Onus Falls Squarely On Payton Guard Takes Blame For Game 1 Turnovers

There are all types of pressure.

There is the real-life, daily pressure of providing for a family, and there is the pressure that the Chicago Bulls defense has applied on its opponents, especially during the playoffs in their last three series.

Then there is the pressure that Seattle guard Gary Payton faces entering tonight’s Game 2 of the 1996 NBA Finals to be held at the United Center.

His Sonics trail 1-0 in the series, and are considered by many observers to be headed toward a sweep; he’s coming off a 6-for-17 outing; his backup, Nate McMillan, is doubtful because of a sciatic nerve problem; and Payton is going to be the object of increased attention and energy by his primary defender Ron Harper, as well as defensive wizards named Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

So what does Payton, the fearless, aggressive leader of the Sonics, have to say about his precarious position:

“We can play with this team,” he said of the Bulls, “and we can beat this team. I didn’t shoot the ball well in Game 1 and I didn’t finish well. It’s just something that happened. I’m not going to have great games every night.

“I’m going to come out (tonight) and play the same way that I did (Wednesday night) and the same way I’ve been playing throughout the playoffs. Shooting is just something that happens. It was a bad shooting night, but we’re not worried about our shooting.”

Payton said he can handle the pressure of leading the Sonics.

“This is my team,” he said. “Shawn and I have been leading this team all year, but if we lose, you can blame it on me. If you have to blame it on somebody, blame me. I don’t care. Write your stories about me.

“I don’t read your papers anyway.”

Payton said he takes responsibility for the Sonics’ 18 turnovers that the Bulls converted into 24 points. Payton had three of those turnovers, but he said he’s the point guard and it’s his duty to make sure the offense runs smoothly.

“Everybody is fine,” Payton said of the Sonics, who made seven of those turnovers in the fourth quarter. “We know we had a lot of mistakes at the end of the game. Turnovers wound up killing us. I talked to the guys (Thursday) and I think after watching the film, they realize we can’t turn the ball over in crucial situations.

“But we’re still feeling good about ourselves and we’re confident.”

Both teams believed they can and will play better in Game 2, and if Payton thought he received a lot of attention Wednesday, he has another thought coming.

Said Pippen, “It’s going to be tough for Gary without Nate because he’s going to have to play a lot of minutes. He’s going to have to withstand the pressure and we’re going to increase that pressure.

“We know Nate is hurting and that’s something that is in our favor and we have to take advantage. It’s almost similar to the Orlando series, where Brian Shaw was out and Penny (Hardaway) had increased minutes.”

The Sonics do a lot of switching on defense, so Payton’s defensive responsibilities vary. In Game 1, the 6-foot-4 Payton defended Harper and Jordan, but primarily was up against the 6-7 Pippen.

Seattle coach George Karl said his team always changes defensive assignments, so 6-10 Detlef Schrempf may not see as much of Jordan as he did in Game 1.

But Pippen said Payton should be up to any defensive assignment put before him.

“He’s the defensive player of the year, so he should be able to guard anybody on the floor,” Pippen said to reporters. “You guys voted for him.”

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