Seattle (3) vs San Antonio (2): Official Game Four Thread

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pwn3d!:</div><div class="quote_post">Normally I don't like to spam a link, but I can't resists.

http://spurstalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2

Have a look at the reactions there - you'd think we were up 3-2 and coming back to the Key.

Don't click that link if you love Bones, though.</div>

It's way worse at Spursreport

well done to the Sonics tonight. They played a great game.

 

This team continues to impress.

This game epitomized this entire season. A must win game, everyone is counting us out, a two regular guys in the rotation are out, new guys step up and we make our critics look foolish.

It really surprise me that Sweet Lew didn't play. I normally thought that players would fight through the pain of an injured toe in a must win game. Obviously Shard and the trainers felt like he couldn't go, but the rest of the goup responded unbelievably well.

Can't say enough about AD's contributions all season. I've been down on him for a while b/c he's always come off as a kiss ass, but this season he has been as valuable as anyone on our roster. Luke has probably played better games in his lifetime, but none on a bigger stage. Damien Wilkins has learned that you don't make it in this league being passive. It's amazing how comfortable he can look in extended minutes.

3 games to get 2. It is now 0-0 in a best of three series. The Spurs in my estimation are the best team in the league, only b/c they defend and pay attention to detail more than anyone. They rarely beat themselves and tonight we made sure that we set the tempo and were the aggressors. It's going to be much harder to win in San Antonio but this team is regaining the swagger that it had in November/December.

I honestly believe only the people in this forum can really appreciate what the Sonics are doing this season. This is no fluke. As teams are finding out, be careful what you wish for when you ask for the green and gold.

Incredible job coaching tonight, Nate. Now prepare for Tuesday without patting yourself on the back. That will all come in time.

Step on their necks in Game Five, fam. Don't give em life.

 

I almost went to this game. But it was sold out. Dang. That sucked...but yeah, anyways, i got to watch the 2nd half, & we did sooo great..I mean, Luke Ridnour was what 7 out of 7 or something like that?...it was just an overall good win. Let`s hope we can win in San Antonio. =)

btw, that forum is one unfiltered message board...& some people there are hella annoying. >.<

hateradors...

 

I was watching the game highlights on Sportscenter and they had the feed from "KGR Radio" and they showed stats of "Luke Ridenour."

No respect, I tells ya.

 

I have to say that I must eat my share of crow today. The Sonics have proven my sweep prediction wrong. They have really stepped it up and made a series out of this. Winning without Lewis speaks volumes towards the heart this team has. I'm rooting for them to take the Spurs, but it won't be easy since they have to win at least one at the SBC center. Good luck Seattle!

 

The atmosphere at the Key last night was electric. I remember my first playoff game...it was Sonics vs. Spurs Round 1 back with GP and Baker. I decided to go at the last minute after watching the Celtics play NJ. The crowd was so loud you could here the boos for Kidd (there was bad blood between Kidd and the local press at the time) and the spontaneous chants. I was disappointed in the Key experience, even though the Sonics won that game. The first Kings game this year was great but it dropped off after that. Last night was crazy. It was the best I have seen the crowd get in the nine years I have been going regularly to games.

The Sonics team defense was spectacular. I heard Pop say "unforced" turnovers, but I'm sorry...the three shot clock violations may show up on the stats as unforced, but it was the Sonics bigs closing the lane EVERY time the Spurs guards tried to penetrate in the half court. They only got to the basket on fast breaks (maybe one break down).

James set the tone early with some great blocks and when the bigs fouled, there was no need to argue. Everyone knew there was a foul. Nate used every one of the bigs in the first half with 2-3 fouls apiece. It was clear that the lane was closed, and only Ginobli kept trying. When they did get in, though, the guards were swiping at the ball and getting steals. Wilkens was the ONLY 1 on 1 defender in white last night, but the team defense made it look like there were six men on the court.

Luke, you could just tell from the start that something was up with him. I think having AD sharing the point relieved some pressure from him and loosened him up. He spent the first half feeling things out and then took complete advantage of them in the 3rd.

Ray... well, other than the stunning left hand throw down over three Spurs in the second half, it was just an average playoff game from Ray...which means he was fantastic compared to everyone else except TD.

I thought JJ seemed surprisingly mature out there. He couldn't score even when he got touches, but he kept playing hard and in the offense. He kept setting solid screens and was always ready to swat the ball or hit someone who got past their defender. Last year he would have been sulking by the third quarter.

Nick...I don't know what to say. Even when his box score is unimpressive, he just always seems to be doing something critical at the right time. He blocks a shot, makes an extra pass, takes a charge, fouls just hard enough, gets in the passing lane...It is like the man has no ego and is just doing the precise thing the team needs no matter what it is. He will be our starting PF next year. Reggie may have made himself too expensive for the Sonics to re-sign, and he is just getting better every game. Reggie is great, but he is completely one dimensional. Defense and Rebounding are his game. Nick is the kind of player who will grab a dozen rebounds one night when the shots aren't falling and you need second chances, but will put in 18 points the next night when you are forced into the half court and need pick and roll dominated offense. He is a role player who can play 3-5 roles for a coach.

Wilkens. He defense was terrific. He out Bowened Brucey. I think he only made one mistake all night, and that was when he did the "right" thing by advancing the ball on the break after a defensive play, but didn't do it to the right person. You don't throw that pass to Reggie Evans unless you are Luke or AD, because the pass has to be PERFECT or Reggie is not going to get it. Shard, Ray, Nick, Danny or the guards, they have the hands to get that pass. Reggie just doesn't have good hands on the run. If the ball is coming down off the rim or the backboard and he is going up, its his, but not on the break.

Nate...it seemed like he did everything right. He substituted at the right time. He pulled people too tired to run and kept the people that were hot being fed. The plays kept shifting rather than stagnating like they have in the past, and the players were actually executing. The whole team was playing defense like Nate would if he was out there. Even Ray said it was the best game he has ever seen Nate coach, so it wasn't just the players, but you could see Nate calling plays throughout the game.

Tuesday they will have to find one more gear if they want to win, but to tell the truth, any more wins for the Sonics are icing on the cake at this point for me. I wanted them to make this a series and for them to learn how to play at this level...and I think that has happened. They showed that they deserve to be here. The Spurs are one of the best teams in the world. Beating them in 7 games is not an easy thing, but the Sonics have shown everyone that it is clearly not an impossible one either.

GO SONICS!

 

Ridnour made 2 plays that really stood out. He made a great left handed bounce pass through traffic off a behind the back dribble to Wilkins for a layup.

I think this pass rivals the dipsy doo scoop and flip to Rashard in the Sac game.

Even Magic at halftime was talking about how sensational that pass was. Throughout the season he's always been real complimentary of Luke's floor game.

In the 3rd quarter he waved off Evans so he could iso Timmy off the dribble and scored.

I'm hoping this is the kind of confidence builder he can build off of for the rest of the playoffs and next season.

 

Heh when Ray hit that catch and shoot 3 with Bowen draped all over him in the 3rd Mike Dunleavy said 'That is sick'

 

Ridnour's left handed bounce pass to Wilkins was oh so "sweeeeeet." A PG's dream. I was wrong, I did not give the Sonics any credit. They have played hard and unselfishly. Good luck.

 

What the Sonics did in game 4 was amazing.Parker and Ginobli didnt carve up Seattle in the half court.The Spurs never lead and at one point were down 20.This was all minus Radmanovic and Lewis.The Sonics bigmen(all 5 of them) were knocking the Spurs on their ass.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting psheehy:</div><div class="quote_post">
Nick...I don't know what to say. Even when his box score is unimpressive, he just always seems to be doing something critical at the right time. </div>

His foul to knock TD over early really set the tone. Soft enough that it wasn't a flagrant, but hard enough to show that the team really meant business.

Did anyone else catch Pop's press conference? By the end of it, reporters were afraid to ask questions, he was that snappy.

 

Yea I saw it...was pretty funny.

Q-Did Luke Ridnour change his approach in the 2nd half?
A-I dont know go ask him..lol

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">Yea I saw it...was pretty funny.

Q-Did Luke Ridnour change his approach in the 2nd half?
A-I dont know go ask him..lol</div>

Ok. I am definitely sick and have gone off the deep end. I recorded game 4 so I could watch it after I got back from the game.

Having watched it again (and again) I stand by my original claim that the unforced turnovers were not wholly due to Spurs sloppy play despite what Pop had to say. The 24 second violations were caused by the bigs going body to body to block the penetration...the guards standing ready to strip when they turned out, and riding the passing lanes to catch bad passes. The rotations on the pick and roll were excellent and at times, flawless. When they weren't, the Spurs scored...or later missed because they were flustered all around by then.

Even the "bad" passes out of bounds or dribbling off their feet can be credited to the Sonics. They forced the Spurs out of their comfort zone into playing a game they DON'T play. Ginobli is wild and crazy...in the 1/2 court offense with spacing set...they forced him to try crazy stuff on the break. Parker penetrates and scores or passes...they forced him to dribble back out.

Another thing about the "team" spirit of these guys. When Ridnour hit that 3 in the 3rd, as soon as the ball left his hand...long before it even got to the top of its arc, Vlade leapt to his feet, right on that big black cast protecting his ankle...waving his arms. He knows a good 3 ball when he sees one. The rest of the bench was up when it went through the net. Vlade hasn't played in more than a week, won't play in the series, has a hurt foot, but he forgot all that in his excitement for his team and his PG. When Ray threw down on that left handed nasty on Nesty...Lewis was the 1st one up on HIS gimpy foot. I love seeing the "stars" being the biggest cheerleaders on the bench. You can't manufacture that spirit, it has to be created slowly by the whole team over time. It is going to be a nail biter of an off season seeing who comes back.

 

I think Magic or Kenny said something like how it's easier for role players to step up at home - the key is if they can do it on the road.

Damien and Luke especially need to play at or near the same level that they did in Game 4.

I have no concerns about Collison or AD they seem to be oblivious to their surroundings, it's the other guys' consistency that will be key tonight.