Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times Winner of Eight Pulitzer Prizes

Sports


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced
Quick links: Traffic | Movies | Restaurants | Today's events | Video | Photos | Interactives | Blogs | Forums | Subscriber Services
Contact us

Originally published Monday, March 21, 2005 at 12:00 AM

E-mail E-mail article      Print Print      Share Share

Sonics

Notebook: Plenty of coaches on '88-89 team

Who would have thought that three NBA coaches would emerge from the Sonics' 1988-89 team? John Lucas, a reserve on the squad, which finished...

By Percy Allen

Seattle Times staff reporter

LOS ANGELES — Who would have thought that three NBA coaches would emerge from the Sonics' 1988-89 team?

John Lucas, a reserve on the squad, which finished 47-35, coached in San Antonio; Nate McMillan, a starter during the season, leads the Sonics; and Avery Johnson, a former Sonics reserve, was named coach in Dallas after Don Nelson resigned on Saturday.

"We had a good group," McMillan said. "It was really close. ... It doesn't surprise me that (Johnson) would be a head coach."

On several occasions this season, Johnson assumed control in Dallas while Nelson was away because of various medical conditions or tending to his ill wife.

At 43-22, Dallas trails Seattle for the third-best record in the Western Conference.

"I think he'll do a lot of things that coach Nelson did offensively, but I think there will be more emphasis on the defensive end of the floor," McMillan said of Johnson. "I think he will try to start (focusing on defense) as opposed to (saying) that's not our strong point. He'll really push with those guys to be a better defensive team, but I think offensively, they'll stay the same."

Yesterday's game at a glance

Player of the game: Ronald Murray came off the bench and poured in a season-high 25 points on 8-for-17 shooting. He also had five rebounds.

Key statistic: The Sonics had three reserves — Antonio Daniels, Vitaly Potapenko and Murray — in double-figure scoring for the first time since Feb. 1.

Next: vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m. tomorrow at KeyArena.

Dallas is third in the NBA in scoring, averaging 102.3 points, and are 17th in points allowed, at 97.9.

Murray displays his versatility

Last season, the Sonics asked Ronald Murray to replace injured Ray Allen in the starting lineup and duplicate Allen's point production. Now they're asking Murray to fill in for reserve Vladimir Radmanovic, who is likely out for the season with a stress fracture in his right fibula.

"They don't need to me to score not like before, but my focus is to go out there and get a couple of rebounds and defend," said Murray, who grabbed five rebounds last night.

Murray figures prominently in the three-guard lineup McMillan plans to use while Radmanovic is on the mend. The lineup forces 6-foot-10 Rashard Lewis to play power forward.

"We need shooters on the floor to run most of our sets," McMillan said.

Notes

• Because of a rash of injuries and a schedule that has them playing 10 games in a 17-day span, the Sonics have just one full practice the rest of the regular season.

"I'm looking at my next practice, where we actually run up and down the floor, is April 7," McMillan said. "We just can't (practice) anymore."

• Reserve F Damien Wilkins made his first appearance since Dec. 4 when he entered last night's game in the second quarter. He has played in 12 games this season. He had two points in 15 minutes.

E-mail E-mail article      Print Print      Share Share

More Sports

NFL, union resume labor talks at mediator's office

UPDATE - 08:52 AM
Hundreds attend funeral for fallen Mich. player

UPDATE - 09:40 AM
Norway's Tarjei Boe wins men's biathlon at worlds

Crying is OK, but admitting it is apparently not

NEW - 08:46 AM
Tripoli ruled unsafe for international soccer

More Sports headlines...

advertising


Get home delivery today!

Video

Advertising

AP Video

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech

Marketplace

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
  1. ‘Miracles’: 3 survive I-5 collapse
  2. Drivers face lengthy detours around I-5 bridge collapse
  3. Span wasn’t built to take critical hit
  4. Officials explore use of temporary, portable bridge as quick fix
  5. Bridge collapse will cause holiday travel headaches
  6. No quick fix for downed bridge on holiday weekend
  7. As car sinks, young man keeps cool, finds escape
  8. More applicants make getting into UW tougher this year
  9. Bridge collapse: Oversize-load permits easy to get online
  10. Percy Harvin already impressing Seahawks teammates, coaches
  1. Game thread, Mariners vs. Rangers, May 24 Comments302
  2. Vote on gay Scouts comes at emotional moment Comments235
  3. Stunning I-5 bridge collapse Comments214
  4. Scouts’ vote on gays met with celebration, sadness Comments184
  5. Zimmerman lawyers release Trayvon Martin’s texts about smoking pot, guns Comments101
  6. Here's what's going on with Robert Andino Comments96
  7. Mariners options for rotation help getting thinner by the day Comments91
  8. Detour route already crowded; avoid it or leave early, officials say Comments88
  9. Some unions now angry about health care overhaul Comments59
  10. Inslee: State looking at possible quick fix to bridge Comments47
  1. ‘Miracles’: 3 survive I-5 collapse
  2. More applicants make getting into UW tougher this year
  3. Bridge collapse will cause holiday travel headaches
  4. Drivers face lengthy detours around I-5 bridge collapse
  5. Span wasn’t built to take critical hit
  6. McNerney: Boeing will squeeze suppliers and cut jobs
  7. Officials explore use of temporary, portable bridge as quick fix
  8. Shopping-mall kiosks are little gold mines
  9. Von’s goes for gusto with big food, cheap drinks | Restaurant review
  10. Bridge collapse: Oversize-load permits easy to get online

Most viewed imagesMore

Advertising