basket from his knees in the third quarter. Ridnour lost his footing driving into the lane, gained control of the ball and tossed in a 5-footer.

Notes:@ Seattle fell to 2-5 at home. ... Popovich doesn't expect Ginobili to play Monday in Golden State, but is hopeful he'll be ready for Wednesday's game in Utah. ... Two other teams in the last 10 years started 7-0 on the road - Dallas in 2002 and Indiana in 2003. Houston started 8-0 in 1996. The NBA record is held by the New York Knicks, who won their first 12 to start the 1969-70 season.