Didn't see this posted anywhere. If it is somewhere, please lock this thread. It's from the Seattle Supersonics page. I asked this before, but why did Rockets.com stop having these on their website? I actually enjoy reading them. Link March 8, 2005 SONICS COACH NATE MCMILLAN: On the game: I thought in the third quarter we just stopped moving. We didnft have any movement with the ball, too many turnovers, not setting screens to get each other open. We go from 17 assists in the first half to only four in the second. We didnft have ball movement. We played in traffic and didnft do a good job of taking care of the ball. We had 17 turnovers for 22 points and that was the ball game. On what went wrong for the Sonics in the third quarter: We settled as opposed to getting movement in the offense when we didnft have anything, swinging the ball and working together to create opportunities. Ifm starting to think we think we can outscore teams. Wefre playing for the home run play, so to speak. Wefre playing by ourselves. Wefre not seeing and kicking the ball to the guys who are open. On Rashard Lewis' 3-point miss in the final 10 seconds: I guess he felt like he couldnft get to the basket. The play was to get the quick two, or if you have a look at the 3, take it. There was time for us to get a quick two. We were down three; we didnft have any timeouts. Wefve got to control that game way before it gets to that point. On whether Houston's defense changed in the third quarter: I donft feel as if it did. We just stopped moving. We didnft work together, we didnft use each other. I thought at times we didnft recognize when there was nothing there. We tried to force the situation with quick shots and all of a sudden theyfre running back. It felt like each time we turned the ball over they converted those turnovers into points. GUARD ANTONIO DANIELS: On the game: We had a 22-6 quarter and we definitely canft be pleased with that. We had 17 turnovers and thatfs not what we wanted to do. Thatfs something we pride ourselves on. They took advantage of it. On the Sonics effort: Wefre always going to play hard. If we lose, we want to lose to them; we donft want to beat ourselves. We felt like we beat ourselves. We didnft value the ball as much as we usually do. We do that sometimes when we donft play together. We try to make plays that wefre not accustomed to making. Sometimes thatfs going to happen. We played hard. Yao (Ming) made a couple of big plays down the stretch so you have to take your hat off to them. GUARD RAY ALLEN: On the third quarter: That was one of the worst third quarters wefve played this year. Being a part of it, it didnft seem like it was that bad, like we werenft putting the ball in the basket. Thatfs how it went and we still had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. Tracy (McGrady) made some big plays, Yao made some big plays. We still had a chance to win it. I donft think there was anything that we did badly. We didnft pass the ball as well as we did in the first half. We still passed the ball we just missed some shots. It was one of those weird situations where we still had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. On Yao: Yao is probably the one big man I fear getting the ball at the end of the game because hefs so big and he does have a touch around the basket. Jerome (James) did all he could do to keep him away from the basket and as big as Jerome is, he can still turn around and shoot over him. HOUSTON COACH JEFF VAN GUNDY: On the game: They hurt us with the 3-point shot in the first half. In the second half, we competed a lot harder. We carried out our assignments and did a better job of what we were trying to do. On the Sonics: They are so good that they make you break your trust on defense. I didnft think we played with any trust on defense. I thought in the second half we played with much more trust. They are a hard team to guard. On the matchup between the teams: We have had two close games with them and we have the ultimate respect for them and they are so well coached. We feel good about the win. I donft think our last game had any bearing on us tonight. They are a hard team to guard. I was proud of the way we competed in the second half On the Rockets: We are in a fight for our playoff lives so these games to us are much more critical then they are to them. We have to win and hopefully we can continue to improve and I think we can if we have the right mindset. FORWARD TRACY MCGRADY: On the Sonics: Those guys were hot in the first half. They were making big shots with our hands up. We were contesting their shots and they were knocking them down from everywhere. In the third quarter, we were more focused and more determined. We took more pride in the second half and we did a great job of shutting them down in the third quarter. On the Rockets: We just take it one game at a time. We are in a position where we can make a move up or move down. We donft want to move down; we want to make moves up and see how high we can get. CENTER YAO MING: On the game: I think the key for us tonight was the third quarter. We came out and set the tone. They had a quick start and we came back and played well. [also including the notes on the same page from the Seattle SuperSonics homepage] TONIGHT'S NOTES # Houston won its second straight game. The Sonics lost their second straight, both at KeyArena. # The Rockets evened the season series at one game apiece, both teams winning on the road. # Tracy McGrady’s 3 untied the game with 54.8 seconds left. The Sonics had a chance to tie, but Rashard Lewis missed a 3 with 8.9 seconds to play to seal the game for Houston. # The Sonics set a franchise record low for points in a quarter by scoring just six during the third. Houston outscored them 22-6 to turn a nine-point deficit into a seven-point lead. # The Sonics shot 3-for-14 during the period and committed seven turnovers. They were held scoreless for 6:37 from the 9:25 mark to the 2:48 mark. # Ray Allen led the Sonics with 32 points, the 13th time this season he’s scored 30+. Allen has averaged 30.5 points against the Rockets this season. # Luke Ridnour handed out a season-high 12 assists, eight in the first quarter. He added 14 points for his third double-double of the season and the fourth of his career. # Rashard Lewis scored 21 of his 26 points during the first half. Lewis hit six 3-pointers (Allen five). Allen, Lewis and Ridnour were the only Sonics players in double-figures. # Tracy McGrady (35) scored 30+ for the 18th time this season. # Yao Ming scored 10 of his 22 points in the final quarter (McGrady had 11). # Jon Barry came off the bench to score double-figures for the 10th time this season. # Seattle’s 17 turnovers were their most since 1/26 at Utah. # Neither bench was a factor, the Sonics reserves scoring 13 points and Houston’s 12. # The Rockets improved to 12-8 in games decided by five points or less. The Sonics are 8-4. # The Sonics led by 12 after the first quarter, going on a 28-6 run during the period. # KeyArena was sold out for the third straight game and the 16th time this season.
the sonic's coach is so low. he wouldn't even give the respect where it's due. on the contrary, jvg was prasing them. classic.
We're considered the underdog, so I don't think any ill will was in McMillan's comments. It looks like this will be a tough series if seedings are consistent. The Rockets can win it in a long one, but I can see situations with the Sonics taking an early lead.
I have noticed that Coach Van Gundy has been praising the team lately, which rarely be heard from a guy like him. Last year, it was unheard even we got a win. Wonder what makes him change now.....it seems like he likes this team a lot
It's easier to give praise this year. His team is executing on offense and defense so even when they lose, it's not as bad as last year's losses because at least progress is evident. Hard to give praise to last year's team when it looks like the wheels were just spinning in place the whole season long.
