| Updates : 19/04/03 : > SuperSonics To Face the Spurs, 1st Round |
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Ray Allen spurred the Sonics into top spot in the West, everything was going well, until Allen got injured. Out for the first round definetely, and maybe for longer, the Sonics will miss their leading scorer (23PPG) and assist man (7.2APG) who settled in so well in the PG position. They will however be relieved to see Tim Duncan is also missing through injury, which should mean their PF weakness will not be so obviously exposed. With Allen out, Rashard Lewis, Brent Barry and Elden Campbell, who all had over 12PPG, will have to step up. But could the veteran PG Terry Porter be the key. The former Spurs player who was picked up as a free agent this season, will have to start against the ultra-quick Frenchman Tony Parker. If he can cope with the youngster, the Sonics should go on to round two, if not then they could be done for it has to be the key match up.
The injury Tim Duncan suffered that will keep him out of the first round of the play-offs has been a crucial one. Not only does it mean that they were not able to hold on to home court advantage, but it also meant he did not get the MVP award he deserved. It so crucially though, has hampered the Spurs chances to win the WWBL Championship, as without him the Spurs are an ordinary team. Malik Rose is a good sixth man but he won't be able to put up the 28.5PPG that Duncan was, nor pull down his 11.8RPG. He will do a good job against the Sonics, who are weak at PF, but he does not draw the attention that Duncan does. The Admiral David Robinson, possibly in his last year of WWBL action, will have to step up, but he is already averaging a double double. Tony Parker, 10.1PPG will have to improve his scoring. The Spurs however, do have some plusses for this series. In Ginobilli, Smith, Kerr and CLaxton, they have some great backcourt back up and a much deeper bench than the Sonics, which could be used as an advantage in a long series or in overtime, when players are starting to get fouled out. It is a tough ask for the Spurs but with Allen injured, they can do it.
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since the 5th February 2003