tinysands
2007-03-26, 02:05 PM
Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) shoot lights out in Seattle: Ginobili contributes five of team-record 16 3-pointers
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA032607.01D.BKNspurs.sonics.gamer.3739bc8.html
Web Posted: 03/26/2007 12:28 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
SEATTLE — With a little less than seven minutes remaining in Sunday's game, the Seattle SuperSonics had seen enough of the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to throw up their 300-pound white towel. As the crowd roared its approval, Danny Fortson lumbered onto the court.
Fortson's entrance generated the evening's most enthusiastic response from the KeyArena fans. But like most of his teammates, the Sonics' seldom-used but always-eating center could do little but watch the torrent of 3-pointers raining over his head. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) made a franchise-record 16 while flattening Seattle 120-79 for their largest victory of the season.
Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) made five of the 3-pointers and scored 19 points, and Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) had 18 points and seven assists. Eight different Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) made a 3-pointer, none named Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan).
"I'm going to ask to be traded," joked Duncan, who totaled 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. "I get more looks in an All-Star Game."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) made the second half look as competitive as the NBA's annual midseason event. They shredded Seattle's zone defense, making a franchise-record 12 3-pointers in the final two quarters. They totaled 31 3-point attempts for the game, another team record.
"With their pressure and their zone we just found ways to kind of get into those seams," Duncan said. "Guys were passing the ball well, and all of a sudden some shots started going down for us."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) shot 53.2 percent overall and the Sonics, who never led and trailed by 13 at halftime, couldn't counter. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have now beaten Seattle by 20, 31 and 41 points in the teams' three meetings this season.
The Sonics appear headed for the lottery and a possible offseason overhaul of their coaching and front-office staffs. The news didn't get any better for Seattle on Sunday when the team announced about two hours before tipoff that Ray Allen will have ankle surgery and miss the remainder of the season.
Without the Sonics' leading scorer to contend with, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had an easier time double-teaming forward Rashard Lewis. He finished with 13 points, and Seattle shot just 36.6 percent.
"We obviously caught a huge break with a great player like Ray being out," Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich said. "I know that affects a lot of things. If you took Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) off the floor for us we wouldn't be the same team, either."
The Sonics tried to negate Duncan's impact by employing a zone defense. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had a much easier time countering Seattle's zone than two nights earlier when the Spurs' execution against Detroit's zone was called "atrocious" by Popovich.
The Sonics also began pressing and trapping the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) in the backcourt court. That produced a few turnovers, but an even greater number of open shots.
"I thought we were horrific against (the press) — just did a horrible job," Popovich said. "We didn't handle the ball well and were tentative and then we finally figured out to be aggressive. When we were, the game was over."
Ginobili had a lot to do with that. He made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in the third quarter.
Parker carved up the Sonics for 14 points in the first half, including eight in a row during a quick stretch of the opening quarter that allowed the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to seize control of the game.
"He's doing a good job on both ends of the floor," Popovich said. "He's really concentrating on forcing the action on the offensive end, guarding on the defensive end and setting a tone for us."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) lost Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry) in the first half after he sustained an abdominal contusion. He's unlikely to be in uniform tonight against Golden State.
"I'm a little worried about Rob," Popovich said. "I think he pulled something in his abdomen, and that's always a tough spot. We'll have to wait and see."
Popovich was able to give his starters a little rest before tonight's game against the frenetic Warriors. Duncan's 29 minutes were the most for the team.
Led by Jacque Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn)'s season-high 13 points, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) received 64 points from their bench. In the closing seconds, Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn) set his feet and knocked down one more 3-pointer — his first of the season.
Said Parker: "When Jacque gets a 3, it's a good day."
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA032607.01D.BKNspurs.sonics.gamer.3739bc8.html
Web Posted: 03/26/2007 12:28 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
SEATTLE — With a little less than seven minutes remaining in Sunday's game, the Seattle SuperSonics had seen enough of the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to throw up their 300-pound white towel. As the crowd roared its approval, Danny Fortson lumbered onto the court.
Fortson's entrance generated the evening's most enthusiastic response from the KeyArena fans. But like most of his teammates, the Sonics' seldom-used but always-eating center could do little but watch the torrent of 3-pointers raining over his head. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) made a franchise-record 16 while flattening Seattle 120-79 for their largest victory of the season.
Manu Ginobili (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/manu_ginobili) made five of the 3-pointers and scored 19 points, and Tony Parker (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tony_parker) had 18 points and seven assists. Eight different Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) made a 3-pointer, none named Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan).
"I'm going to ask to be traded," joked Duncan, who totaled 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. "I get more looks in an All-Star Game."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) made the second half look as competitive as the NBA's annual midseason event. They shredded Seattle's zone defense, making a franchise-record 12 3-pointers in the final two quarters. They totaled 31 3-point attempts for the game, another team record.
"With their pressure and their zone we just found ways to kind of get into those seams," Duncan said. "Guys were passing the ball well, and all of a sudden some shots started going down for us."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) shot 53.2 percent overall and the Sonics, who never led and trailed by 13 at halftime, couldn't counter. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) have now beaten Seattle by 20, 31 and 41 points in the teams' three meetings this season.
The Sonics appear headed for the lottery and a possible offseason overhaul of their coaching and front-office staffs. The news didn't get any better for Seattle on Sunday when the team announced about two hours before tipoff that Ray Allen will have ankle surgery and miss the remainder of the season.
Without the Sonics' leading scorer to contend with, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had an easier time double-teaming forward Rashard Lewis. He finished with 13 points, and Seattle shot just 36.6 percent.
"We obviously caught a huge break with a great player like Ray being out," Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) coach Gregg Popovich said. "I know that affects a lot of things. If you took Tim Duncan (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/tim_duncan) off the floor for us we wouldn't be the same team, either."
The Sonics tried to negate Duncan's impact by employing a zone defense. The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) had a much easier time countering Seattle's zone than two nights earlier when the Spurs' execution against Detroit's zone was called "atrocious" by Popovich.
The Sonics also began pressing and trapping the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) in the backcourt court. That produced a few turnovers, but an even greater number of open shots.
"I thought we were horrific against (the press) — just did a horrible job," Popovich said. "We didn't handle the ball well and were tentative and then we finally figured out to be aggressive. When we were, the game was over."
Ginobili had a lot to do with that. He made three 3-pointers and scored 11 points in the third quarter.
Parker carved up the Sonics for 14 points in the first half, including eight in a row during a quick stretch of the opening quarter that allowed the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) to seize control of the game.
"He's doing a good job on both ends of the floor," Popovich said. "He's really concentrating on forcing the action on the offensive end, guarding on the defensive end and setting a tone for us."
The Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) lost Robert Horry (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/robert_horry) in the first half after he sustained an abdominal contusion. He's unlikely to be in uniform tonight against Golden State.
"I'm a little worried about Rob," Popovich said. "I think he pulled something in his abdomen, and that's always a tough spot. We'll have to wait and see."
Popovich was able to give his starters a little rest before tonight's game against the frenetic Warriors. Duncan's 29 minutes were the most for the team.
Led by Jacque Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn)'s season-high 13 points, the Spurs (http://www.chinaspurs.com) received 64 points from their bench. In the closing seconds, Vaughn (http://www.chinaspurs.com/players/jacque_vaughn) set his feet and knocked down one more 3-pointer — his first of the season.
Said Parker: "When Jacque gets a 3, it's a good day."