Ailing Explosion without key players against Racers

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Having endured their longest layoff of the 20-game regular season, the Everett Explosion should be rested and ready to play tonight’s game against the Midwest Division-leading Elgin Racers.

But the International Basketball League team is anything but ready.

The Explosion (12-3) could play tonight’s game with as many as four players sidelined by injuries, including three starters.

Coach Randy Redwine said that leading scorer Rashaad Powell is out two weeks after aggravating his knee injury in the loss to Portland nine days ago.

Starting point guard Darrell Walker is out “indefinitely,” according to Redwine, because of groin and hip injuries. Redwine said he does not expect to see Walker on the court again until the postseason begins later this month.

Starting forward Justin Murray (sprained knee) and 6-foot-6 reserve Tyler Amaya (sprained shoulder) are questionable for tonight’s game.

“We’re going to find out pretty quickly how good this team is,” Redwine said.

The team has played without Powell before, having beaten Tacoma at home on May 16 while he rested a sprained left knee. Powell came back to play the next three games before resting the injury for the first half of the Portland game last week.

Redwine said that Powell asked to sit out that game because of knee soreness but offered to play if needed. Redwine took him up on the offer, putting Powell into the game early in the second half and leaving him on the court for the final 22 minutes.

Powell stormed out of the arena afterward, which Redwine said was because the player was miffed he had been forced into action on a tender knee.

“We played him too soon,” Redwine admitted Wednesday. “He later apologized, saying, ‘I know my body, and I’m sorry you didn’t believe me.’ I said, ‘I was just going by what the trainer said.’

“These guys have a good clue to what their body can stand. If they think something’s not right, it’s not right. I was at fault because I should have gone with what (Powell) said and not what the trainer told me. It was my mistake.”

Redwine also accepted partial blame for Walker’s myriad of injuries, saying that the point guard has been playing through a groin injury over the past three games because he’s “such a competitor.”

Both situations led Redwine to say, “I will be more cautious now” when it comes to dealing with players’ injuries.

Murray, who ranks fourth on the team in scoring, underwent an MRI on his injured knee but results were not made public as of Wednesday afternoon. He did participate in a light workout on Monday night, so there’s a chance he’ll be able to play tonight.

The big question now is who the Explosion have left. Four of their top six scorers – third-leading scorer and backup point guard Jamaal Miller is currently playing in Europe – could miss tonight’s game.

Miller is not expected to return until next Tuesday, meaning there were no true point guards on the roster as of Wednesday. The team did sign former Mount Vernon High School star Josh Reisman, and Redwine said he should be in uniform for tonight’s game against the Racers.

“I’m not sure who’s going to start at the point right now,” Redwine said Wednesday morning.

Shooting guard Donald Watts could see some time at the point, while swingman Corby Schuh could also bring the ball up the floor.

The starting lineup could include both Watts and Schuh, who have been coming off the bench in recent games.

Injuries are just one of the obstacles facing the Explosion tonight. The team is also coming off its worst loss of the season – a 122-110 humbling by the Portland Chinooks – and is facing a team from the Eastern Conference for the first time. Elgin (11-3) has won six consecutive games, including a victory over defending IBL champion and East Division-leading Elkhart on May 18.

There are plenty of reasons to think that the Explosion could follow up their recent eight-game winning streak with back-to-back losses, but Redwine said he has not lost the faith.

“I still have all the confidence in the world that we could still win these next two games,” Redwine said, referring to tonight’s matchup and a Saturday game at Eugene. “I’m not throwing in the towel.

“People have asked me why we keep changing the starting lineups every game. Well, we’re about to reap the benefits of that right now.”

Notes: Redwine said that an on-court disagreement between Watts and Powell at the last game was not a big deal. “Rashaad called one play, and Donald called another,” Redwine said. “And we didn’t run either play. It was just a misunderstanding.” While Powell was agitated after the game, Redwine said the player was mad at the coach for making him play on an injured knee – not at Watts for anything that happened on the court. … The Explosion signed two players Wednesday: 6-foot-1 point guard Joshua Reisman, who played for San Jose City College, Gonzaga and BYU, as well as 6-9 power forward Matt Heuer. Heuer, who works in the front office of the Seattle Sonics and Storm, replaces 6-11 rookie David White, a recent Seattle Pacific graduate who intends to pursue playing opportunities overseas. … To clear a roster spot for Reisman, the Explosion will place Walker on injured reserve. Walker could be eligible to come off IR later this month, but general manager Brad Sturlaugson said that it was more likely that the team would wait until the postseason to activate him.