Voisin: Kings have no answer for guard
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12824768p-13674900c.html
Ailene Voisin: Kings have no answer for guard
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, May 2, 2005
The ball was in the air with two ticks remaining on the shot clock, as Ray Allen's 6-foot-5 frame faded into the sideline, almost into the front row of spectators. It was a ridiculous shot, really, an off-balance heave over the outstretched reaches of 7-foot Brad Miller.
"I wouldn't call it lucky," the Sonics veteran said afterward, "because I practice those shots all the time."
But it was what it was, the final indignity, maybe even the pivotal scene of this Kings postseason. On a night when Arco Arena was as boisterous as it has been in years, with his club already holding the series edge, Allen shot early, shot often, shot down the Kings. He was virtually unstoppable, a second-half virtuoso, the most prolific scorer in these playoffs thus far.
And when the locals had their chance to respond? To demonstrate that they possessed whatever it is that quality teams own in the deciding segments of a game that could have squared this best-of-seven series?
The Kings came up short ... came up long ... came up tossing airballs ... came up without any answers or any composure whatsoever.
After trailing by 19 early, the Sonics scored the first six points of the second half and continued right along.
"I wouldn't say they played bad defense," Allen said after scorching his opponents for a playoff career-high 45 points, including 26 in the deciding second half. "I got into a rhythm, and I just felt good. A playoff game like this on the road is as good as it gets."
The Kings should be used to this by now, as should the home crowd. Kobe Bryant feasted on the local scene. Now Ray Allen's name can be added to the mix of stars who enjoy the surroundings so much, they attack the record book, silencing the crowd with one stroke after another, exposing the defense for what it is: almost always inadequate. And while good defense doesn't necessarily mean low-bridging or cheap-shotting, there was no way the Kings were going to win this series without matching muscle with bigger muscles, at least figuratively.
"Playoff basketball you don't play in skirts," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said earlier in the evening. "We're playing within the rules of the game. We're not doing anything we haven't done all season. ... I understand what Rick is doing. He's trying to allow his players to gain an advantage. The refs are going to have to be professional enough to come out here ... and not have a target on Danny Fortson and Reggie Evans."
As it turned out, this wasn't about questionable officiating, dirty fouls or last-second shots, unless one counts the 25-footer from Allen, the one that, more than any other play, indicated that the night belonged to him, not the Kings. Not Peja Stojakovic, so brilliant through the opening half, so unaggressive in the second. Not Mike Bibby, who played a beautiful floor game in the first two periods, involving his teammates and establishing a pattern that led to 68 first-half points - encouraging his teammates to move and others to screen, while he himself found cutters, shooters and sprinters in transition.
"We weren't playing our game," McMillan said later. "They were disappointed in themselves, giving up 68 points, and we played zero defense. They (Kings) were just outworking us. Defensively, we had to get after this team. And Ray ... Ray doesn't need a lot of daylight or a lot of room to get his shot off. He did a nice job screening. Our guards did a nice job looking for Ray and Rashard."
But mostly Allen. He was unbelievable, able to score from anywhere on the floor. It didn't matter who defended him. Or tried to defend. Driving for layups, curling into the lane for floaters, coming off screens behind the wide, willing bodies of Jerome James or any of the other Sonics big men. Then there were all those other times - and there were almost too many to count - when he simply dribbled to one of his favorite spots, elevated and released one of the prettiest, deadliest jumpers around.
"I love his game," Bobby Jackson praised. "Who in this league can get their shot off like that? I haven't seen anybody come off screens and fire a three-pointer like that. The guy has a mid-range jumper and a long-range game. When he makes up his mind ... sometimes there isn't anything you can do."
Top scorers
Top individual scoring performances in the 2005 playoffs:
Ray Allen, Seattle: 45
Gilbert Arenas, Washington: 39
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia: 37
Tracy McGrady, Houston: 36
Vince Carter, New Jersey: 36
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix: 36
Kirk Hinrich, Chicago: 34
Tracy McGrady, Houston: 34
Reggie Miller, Indiana: 33
Paul Pierce, Boston: 33
Yao Ming, Houston: 33
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/voisin.
http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/12824768p-13674900c.html
Ailene Voisin: Kings have no answer for guard
By Ailene Voisin -- Bee Columnist
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, May 2, 2005
The ball was in the air with two ticks remaining on the shot clock, as Ray Allen's 6-foot-5 frame faded into the sideline, almost into the front row of spectators. It was a ridiculous shot, really, an off-balance heave over the outstretched reaches of 7-foot Brad Miller.
"I wouldn't call it lucky," the Sonics veteran said afterward, "because I practice those shots all the time."
But it was what it was, the final indignity, maybe even the pivotal scene of this Kings postseason. On a night when Arco Arena was as boisterous as it has been in years, with his club already holding the series edge, Allen shot early, shot often, shot down the Kings. He was virtually unstoppable, a second-half virtuoso, the most prolific scorer in these playoffs thus far.
And when the locals had their chance to respond? To demonstrate that they possessed whatever it is that quality teams own in the deciding segments of a game that could have squared this best-of-seven series?
The Kings came up short ... came up long ... came up tossing airballs ... came up without any answers or any composure whatsoever.
After trailing by 19 early, the Sonics scored the first six points of the second half and continued right along.
"I wouldn't say they played bad defense," Allen said after scorching his opponents for a playoff career-high 45 points, including 26 in the deciding second half. "I got into a rhythm, and I just felt good. A playoff game like this on the road is as good as it gets."
The Kings should be used to this by now, as should the home crowd. Kobe Bryant feasted on the local scene. Now Ray Allen's name can be added to the mix of stars who enjoy the surroundings so much, they attack the record book, silencing the crowd with one stroke after another, exposing the defense for what it is: almost always inadequate. And while good defense doesn't necessarily mean low-bridging or cheap-shotting, there was no way the Kings were going to win this series without matching muscle with bigger muscles, at least figuratively.
"Playoff basketball you don't play in skirts," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said earlier in the evening. "We're playing within the rules of the game. We're not doing anything we haven't done all season. ... I understand what Rick is doing. He's trying to allow his players to gain an advantage. The refs are going to have to be professional enough to come out here ... and not have a target on Danny Fortson and Reggie Evans."
As it turned out, this wasn't about questionable officiating, dirty fouls or last-second shots, unless one counts the 25-footer from Allen, the one that, more than any other play, indicated that the night belonged to him, not the Kings. Not Peja Stojakovic, so brilliant through the opening half, so unaggressive in the second. Not Mike Bibby, who played a beautiful floor game in the first two periods, involving his teammates and establishing a pattern that led to 68 first-half points - encouraging his teammates to move and others to screen, while he himself found cutters, shooters and sprinters in transition.
"We weren't playing our game," McMillan said later. "They were disappointed in themselves, giving up 68 points, and we played zero defense. They (Kings) were just outworking us. Defensively, we had to get after this team. And Ray ... Ray doesn't need a lot of daylight or a lot of room to get his shot off. He did a nice job screening. Our guards did a nice job looking for Ray and Rashard."
But mostly Allen. He was unbelievable, able to score from anywhere on the floor. It didn't matter who defended him. Or tried to defend. Driving for layups, curling into the lane for floaters, coming off screens behind the wide, willing bodies of Jerome James or any of the other Sonics big men. Then there were all those other times - and there were almost too many to count - when he simply dribbled to one of his favorite spots, elevated and released one of the prettiest, deadliest jumpers around.
"I love his game," Bobby Jackson praised. "Who in this league can get their shot off like that? I haven't seen anybody come off screens and fire a three-pointer like that. The guy has a mid-range jumper and a long-range game. When he makes up his mind ... sometimes there isn't anything you can do."
Top scorers
Top individual scoring performances in the 2005 playoffs:
Ray Allen, Seattle: 45
Gilbert Arenas, Washington: 39
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia: 37
Tracy McGrady, Houston: 36
Vince Carter, New Jersey: 36
Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix: 36
Kirk Hinrich, Chicago: 34
Tracy McGrady, Houston: 34
Reggie Miller, Indiana: 33
Paul Pierce, Boston: 33
Yao Ming, Houston: 33
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com. Back columns: www.sacbee.com/voisin.
