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P.J. Carlesimo

Johan Petro

"He's older," Carlesimo quipped on Sunday, when Petro celebrated his 22nd birthday.

"We want him to play like a big man too. We want him to be a rebounding presence." Terrence Vaccaro/NBAE/Getty

Even before his birthday, Petro was playing solid basketball. Taking advantage of foul trouble in the Sonics frontcourt to earn extra playing time, Petro has seen 52 minutes of action over the last three games. In that span, Petro has 27 points - exactly nine each night - on 11-of-16 shooting along with 17 rebounds. In Friday's game against Atlanta, Petro also blocked a career-high five shots.

"I just think that he's really trying to play aggressively without fouling," said Carlesimo, offering a more serious explanation. "We need him to be a defensive presence. When somebody drives to the basket, we need him to come over and contest shots, but we don't need him to foul the guy every time. I think he's done a better job with that.

"I think he's done a better job of, when he gets an offensive rebound or when he catches the ball close to the basket, turning in and making aggressive moves inside as opposed to settling for the jumper."

Petro's birthday may be significant, not in that he's a different player now that he is a year older but because it is a useful reminder of how young Petro still is during his third NBA season. He came to the Sonics at age 19 and was expected to spend much of his rookie season developing in the D-League. Instead, Petro proved more ready to contribute than expected, starting 41 games and accelerating his timeline. During his second year, when Petro's youth was evident at times in his inconsistent play, those expectations worked against him.

In part, Petro was hurt when Robert Swift's 2006-07 season was ended by a torn ACL. That left Petro as the lone 7-footer in the Sonics rotation, but despite his size, Petro's game is more about skill than strength. Last season, Petro became a dangerous midrange threat capable of stretching the defense, but struggled when asked to defend bigger players in the post or rebound in traffic.

This season has seen Petro show growth in those areas, particularly on the glass. He's grabbing 16.0% of all available rebounds this season, up from 13.3% last year and 13.9% as a rookie.

"I think he's playing more like a big," said Carlesimo. "I don't know that he's ever going to be a power center. What he really is is kind of a 4/5 because he's got the ability to draw people away from the basket and shoot it and he runs the floor very well. Both those things are good things, but he's also got the size and strength.

"We want him to play like a big man too. We don't want him to just be a perimeter big that draws other people out. We want him to be somebody who can come over from the weak side and can be a rebounding presence."

Playing more like a big might have something to do with Petro's work with Assistant Coach of Athletic Performance Dwight Daub. Carlesimo said Petro has "probably been the best" Sonics player in the weight room this season.

Another key area of Petro's growth is in terms of what Carlesimo calls, "being aggressive yet being under control." During his first two seasons, Petro's aggressiveness and desire to make a play would result in turnovers and fouls. He has kept both in check lately. Over the last three games, Petro has committed just five fouls in 52 minutes and has not had a single turnover. Yet Petro has not sacrificed his aggressiveness to make the change. The quintessential example of aggressive yet under control came in the fourth quarter of Friday's game, when Petro took a rebound and went coast to coast. No Hawks defender ever picked him up, allowing Petro to finish with a dunk and draw a foul.

It was an impressive play - and not a bad way for Petro to celebrate his birthday.