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Both Sides Lose Key Contributors
Robinson, Duncan to Miss Game Four; Lewis Done for Series
By SonicsKevin
Forward Rashard Lewis, left, was diagnosed yesterday with a dislocated shoulder that will sideline him for at least three weeks and may require surgery.
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Throughout most of this best-of-five first round playoff series between the Seattle Supersonics and the San
Antonio Spurs, the off-the-court reports have been more exciting than the action on the court. Before the
series even started, we had the Sonics' apparent crisis with small forwards Rashard Lewis, all but declared
out two days before April 20's game one. By gametime, both were on the court, but it made little difference
as the Spurs cruised to a 21-point victory.
Between game one and game three, all the concern was on San Antonio's end for starting center David Robinson, who played just seven minutes in game one's first quarter before succumbing to a sore back. He did not play in game two or game three, but that again bothered the Spurs little last Saturday as they blew the Sonics out again to take a 2-1 series lead. In the last two days, the injury talk has heated up to its highest levels. The main news on Monday was that the injury suffered by Lewis in the third quarter of game three was more serious than previously thought; a dislocated shoulder that will sideline him for the next three weeks. During that period, he will attempt to rehabilitate the shoulder. If that is unsuccessful, surgery -- which would sideline Lewis somewhere from four to six months -- might be necessary. Today's news was more shocking yet, rocking this series to its core. On Monday evening, Tim Duncan's father, William, passed away in North Carolina. Today, the Spurs left for Seattle from San Antonio without Duncan, whose return to the team is still in question. What is certain is that Duncan will not play in Wednesday's game four. Nor will Robinson, who is out for the third straight game with his back injury. Worse still for the Spurs' chances of ending the series without having to return to Texas for a game five, they might be without reserve forward Danny Ferry, who injured his right wrist during game three and is officially listed as doubtful. Duncan, Robinson, and Ferry combined for better than 43 points, 23 rebounds, and four and a half blocks per game during the regular season. Also making news on the eve of game four were the selections for the NBA's All-Defense team, with each side placing a player on the first team. Seattle's Gary Payton was named to the first team for the ninth season, tying the previous record held by Washington Wizards guard Michael Jordan. The Spurs had both Duncan on the first team for the fourth time and forward Bruce Bowen on the second team for the second consecutive season.
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