Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | Oct. 21, 2004

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By the time the Seattle SuperSonics return from a three-game road trip that begins Saturday night in San Antonio, they will have just one more preseason game remaining on their schedule and will be a week away from their Nov. 3 season opener at the Los Angeles Clippers. Still, the Sonics won't be able to play any of their three preseason games this week like a regular-season game in order to tune-up for when the games start counting.

The absence of Lewis and Murray has slowed the Sonics preseason progress. Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty

"You really can't do that because of injuries," said Sonics Coach Nate McMillan after Thursday morning's practice. McMillan is not sure whether guard Ronald "Flip" Murray or forward Rashard Lewis, neither of whom was able to do any running Thursday, will even make the trip.

As a result, the Sonics are not as close to being ready to open the season as McMillan would like.

"We have work to do," McMillan said. "I think it's as simple as that. We're not where we want to be. We are behind, because we've had some injuries and we have some new guys playing at different positions. That has put us behind. We're not where I think we need to be or should be at this point."

Instead of continuing to add sets on either offense or defense, McMillan has decided to focus more on refining the sets the team has already worked on until they are ready for the regular season.

"What I'm seeing is, you've got to be slow," McMillan said. "You don't want to keep adding to what you're doing if you're not doing what you have already well. That's where we are. I don't feel right now we can add a lot more to what we're doing until we start doing the things that we have better."

A slight exception to that came today, as McMillan spent much of the portion of practice open to the media working on a 2-3 zone defense, first in a controlled half-court environment and then with one team switching between man and zone defense during a scrimmage. McMillan expects to use the zone at times as part of his "defensive package".

The upcoming three-game trip will present some interesting challenges for the Sonics. First up on Saturday evening is a game at San Antonio, the first meeting with the Spurs since they signed guard Brent Barry away from the Sonics as a free agent. Two-time MVP Tim Duncan will test the Sonics big men inside, while point guards Luke Ridnour and Antonio Daniels will need to contain speedy Tony Parker on the perimeter.

On Monday, the Sonics will take on the L.A. Lakers in San Diego, a rematch of the teams' preseason opener that took on added meaning when star guards Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant traded verbal volleys through the media last week. The Sonics battle Phoenix for the second time this preseason in the second half of a back-to-back set.

Talking Roster Size

There's been much discussion of which of the three training-camp invitees remaining in camp has the best shot of earning a spot on the roster with 13 players with guaranteed contracts. However, McMillan reminded after practice, the Sonics may choose to go with just those 13 players and not add one of the other three.

"It has to make sense," McMillan said. "These guys, they have to come out and make us go to ownership and sell them to the GM and ownership to keep them. We won't be keeping 14 just because we can do that. We like what we have here (the invitees)."

Another possibility is that the Sonics choose to keep a 14th player not currently on the roster. As teams cut down to their final rosters over the next week and a half, the Sonics will be paying attention, particularly if Lewis' injury proves more serious than anticipated.

"What you definitely do, which we'll do anyway, is watch the waiver wire," McMillan said. "If Rashard is not able to go, you look at the waiver wire; we have some guys here, and we just look at how these guys are playing."

Four years ago, the Sonics claimed guard Emanual Davis off waivers less than a week before the season opener. But the players currently in camp will still get the first shot to impress McMillan, who has said he won't make any cuts until after the Sonics conclude preseason play Oct. 29 at KeyArena against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Still No Starting Five

Asked about his starting lineup after Wednesday's open scrimmage, McMillan laughed. "You're just looking for a story," he told the reporter who asked the question. So are the rest of the writers that cover the team, but McMillan continues to maintain he's made no decision halfway through the Sonics preseason schedule.

At the same time, point guard Ridnour, power forward Reggie Evans and center Vitaly Potapenko continue to get the most work as starters alongside Allen and, in Lewis' absence, Vladimir Radmanovic. McMillan admitted the group still had an edge.

"We think the first unit of Reggie, Vitaly, Allen - the first game we played - Luke - that was the unit that has played the best so far," McMillan said.

While those players were split up during Wednesday's scrimmage, they worked together again during Thursday's practice.

That McMillan hasn't finalized his lineup seemed to be confirmed after an unrelated question. Asked which player had stood out during camp, McMillan said, "I'm looking for a unit to stand out, not necessarily one guy."