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Kevin Pelton, SUPERSONICS.COM | October 4, 2006

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Wednesday was not only day two of Seattle SuperSonics training camp, but also day two of the NBA's new basketballs. Beginning this season, the league is switching to synthetic Spalding basketballs as the Official Game Ball from the traditional leather balls the league used for 36 seasons. While the new balls were used in summer league and many players have been practicing with them, the start of training camp has also brought up complaints around the league about the change.

Miami Heat star Shaquille O'Neal said on Monday that the new ball, "Feels like one of those cheap balls that you buy at the toy store, indoor-outdoor balls. I look for shooting percentages to be way down and turnovers to be way up, because when the ball gets wet you can't really control it."

"It just took some getting used to. It's still a basketball."

No venom like that is apparent within the Sonics camp, but there is an undercurrent of concern about the new basketball.

"The players don't like it," Sonics Coach Bob Hill said after Wednesday's morning practice. "I like it, but it doesn't matter whether I like it. They don't like it when it gets wet, they think it gets slippery. That's why we don't let them change balls. Once we commit to a ball during a drill, they've got to use it, because they can't change balls during the game."

For the most part, the Sonics asked about the change Wednesday expressed no strong feelings either way.

"It's alright," said forward Chris Wilcox. "It's just a little slick. When it gets wet, it gets wet. It's something we have to deal with. You've just got to adjust to it. Everything else will come along. It's just like playing in the park - every game you're not going to play with the same ball. It's a great thing; we've just got to work with it."

"They're chalky - different type of feel, different type of bounce," added guard Earl Watson. "They're lighter. The feel is definitely different. You've just got to take time to get used to it."

"It just took some getting used to," center Robert Swift commented. "It's still a basketball. Other than the feel, I think they're a little more slick when they get wet. Other than that, it's just a little more grip. That's all."

After a few weeks, the general consensus seems to be, the new basketballs will no longer be an issue.

"People in general don't like change," concluded Hill. "You're talking about a group of pretty special folks who have gotten used to the old leather ball. Ray Allen's been shooting the ball like it's midseason - it doesn't seem like it bothers him any, which kind of tells you if you can shoot, you can shoot. If you can't, you can't. If you have a bad day, you can blame it on the new ball."

Injury Update

Guard Kareem Rush sat out practice with a left groin strain suffered Tuesday.

"He came out and tried to shoot," said Hill. "It's not a serious injury, it's just one that he doesn't want to re-injure right now. "He was going to try today. I think he'll probably go tomorrow. ... He could probably get through tonight, I would think."

Center Danny Fortson once again worked early in practice before sitting out later to rest his chronically sore left knee.

"Danny's been fine," Hill said. "I told him we're going to work through this together. Give us what you've got and we'll see how things work out."

The only other injury concern is guard Milt Palacio, whose knee and weight were expected to keep him out of the evening practices during two-a-days. That no longer looks to be the case.

AUDIO

Listen to Bob Hill's meeting with the local media after practice. Also, Sonics broadcasters David Locke and Francis Williams discussed what they saw at practice.

"I probably spoke a little too soon there," explained Hill. "(Athletic trainer) Mike (Shimensky) was fearful that he couldn't go because he's got a little bit of a weight problem, but I thought he looked much better today. He's still going to have to get some weight off. He's a veteran point guard; he's bigger and that's why we brought him in here. I think he'll probably go tonight."

The portion of practice open to the media commenced with a session that had former NBA referee Mike Mathis instructing players on legal battling for position at the free-throw line as they worked on rebounding missed free throws.

The players were broken up into three teams. Watson, Denham Brown, Damien Wilkins, Rashard Lewis, Wilcox and Swift were on the White team. Mike Wilks, Desmon Farmer, Noel Felix, Kenny Adeleke and Mouhamed Sene made up the Green team. Palacio, Luke Ridnour, Allen, Mickaël Gelabale, Nick Collison and Johan Petro rounded out the Black team. Fortson and Rush did not participate.

Afterwards, Hill had his players run a running drill that they also ran on Monday that has a goal of the team scoring 120 baskets in four minutes and 15 seconds, with three shots - one of them a layup - each time down the court. They finished with 123 on Wednesday morning.

For the second straight day, Hill singled out Petro for praise.

"Petro again today played very well, very, very, very well," Hill said. "Robert had another good day. Petro had an excellent day - he stood out. It was another long, hard practice and he was as good at the end as he was in the beginning."