Strategy Not Killin’ Sonics

Seattle coach George Karl said the team’s defensive strategy wasn’t to blame for Matt Maloney’s 3-point bonanza in Houston’s 110-106 win over the SuperSonics in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday at KeyArena.

Maloney hit eight 3-pointers, including the game-winner with 38.6 seconds left in overtime, tying Dan Majerle for second on the all-time NBA playoff single-game list. Majerle’s eight treys in 1993, and Rex Chapman’s record nine also came in games against Karl-coached Seattle teams, which are susceptible to the 3-pointer due to their trapping, rotating defense.

But Karl said Monday a review of the film shows that six of Maloney’s 3’s Sunday weren’t the result of being left open due to a man leaving him to double someone else.

Karl said two of Maloney’s 3-pointers came after offensive rebounds, two came on transition, and two came after Maloney pump-faked by his defender, leaving only two that came against the regular defense.

Karl said he doesn’t plan to alter the team’s defensive strategy to account for Maloney, but players have to be more alert about where Maloney is on the court.

“We better learn how to come at him in a lot of different ways,” Karl said.

Still fuming

Karl, for one, was still upset about some of the calls made in overtime Sunday.

He said his review of the film shows a 3-second call against Detlef Schrempf with just over 2 minutes left and Seattle ahead by four “doesn’t exist.”

Karl timed the play and said Schrempf was in the lane for 2.8 seconds. And he added 3-second violations are rarely called in the playoffs.

Houston started a game-ending 10-2 run after the whistle on Schrempf.

Karl also called a late charging call on Sam Perkins “a joke.”

Karl, however, also said the team isn’t pre-occupied with the referees.

“It’s not driving us crazy or anything,” he said. “We aren’t calling the league office or sending them tapes or saying it’s a vendetta. We’re just stating we’re unhappy.”

Shooting around

Karl turned 46 Monday, and said the only present he wanted was a win today.

Karl said again he plans to try to rest Gary Payton early by giving Eric Snow some minutes in the first half. Snow gave Payton 5 minutes of rest in the first half Sunday and Payton said the time off helped.

Karl also said he wasn’t unhappy with the play of Jim McIlavine, who had two points and a rebound in 5 minutes in playing for only the second time in the series and fourth time in the playoffs.

“I’m happy with what I got,” Karl said. “Shawn (Kemp’s) foul trouble gave me an opportunity to play him. But you have to remember Sam (Perkins) and Terry (Cummings) are damn good basketball players.”

xxxx