The Spurs won 20 straight games and took a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals before Oklahoma City caught fire, winning four straight in the best-of-seven series. Spurs forward Matt Bonner of Concord High averaged 6.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in his eighth season. This week, he talked with the New Hampshire Sunday News before the Thunder closed out the series.

Sunday News: Does a loss at home drastically change the momentum in a series like this?

Matt Bonner: From a purely mathematical, computer-brain standpoint, I guess you can say that it turns the series. It's a long series and every game is important. We knew it was going to be a difficult series. That's why you play so hard during the regular season, to get that homecourt advantage.

SN: The Spurs dissected Oklahoma City in the first two games and really attacked Kendrick Perkins with the pick-and-roll. How did the Thunder counteract?

MB: They went long stretches of going small with only one big out there. Instead of Perkins, at times, they've gone with (Serge) Ibaka. With his length and athleticism, he's able to switch on pick-and-rolls and basically guard the guards. He keeps them in front and uses his length to contest shots. That caused some problems.


SN: Were you surprised when Manu Ginobili was put into the starting lineup for Game 4 instead of coming off the bench?

MB: Not really. If we have Manu or Danny Green coming off the bench, they are both great players. We have confidence in our coaches and the scheme or strategy they come up. We go out and try to execute with the lineup.

SN: The Celtics have played some of gutsiest performances you'll see in the playoffs. Here's guessing you are not surprised.

MB: Yes, can you play the tape from last week's show when you made it sound like they were satisfied by beating the Sixers? You made it sound like they were going to come out and be complacent, and it would be a cake walk for the Heat. I had to step up and defend the older core players on the Celtics. I think my points made have been proven true.

SN: It seems fair to compare the Celtics and Spurs and certain challenges facing each team.

MB: The Celtics are kind of like us, in my mind. They have to rely on being scrappy and executing and setting solid picks, making solid cuts. The Heat, you could argue, have more depth and are more athletic. You have to hone in on your experience and really scrap. The Celtics have done that.

SN: How do you think LeBron James handled the postgame interview after he fouled out in Game 4?

MB: Any time there is controversy about an official, my initial thought is you're going to be fined if you say anything. Step one, if you're willing to pay the fine to comment on officiating, then so be it. I thought he handled it OK on the court. It's tough. If they call that foul every time, LeBron would have 25 fouls per game. They can't call everything but they have to call some things. Paul Pierce fouled out on a similar play. In order to stay consistent, the ref has the right to make that call.

SN: Have you been rooting for the Celtics?

MB: I'm from New Hampshire, so I've been rooting for the Celtics, but it's been a win-win situation for me. Two of my college teammates are on the Heat, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller. I would be happy for them if they won. Definitely a part of me wants to see the hometown team win.

SN: Also, you had to be thinking about the Spurs and Celtics in the NBA Finals and you coming back home.

MB: Yeah, I wasn't going to bring that up, but, obviously, to play Boston in the NBA Finals would be something I've dreamed of. The only difference was I played for the Celtics when I was a kid.

Bonner discusses The NBA Life with radio broadcaster Chris Ryan and N.H. Union Leader reporter Kevin Gray. The interview appears weekly in the N.H. Sunday News, and the radio show can be heard Mondays at 6 p.m. on WGAM 1250 AM, WGHM 900 AM, WKXL 1450 AM and 103.9 FM.