Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | May 14, 2005
It was not Seattle SuperSonics forward
Rashard Lewis' words that told the story Saturday afternoon as Lewis met the media for the first time since spraining his left big toe in the fourth quarter of the Sonics Game 3 Western Conference Semifinals victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Instead, the anguished look on Lewis' face was more than enough to demonstrate his concern that he will be unable to play in tomorrow's Game 4 at KeyArena
(4:00 p.m., TNT, 
).
"I think it's more of a 50-50 chance (I play)," Lewis, officially a game-time decision, told reporters after the Sonics practiced Saturday. (Lewis did not participate.) "We'll see how I feel tomorrow."
The magnitude of the situation, as the Sonics trail the Spurs 2-1 in their best-of-seven series, means Lewis will try to do whatever it takes to be on the court when tomorrow's game tips off.
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"It just feels like, regardless what the situation, I've got to try to find a way to get myself out there."
Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images
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"It just feels like, regardless what the situation, I've got to try to find a way to get myself out there," explained Lewis. "This is do-or-die time and I feel like, if I don't get out there to help my teammates … I don't know how to put it. I could see if this was the regular season, I maybe could have a couple of days where I could rest, but right now, we're still down 2-1 and we're in a situation where we could still get eliminated. I don't want to put my team in that situation."
Lewis wore his frustration on his face, and it was also evident in his quiet responses to the media. Lewis explained that is the product of a season that has seen him battle one nagging injury after another since training camp.
"It's real frustrating, these little nagging injuries," said Lewis. "That's been holding me back from playing the way I want to play. It started with the tendinitis, then my right foot, now my toe on my left foot - a number of small things. That's the only thing that makes it so frustrating."
Also frustrating to Lewis is that he hasn't seen as much progress as he expected, feeling as much soreness today as yesterday. He's able to wear a shoe on his left foot, but walked with a noticeable limp. As a result, he'll continue getting treatment throughout tonight and tomorrow.
Sonics Coach 
Nate McMillan won't put any pressure on Lewis to play, as much as he knows he needs him in the lineup, especially with forward 
Vladimir Radmanovic already sidelined with a sprained right ankle. Of the nine games the Sonics played without Lewis and Radmanovic during March and April, they won only two.
"He knows that this team needs him," said McMillan. "That is a doctor and a player situation. You're looking at the health of a player and I don't know his pain tolerance. I don't try to play doctor in that situation. I listen to the trainer. I listen to the player."
The exception to that is when a player can play, but is limited.
"There are situations where a guy would be limited, what he can do," McMillan explained. "Do you sub him quick? Do you limit him? That's where I'll come into play. If we're talking about minutes, do we use him early? Do we start him as opposed to bringing him off the bench? But not the decision whether he will play or not."
Lewis certainly expects to be limited tomorrow if he is able to play.
"Everything," he said, asked what will be affected. "With my toe hurting, I won't be able to run, I won't be able to jump, I won't be able to cut. I think if I play tomorrow, the only thing I have to do is try to play off being a smart player. My athletic ability won't be a factor at all because I won't be able to do anything. I'm just going out there and being smart."
McMillan told reporters he has not yet decided who would replace Lewis in the starting lineup if he is unable to play. Presumably, the top two options are 
Antonio Daniels, who started in a three-guard lineup when Lewis missed two games in January, and 
Damien Wilkins, who started the seven games Lewis missed in April. 
Ronald "Flip" Murray could also be a candidate.
While the news on Lewis Saturday was not good, the Sonics other starting forward, 
Reggie Evans, declared he will be in the lineup despite having to leave Game 3 early because of a back contusion.
"I am playing tomorrow," said Evans firmly. "There is no game-time decision.
"I could have back spasms, I don't care what it is. I'm playing. It doesn't matter what it is."
