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All Systems Go Sonics Warily Approach 2-Time Champ

Associated Press

The Sacramento Kings were one story. The Houston Rockets are another.

“They’re the champions and you must give them all the ultimate respect in the world,” coach George Karl said Friday after his Seattle SuperSonics advanced out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in three seasons by beating the Kings 3-1.

The Rockets, two-time NBA champions, will open a best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series against the Sonics this afternoon. Game 2 is set for Seattle on Monday, with Games 3 and 4 at Houston next weekend.

“What they are better than anything else is a great road team, and they’re a great team at the end of the game,” Karl said. “They have no fear of your home court and they have a lot of confidence down the stretch in games.”

Despite Houston’s consecutive titles, Seattle has owned the Rockets during the regular season in recent years. The Sonics were 4-0 this season, including a 112-106 victory at The Summit on April 15.

Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, Houston’s 1-2 scoring punch, missed the third game between the teams, a 118-103 Sonics victory at Seattle on April 3.

Because the Sonics had a best-in-the-West and franchise-record 64 victories this season, they will have the homecourt advantage in the series.

Seattle has beaten Houston nine in a row in the regular season, but the Rockets become a different team in the playoffs, Karl said.

“They understand who they are very, very well,” he said. “They know the game’s going to go to Hakeem, and if Hakeem’s not in there it’s going to go to Drexler.”

While Seattle was finishing off Sacramento 101-87 as Gary Payton scored 29 points and Shawn Kemp 23, Houston was taking care of the Los Angeles Lakers 102-94 as Olajuwon had 25 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.

In the Seattle-Sacramento series, Payton averaged 20.8 points, while Kemp averaged 17.0 after missing the playoff opener because he was serving a one-game suspension for fighting in the regular-season finale.

Against the Lakers, Olajuwon averaged 26.5 points and Drexler 14.0.

Karl had to watch the Rockets win their two championships on television after his Sonics were eliminated in the opening round by Denver two years ago and the Lakers last season. He said he learned something he’s tried to pass on to the Sonics.

“Everybody would kind of be involved,” Karl said. “We didn’t have that identity last year on our basketball team. I think this year we have more of that kind of identity.”

In Houston, where the Rockets worked out the day after dispatching the Lakers, coach Rudy Tomjanovich said Payton was the player who scares him the most.

“Payton is arguably the best point guard in the league,” he said. “You’re talking about a complete package with his scoring, steals and rebounding.”

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ANALYSIS Season series: Seattle, 4-0. Talk about no respect. The SuperSonics have beaten the Rockets nine times in a row over three seasons, have homecourt advantage, have won all four postseason meetings (1982, ‘87, ‘89, ‘93) - and are still underdogs. SuperSonics coach George Karl said they’ve been successful at changing defensive tactics against Hakeem Olajuwon. Everyone wants to see if they can bother him when it counts. After two first-round upsets, the SuperSonics beat lowly Sacramento. But even that was a struggle. The series was 1-1 and the Kings were ahead by eight points with 5:49 left in Game 3 before subs Frank Brickowski and Sam Perkins awoke the SuperSonics with a 3-point barrage. The SuperSonics don’t like halfcourt offense. The Rockets specialize in slowing down opponents and rocking them to sleep. The Los Angeles Lakers outrebounded Houston by eight a game - and might have been swept if Olajuwon hadn’t fouled out of Game 2. How? The Rockets held them to 41.9 percent from the floor. Both teams get a quick turnaround, playing a day and a half after their first-round series ended. That could help the Rockets, who had an easier time and have to steal one in Seattle. - Los Angeles Times

This sidebar appeared with the story: ANALYSIS Season series: Seattle, 4-0. Talk about no respect. The SuperSonics have beaten the Rockets nine times in a row over three seasons, have homecourt advantage, have won all four postseason meetings (1982, ‘87, ‘89, ‘93) - and are still underdogs. SuperSonics coach George Karl said they’ve been successful at changing defensive tactics against Hakeem Olajuwon. Everyone wants to see if they can bother him when it counts. After two first-round upsets, the SuperSonics beat lowly Sacramento. But even that was a struggle. The series was 1-1 and the Kings were ahead by eight points with 5:49 left in Game 3 before subs Frank Brickowski and Sam Perkins awoke the SuperSonics with a 3-point barrage. The SuperSonics don’t like halfcourt offense. The Rockets specialize in slowing down opponents and rocking them to sleep. The Los Angeles Lakers outrebounded Houston by eight a game - and might have been swept if Olajuwon hadn’t fouled out of Game 2. How? The Rockets held them to 41.9 percent from the floor. Both teams get a quick turnaround, playing a day and a half after their first-round series ended. That could help the Rockets, who had an easier time and have to steal one in Seattle. - Los Angeles Times