SEATTLE – The rumbling whispers of panic swept over Key Arena about an hour before Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals. Already down key reserve Vladimir Radmanovic, the Seattle Sonics officially added Rashard Lewis to the will-not-play list Sunday afternoon, leaving them with as many true small forwards as they had chances of upsetting the San Antonio Spurs.
Zero, that is.
So much for the importance of small forwards. Or handicappers, for that matter.
With point guard Antonio Daniels filling Lewis’ spot in the starting lineup, and guard Damien Wilkins providing an unexpected spark off the bench, the Sonics actually played their best offensive game of the series. The duo combined for 34 points to help Seattle tie the series by way of a 101-89 win over the Spurs.
“We’ve been facing this all year,” said Wilkins, a 6-foot-6 guard who even played some power forward in Sunday’s game. “We’ve had injuries all year, and guys have stepped up and been ready to play.”
Wilkins, who had scored just five total points in the playoffs leading up to Sunday’s game, turned in the most surprising performance. He played 32 minutes, scored 15 points, and added six rebounds and five steals. He found out just 15 minutes before tip-off that Lewis would not be available, yet Wilkins was ready to go.
“This isn’t the first time he’s done that,” Daniels said. “I’m not surprised. We’re a very deep team. The depth is definitely a strength of this team.”
Wilkins had been quietly preparing for just such a moment all season. He has used Lewis and fellow All-Star Ray Allen as sounding boards all year long, firing so many questions their way that he sometimes wondered if he was being a bit too inquisitive.
“I think I get on Ray’s nerves a lot, and Rashard’s too, because I’m always trying to find a way to get better,” Wilkins said.
Wilkins was at it again the day before the game, hanging around Allen’s house until 8 p.m. Saturday while firing all sorts of basketball-related questions at the nine-year NBA veteran.
“What’s that saying? Imitation is the best form of flattery?” Allen said. “Damien, since the day he got here, he’s asked me every question. It’s like he’s a sponge.
“His game has grown so much from when he first got here (as an undrafted rookie last fall), and it didn’t look like he was going to make the team, until now, when he’s helping us win playoff games.”
Allen isn’t the only guy being pestered. Wilkins used every opportunity Sunday to get advice from Lewis, who was dressed in street clothes for Sunday’s game.
“I’ve been ready to step up and play all year long,” Wilkins said. “Tonight, unfortunately due to Rashard getting injured, I got that chance.”
Daniels also turned in an inspired performance, scoring 15 of his 19 points through the first three quarters to help the Sonics build a 16-point lead entering the final quarter.
“This isn’t the first time that I’ve stepped in for Rashard when he hasn’t started,” Daniels said. “But I’m going to be myself; I’m not going to be Rashard. We’re two completely different players, and we bring completely different things to the table.”
On Sunday, Daniels shot like Lewis, hitting both of his 3-pointers, while also dishing out a team-high seven assists.
While many of the people inside Key Arena on Sunday afternoon doubted Seattle’s ability to win without Lewis, there were believers in both lockerrooms.
“It’s a coach’s nightmare when somebody sits out,” Popovich said afterward. “You worry about a team playing inspired basketball, knowing that they are up against it. You worry about subconsciously letting down. It was a real disappointing game in that regard.”
For the Spurs, maybe. But the 17,000-plus fans didn’t seem to miss Lewis at all.
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