On Eve of Playoff Opener, Sonics Still Uncertain
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Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | Apr. 22, 2005
Are the Seattle SuperSonics ready for tomorrow's Game 1 of their first-round series with the Sacramento Kings (7:30 p.m., FSN, )? As ready as they're going to be.

While the Sonics still have tomorrow morning's shootaround, their primary preparations for the Kings concluded with Friday's practice. After working on their offense yesterday, the Sonics worked on defending Sacramento today.

The Sonics know what plays the Kings will be running tomorrow, but which players will be running them remains a mystery. All-Stars Peja Stojakovic and Brad Miller both go into tomorrow as question marks because of injuries, Stojakovic with a strained groin and Miller recovering from a fractured fibula. Even Sacramento doesn't seem to know whether Stojakovic and Miller will be in the lineup.

"If Stojakovic is not in uniform, you know that is a deadly weapon that is missing from their arsenal," said Sonics Coach Nate McMillan after practice. "You still have other guys you have to pay attention to.

"They still have guys that can shoot the ball. (Cuttino) Mobley has shot the ball well against us. (Mike) Bibby is still out there. It's still a team that can put up some points, and they did put up some points the last game. I think the main thing is you've got to stay close to those guys, you’ve got to defend their movement. … It does change some of what you would do if Stojakovic is not out there, but we're going to have to wait and see."


"It does change some of what you would do if Stojakovic is not out there, but we're going to have to wait and see."
Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty
As has been the case throughout this season, McMillan's concern lies more with making sure his own team is executing its game plan and doing what it is supposed to do rather that the condition of the opponent.

"It is what we do," McMillan said. "It is regardless of who is out there. In saying that, you're going to make some adjustments if certain guys are not out there. We still have to do what we're supposed to do."

Still, not having seen the possible Sacramento lineup together - Miller played only two games after the Kings remade their roster by trading Chris Webber to Philadelphia for three players, while Bobby Jackson has played only once since December - presents an issue for the Sonics as they put together their gameplan.

There is less uncertainty about the Sonics own rotation. For the second straight day, reserve forward Vladimir Radmanovic practiced normally and told reporters he expects to play on Saturday.

"He's not experiencing any pain from the running he did yesterday," said McMillan. "We'll look again tomorrow at him, see how he feels, and if he can go tomorrow, I'm sure his minutes will be limited."

"I expect to play 40, 45 minutes," Radmanovic joked before turning serious. "(Athletic Trainer) Mike (Shimensky) and Nate, they're going to talk about it. I guess they're going to be limited the first two games, but depending on how I feel, we'll go from there. Hopefully, I'll be able to jump into the rotation like I was before."

Sonics guard Ray Allen doesn't expect any difficulty working Radmanovic back into the flow.

"As long as he gets to the hole, gets some easy stuff, and takes the shot when he's wide open as opposed to trying to take tough ones early, he'll be great," said Allen. "He'll let it come to him and we'll try to find him early."

McMillan indicated he planned to go back to a rotation similar to the one he used during mid-season before Radmanovic was injured if his sixth man is available, though Radmanovic may initially enter the game as a small forward instead of a power forward to get forward Rashard Lewis rest. Lewis sat out another practice to save wear-and-tear on his left knee.

"Rashard's okay," said McMillan. "It's just another day that we could give him some more time and allow him tomorrow to maybe go through some offensive sets, but for the last two days he's basically sat."

  • Allen on the difference between the regular season and the playoffs: "I have more intensity, more fire. Once you notice the difference when you're a player, it almost seems like you're just practicing for the 82 games of the season. The playoffs are a whole different story."

  • A Sacramento television crew was going around trying to stump Sonics players by asking them to spell Radmanovic's last name. After quickly rattling off the correct spelling, Allen boasted to reporters that he had been a spelling bee champion several years running as a kid.

    Allen also kidded reporters when asked how Radmanovic looked, saying, "He looks a little pale right now."