Details: When: Sunday, May 8th Where: SBC Center, San Antonio Time (Seattle): 5:00 P.M. TV: TNT, Fox Sports Projected Starters: <font color="green">Seattle (0-0) </font> Luke Ridnour Ray Allen Rashard Lewis Reggie Evans Jerome James <font color="DarkSlateGray">San Antonio (0-0)</font> Tony Parker Brent Barry Bruce Bowen Tim Duncan Nazr Mohammed Injury Troubles: <font color="green">Seattle</font> None. <font color="navy"><font color="DarkSlateGray">San Antonio</font> </font> Devin Brown: Back, questionable. Brief Notes: <ul> [*]Round 2, ladies and gentlemen. The Supes vanquished of the Sacramento Kings only to warrant a second round matchup against the team more than a few chaps have selected to win it all. Of course, the type of play synonymous with the San Antonio Spurs is physicality, sound defensive work, and a slower pace to set up a halfcourt offense. Stopping Tim Duncan is out of the question, but it is up to Big Game James, Nick Collison, Reggie Evans, and Danny Fortson to slow down The Big Fundamental to a suttle owning rather than complete pwnag3. [/list] <ul> [*]One of my favorite rivalries will commence once again as Ray "Poetry In Motion" Allen will expect some attention from "Hacksaw" Bruce Bowen. Rashard Lewis must have a big game if he is left guarded by either Brent Barry or Manu Ginobili to make up for Ray's tough love from Bowen. [/list]* Useful playoff stat of the day: Tony Parker led the Spurs in scoring with 21 points in Game Seven of their series against the Nuggets. Quotable: "I'm most definitely going to take him in the post. I think that's the best thing for me to do and try to beat the double-team before it gets there. I can easily turn around and shoot over the defender because they're not taller than me. When they put a big on me, that's when I move out to the wing and use my quickness." - Rashard Lewis on Bowen, Spurs defense. Random Family Guy Quote Peter: Gays don't vomit. They're very clean people. And they have been ever since they came to this country from France. All predictions, analysis and discussion relating directly to the game, both before, during and after, to be posted in this thread.
Seven games to get four. Not a must win tonight, but it will be good to set the tone for the series. We must put Ginobli and Parker on their ass whenever they drive the lane. Our post guys have 36 fouls to take (James, Evans, Fortson, Collison, Vlad, and Pot) and for us to win we have to establish a defensive tone. We did not play consistent defense in the first round. For us to "shock the world" we'll have to keep San Antonio from getting easy baskets
I'm excited about the game, but I'm not confident. The Sacramento series left me feeling like the only guys on the team who are mentally tough enough to win a championship (right now) are Ray and Antonio.
I can see Potepenko getting some minutes this series. We need to win the turnover and offensive rebound stats in this series since possesions will be at a premium and we'll shoot around 40%, probably. Having Vlad find his stroke would be huge since they're going to either take Ray or Rashard out of the game like they did Carmelo. If these things happen I think we have a decent chance to win.
good morning guys, here @ germany its about two o ?clock in the early morning - and i?ll need to have a break while working on my university stuff, so i found my way to this board. too bad thats there?s no way for me watching the game, so i have to trust in the facts of the live scoreboard don?t wanna waste your time, just notice, that there are a lot of sonics-fans all around the world, which are as nervous and excited as you guys on the other continent are Wll, I'm also very excited about the game, but I'm definitely able to enjoy the Sonics playing the Playoffs - whatever happens. GO SONICS!
This is absolutely pitiful right now. We're taking horrible shots, two key guys hurt, cannot rebound, and no defense. Nate better have a good speech ready to motivate these guys. We need a huge 2nd half. P.S. Welcome to JBB rene!!
I did not think the Sonics were gonna win, but this is ridiculous! The Sonics need to play some D before they even think about beating the Spurs!
Having Ray Allen and Vlad would help. If this is anything more than a minor injury to Ray, we're gone in four.
Nick just made the shot of the playoffs. I'm laughing right now, it's so lopsided. It was even before the injuries. Time for Flip to dominate.
Garentty the supersonics are not gonna beat the spurs i mean there is 5 minutes left in the game and down by 22. it would have to take a tracy mcgrady miracle 2 win the game (13 points in 35 sec) spurs already near the finals i garentty it will be a 4-0 sweep OVER
It's over...!!! i'm sorry to say to all the sonic fans but i think spurs will sweep the sonics 4-0 and then spurs will advance... down by more than 20 each half i mean there is no chance Tim duncan Tony parker Glenn Robinson Genobly that team right there will domanate so all u sonics fans and all your spurs fans
I wouldn't have normally been so worried about a Game 1 blowout. I think the road team usually gets smoked in the 1st game of the 2nd round. But obviously the injuries to Ray and Vlad - who I thought was going to be key if the Sonics were to have a chance - are killers. My heart sank (and I got a little queasy) when I saw him writhing in pain. He won't be back for the rest of the series, from the looks of it. Guys like Flip and Damien would have to play way over their heads for us to have a chance and I don't see that happening. They're just not ready for this situation, maybe none of the Sonics are save AD. The Parker/Ridnour matchup looks like a total mismatch, Luke just can't stay in front. Nor can he keep him busy on the other end. But I think I'm most disappointed in Rashard - he didn't look like he came play today and this was the one matchup we thought we had. Glen Robinson drew a charge on him playing his straight up in the 1st half. Think about that. Glen Robinson. 38yr old, almost retired because of tendinitis in his ankles GLEN ROBINSON played Rashard straight up and drew a charge. Overall it looks like it's going to be a very short series unless some miracles of modern medicine happen and we get 2 of our main weapons back.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iverson_3_nba:</div><div class="quote_post">Garentty the supersonics are not gonna beat the spurs i mean there is 5 minutes left in the game and down by 22.</div> Garentty...I assume you mean Pat Garrity. He is not a Supersonic however, he actually plays for the Orlando Magic. Honest mistake I guess. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Genobly</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">all your spurs fans </div> I'm pretty sure Allnet doesn't go that way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">We may not be winning at basketball, but compared to Mr. 3_nba that guy we're winning at life.</div> Brilliant.
From the looks of it Vlad is out for the rest of the series/year; hopefully Allen's isn't so serious; it seems likely that he didn't want to risk it unnecessarily given that we were already down by 16 or so when he got hurt. I honestly don't think that we'll miss Vlad much. The guy just hasn't been himself since he's returned (or the ~10 or so games he played before he sat out to rest that stress fracture)--can't miss what was never there, I guess? Like someone pointed out earlier, Allen and AD are the only two guys who seem to play their games in the postseason. Rashard has some decent scoring games, but he's a non-factor in all but that last game of the Kings series. We need him scoring in the 25-30 range, or at least making his presence felt in the first quarter so the Spurs have to commit earlier. Wilkins I've never had much faith in to be a consistent producer (though a lot of you guys disagree on that).. And Flip may have been a factor had he gotten a year's worth of experience, but I don't expect him to bring back shades of early last year either. Luke yet again is being annihilated by the opposing PG.. Unfortunately for us, Parker is a lot more dangerous than Bibby, if that first game is any indication.. Most of the team just screams TENTATIVE when they're out there. Hoping for at least a decent game 2. I'm one Sonic fan who won't be buying game 3 or 4 tickets though..
We couldn't have started this series any worse. Injuries to two of our top scorers, a blow out loss, team morale being low--not what I envisioned before last night. On the other hand, we are down 1-0 after losing at San Antonio. I would be more concerned if we had lost this game at home, but considering that we were just hopeful of a split, I don't understand why everyone is writing us off. Ray's injury didn't look to be as serious as Vlad's. The way Ray was walking off of the court I would imagine that he would be ready to play on Tuesday. There is no doubt that we are going to need every active player on our roster this series. I was disappointed in Flip last night only from an aggressive standpoint offensively. He looked to be passive and settling for jumpers but he did an excellent job defensively when he was in there. It looked for the first time that he was a bit broken mentally, but knowing that he is going to get minutes may fix that. We have 6 games to get 4. I'm just hoping that Nate isn't looking for excuses already when it is so early in the series. San Antonio is beatable, we just have to find a way to put points on the board and put Tony Parker, Ginobli on their ass when they go to the rim. I'm very hopeful that Ray recovers but in the event that he is unavailable, don't write this team off. We still have prideful guys on our roster.
Ray will play Tuesday, don't worry about that. Still, we were down 35-22 after the first period, with Ray and Vlad in the game. You give up 35 points in any quarter to San Antonio, chances are you're going to get thrashed, because they won't let you do the same thing.
Ray Allen may be my favourite player and all but blaming Bruce for the injury? please, c'mon Ray. You have become the most hated man in texas before you even played game 1. Now you are making It worse for yourself. Bruce seems in his head. Robert Horry said It best, basketball is played on the court not to the media. This game reminded me of game 2 of the Nuggets series, when everything clicks offensively and defensively the Spurs are unstoppable.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Ray Allen may be my favourite player and all but blaming Bruce for the injury? please, c'mon Ray. You have become the most hated man in texas before you even played game 1. Now you are making It worse for yourself. Bruce seems in his head.</div> Yeah it was just one of those things, definitely can't blame Bowen for Ray's injury. That being said, Bowen has a rep for getting under your feet whether it's on a jumper (see Vince Carter) or a drive. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Robert Horry said It best, basketball is played on the court not to the media. This game reminded me of game 2 of the Nuggets series, when everything clicks offensively and defensively the Spurs are unstoppable.</div> I love Horry. He's a championship player for sure and I wish we had someone on the frontcourt with his feel for the game. Obviously the Spurs have a lot of post season experience both on and off the court. Don't get me wrong, winning the Sac series was great but do you really think the Spurs would go around waving garbage bags over their head after a 1st round playoff victory? I really respect the Spurs and the way they play. You have to hope they're off their game and you're on yours, otherwise you almost have no chance.
