http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/12824762p-13674891c.htmlNeither Sonics, nor trash talk stopped
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, May 2, 2005
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There was a similarity between these Seattle SuperSonics and all the trash talk that came with their first-round playoff matchup against the Kings.
Neither one stopped.
Not before Sunday night's tipoff, when everyone from Sonics coach Nate McMillan to forwards Reggie Evans and Danny Fortson sent angry barbs toward their counterparts.
Not early in the second quarter, when the Sonics faced a 19-point deficit and the Kings looked ready to even the series.
And certainly not after the Sonics came back for a momentum-snatching 115-102 victory in Game 4, quieting the Arco Arena crowd while going far from quietly themselves.
Evans did a little hippity-hop at halfcourt with 1:02 left in the game, never mind he wasn't even playing. Ray Allen had just hit his sixth three-pointer of the night, putting the Kings down 107-98 and inches from a 3-1 hole. Evans taunted Kings fans.
Sonics guard Antonio Daniels held an "L" with his fingers on his forehead, a sign that could have stood for "loser" or "loss."
Center Jerome James wouldn't disclose his postgame exchange with a fan, offering only "I've got to calm down. But I ain't telling you (what I did), because I'd get in trouble."
When it was over, halfcourt became the talking spot. Forward Nick Collison had a television interview, just feet from Allen and his one-on-one. They were both close to Daniels, all three Sonics singing their own praises before turning their attention to the Kings.
"Evidently, (the Kings) must not be mentally tough if they're going to the newspaper and complaining," said Evans, referring to Kings coach Rick Adelman faulting the officiating before Game 3. "They're like my 11-month old baby daughter.
"She's spoiled. (The Kings) have been getting a lot of wins, so I understand. They're just crying, like my daughter. She wants her bottle. And I eventually may give it to her, but this is a different situation. I can give them a tissue or something just to wipe the tears off."
The Sonics could talk because they walked. The subplot to Allen's sizzling 45-point night was the play of James, who maintained before the game he would return to being a role player after averaging 19.3 points in the first three games. The Kings wouldn't let him.
James continued to prove Kings guard Cuttino Mobley wrong. He played like Shaquille O'Neal after Mobley reminded him he was no Shaq. James had 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Forward Rashard Lewis continued to struggle from the field (4 of 12), but his 11-of-12 effort from the free-throw line was a reflection of his aggressiveness. "We have played this style of basketball since we got whooped by the Clippers by 30 points to start the season," James said. "We lived by it and we died by it. For the Kings to try to change their style of play now - it's too little, too late. We had to get dirty tonight to get this victory."
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Monday, May 2, 2005
Get the latest news in sacbee.com's Kings Alert newsletter. Sign up here.
There was a similarity between these Seattle SuperSonics and all the trash talk that came with their first-round playoff matchup against the Kings.
Neither one stopped.
Not before Sunday night's tipoff, when everyone from Sonics coach Nate McMillan to forwards Reggie Evans and Danny Fortson sent angry barbs toward their counterparts.
Not early in the second quarter, when the Sonics faced a 19-point deficit and the Kings looked ready to even the series.
And certainly not after the Sonics came back for a momentum-snatching 115-102 victory in Game 4, quieting the Arco Arena crowd while going far from quietly themselves.
Evans did a little hippity-hop at halfcourt with 1:02 left in the game, never mind he wasn't even playing. Ray Allen had just hit his sixth three-pointer of the night, putting the Kings down 107-98 and inches from a 3-1 hole. Evans taunted Kings fans.
Sonics guard Antonio Daniels held an "L" with his fingers on his forehead, a sign that could have stood for "loser" or "loss."
Center Jerome James wouldn't disclose his postgame exchange with a fan, offering only "I've got to calm down. But I ain't telling you (what I did), because I'd get in trouble."
When it was over, halfcourt became the talking spot. Forward Nick Collison had a television interview, just feet from Allen and his one-on-one. They were both close to Daniels, all three Sonics singing their own praises before turning their attention to the Kings.
"Evidently, (the Kings) must not be mentally tough if they're going to the newspaper and complaining," said Evans, referring to Kings coach Rick Adelman faulting the officiating before Game 3. "They're like my 11-month old baby daughter.
"She's spoiled. (The Kings) have been getting a lot of wins, so I understand. They're just crying, like my daughter. She wants her bottle. And I eventually may give it to her, but this is a different situation. I can give them a tissue or something just to wipe the tears off."
The Sonics could talk because they walked. The subplot to Allen's sizzling 45-point night was the play of James, who maintained before the game he would return to being a role player after averaging 19.3 points in the first three games. The Kings wouldn't let him.
James continued to prove Kings guard Cuttino Mobley wrong. He played like Shaquille O'Neal after Mobley reminded him he was no Shaq. James had 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Forward Rashard Lewis continued to struggle from the field (4 of 12), but his 11-of-12 effort from the free-throw line was a reflection of his aggressiveness. "We have played this style of basketball since we got whooped by the Clippers by 30 points to start the season," James said. "We lived by it and we died by it. For the Kings to try to change their style of play now - it's too little, too late. We had to get dirty tonight to get this victory."
