Karl Will Split The Difference

Sun., March 24, 1996

Tacoma News Tribune

San Antonio’s 12-game winning streak has drawn the Spurs into the race for the Western Conference title and put Seattle SuperSonics coach George Karl in a difficult position.

Does he go all out to hold off the surging Spurs and win the Western Conference, thereby assuring the homecourt advantage in the playoffs?

Or does he attempt to reduce the minutes of a few weary players so they will be fresh for the playoffs, all the while trying to win as many games as possible?

Apparently, he will aim for something in between.

“I don’t think it is a high priority,” he said of winning the Western Conference.

“Winning the Pacific Division and getting the best seed possible is a priority. But I do not think you will see us sitting guys down. Keeping the edge is more important.”

Rare appearance

NBC announced Saturday it will televise the Sonics’ game at San Antonio on April 13. It will be the Sonics’ first major network appearance this season and only their sixth national appearance, including five national cable appearances. The Sonics, despite compiling the second-best record in the league, trail several other NBA teams in regards to television exposure. Chicago and Orlando will be on national network or cable television 22 times each this season.

Those terrible turnovers

The Sonics’ mental fatigue shows up in streaks, usually on the offensive end.

Shawn Kemp tops the Sonics with 4.1 turnovers a game, primarily errant passes or getting stripped of the ball when he is setting up shots from the low post.

Point guard Gary Payton averages 3.3 turnovers, primarily on passing mistakes. Although he averages an incredible 39.4 minutes and is the primary ballhandler, he rarely has the ball stolen from his dribble.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Karl Will Split The Difference

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Pac-12 transfer tracker: Keeping up with portal moves, transactions for all nine teams

Updated: How Mariners’ Luke Raley rediscovered his hitting flow with the help of Edgar Martinez

A Grip on Sports: The Zags seem to have kept the trio of players they most needed to retain while the Mariners may have kept J.P. Crawford around a bit too long