Even more great Daniels press...

[ZiggyZoomba]

Daniels makes impact as starter

By Greg Bishop
Seattle Times staff reporter


Reggie Evans carried a white No. 7 Sonics jersey to the floor before Game 4 of the Spurs-Sonics series yesterday, an homage to injured starter Rashard Lewis, who watched the game wearing street clothes on the bench.

"My dog's presence was still felt today," Evans said after the Sonics wrapped up a 101-89 victory.

Antonio Daniels stood in for Lewis in the Sonics' starting lineup, and he honored his teammate in a different way by the game's conclusion. The jersey Evans' toted provided a sentimental touch, but Daniels gave the Sonics something tangible.

How's this for honor? Nineteen points, seven assists and two rebounds in 38 minutes, as Daniels again played difference-maker while his current team tied his former team at two games all in this best-of-seven series.

"I'm just going to try and be myself," Daniels said. "I'm not going to try and be Rashard."

With Lewis sitting and Daniels hitting, that switch worked in the Sonics' favor yesterday. They swapped a forward with a guard in their starting lineup, allowing three guards to push the ball faster than San Antonio has seen this series, faster than the Spurs could handle.

Daniels said he basically played the role of second point guard, teaming with Luke Ridnour — pushing, pushing, pushing until the Spurs backed down. Daniels drilled a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Sonics a 5-2 lead they wouldn't relinquish. He hit an eight-foot pull-up to extend the Sonics lead to 12-4 and another jumper for a 23-17 advantage.

Asked what affect the three-guard lineup had on his team, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said, "None, other than Antonio was great. He kicked our butts. So I'd say it gave us some trouble."

This is the Antonio Daniels the Sonics know — nothing if not opportunistic. He won a championship with San Antonio two seasons ago, and then for reasons he still doesn't fully understand, Daniels didn't fit in the Spurs' picture anymore.

So he came to Seattle and accepted a role coming off the bench. Then moved into the starting lineup against his former team and swung the series in the direction of the Sonics.

"I'm past it," Daniels said.

He certainly looked at home in Seattle this week, even though he still makes his home in San Antonio. Daniels scored 18 points in the Sonics' Game 3 win, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists. He has scored at least 15 points per game in this series, helping to negate the the loss of Lewis (sprained left big toe) and Vladimir Radmanovic (sprained right ankle).

Maybe that's why Jerome James cracked a smile when asked about Daniels yesterday.

"He's a starter that happens to come off the bench," James said. "He's won a championship ring. He's a veteran point guard. This is the AD that we know, the AD that you saw today. It was too much for them to deal with. Even though they stopped me, it left the middle wide-open for our guards to penetrate."

Added Evans: "He did Antonio today. It was nothing unusual. He's been doing that all year. Nothing he does surprised me, especially him stepping up in the playoffs."

Lewis gave Daniels no special instructions before the game started. None were needed.

Instead, Lewis sat there at the end of the Sonics bench, dressed entirely in brown, clapping and cheering louder than the fans who made KeyArena shake. Lewis left the arena last night carrying a little girl up a ramp outside of KeyArena, his status for Game 5 tomorrow night in San Antonio uncertain.

What is certain is that the Spurs can use the extra day to prepare for the Sonics if Lewis doesn't play.

What is also certain is that the three-guard Sonics starting lineup caught the Spurs off-guard. By one, to be exact.

Greg Bishop: 206-464-3191 or [email protected]

Daniels drums up points
Antonio Daniels continues to have a big series against the Spurs:
Game FG Reb A St. TP
Game 1 5-7 1 3 0 15
Game 2 6-11 1 6 3 16
Game 3 3-9 8 3 1 18
Game 4 8-13 2 7 1 19

[UK Peregrine]

AD had 17 points last evening in the Game 5 loss. Again the home team wins in this series.