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Bob Hill

"We kind of discussed it this morning and we started that team today," said Hill after the Sonics practiced Tuesday. "They won the scrimmage."

"We kind of discussed it this morning and we started that team today." Jeff Reinking/NBAE/Getty

The lineup features Luke Ridnour and Ray Allen in the backcourt, Rashard Lewis and Chris Wilcox at forward and Johan Petro in the middle. That was the Sonics most common starting unit a year ago, going 8-7 in 15 starts, and they got off to a good start Tuesday by defeating the Sonics reserves 20-10 in a 12-minute scrimmage - despite three missed layups that Hill harped on as a lack of focus.

Hill has argued over the past week that setting up a good rotation and strong bench is as important as putting together his starting unit. At the moment, the top four reserves are Earl Watson, Damien Wilkins, Nick Collison and Robert Swift, and Hill emphasized that all have played well enough during training camp to start.

"I could very easily start Nick," said Hill. "He's earned it. I could very easily start Robert. He's earned it. I could very easily start Damien at three.

"My thinking is who's the best bench? That's my concern. I need to have a good bench."

Hill plans to use the Sonics first four preseason games, including two matchups with Portland, to experiment and give opportunities to young players and the training-camp invitees battling for spots on the roster. Over the final week of the preseason, he'll get serious about his rotations, prepare for the start of the regular season in earnest and try to win games.

While minor injuries have been an issue for the Sonics during training camp, the team should be relatively healthy at the start of preseason. Guard Kareem Rush, sidelined throughout camp, and center Danny Fortson are the only players expected out because of injuries. Wilkins missed practice with a sprained right index finger suffered Monday, but Hill anticipates Wilkins playing in Portland.

"Ray played the next day [after suffering the same injury] and Damien spends a lot of time with Ray," Hill explained. "If he doesn't play tomorrow, Ray will be in his backside. I think he'll play. He was out here shooting today. He's probably got some pain in it, but it's not broken or chipped, it's just sprained."

The only other injury concern is Watson, who had one of his front teeth knocked out during practice in a collision going for a loose ball.

"He got his tooth knocked out in four-on-four (drill)," Hill said. "Kenny Adeleke swung at the ball and missed the ball and hit Earl in the mouth and his tooth went flying.

"I would think he'll play tomorrow. He might take it off. I don't know. If he takes it off, that gives me a chance to play (Milt) Palacio and (Mike) Wilks."

While Fortson did not participate in the scrimmage, he went through one of his longest practices thus far.

"Danny practiced very well - very well," said Hill. "When he was able to get on the floor, he impacted practice - ran the floor, rebounded, posted up, got to the foul line. It was fun to see. He really did a good job."

Petro: "I'm just going to do my job"

A year ago, Petro was preparing for his first NBA game - not just as a player, but the first one he'd ever seen live. Three weeks later, Petro was a starter on Opening Night, and now he'll get the start as the Sonics open the 2006 preseason. Still, Petro approaches tomorrow's game with some nerves.

"I was scared because it was my first NBA game," Petro recalled. "It worked out pretty good. Now, I'm kind of scared now because it's the first game of the season, but I know what I have to do, so I'm just going to do my job."

Last year's debut was a bit of an adventure at first. As Petro went to check in for the first time, he pulled off his warmup to reveal only an undershirt, not his jersey, before getting straightened out. Petro finished with two rebounds and missed both of his shot attempts in 14 minutes in that game.

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After Tuesday's practice, David Locke got the chance to chat one-on-one with Bob Hill about the preseason and also with forward Chris Wilcox on tapping his immense talent.

Petro has made no secret of his desire to start, and came into camp working hard from the first practice. Hill has regularly praised Petro's play to the media, but is also riding him during practice to get the best out of his young big man.

"He's going to stay on me all year," said Petro. "That's a good thing."

"You've got to stay on them," said Hill, referring primarily to the Sonics young big men. "I'm going to be on them this year about playing at a higher level than they did last year - all of them. That will start tomorrow."

One regular topic for Hill is Petro's rebounding. Having been able to rely on his athleticism and height in the past to dominate the glass, Petro still must improve his rebounding fundamentals and get better at boxing out.

"Everybody can jump now," he explained. "In this league, everybody can jump high and they are strong, so you have to do your work early and try to get the ball with two hands. I used to do one hand; you can't do that now."