By Rich Myhre
Herald Writer
SEATTLE – Like many coaches, Nate McMillan usually ends a Seattle SuperSonics practice with a parting message. Everyone gathers at midcourt and McMillan offers some last remarks before the squad disperses.
On Monday, though, McMillan wrapped up a midday workout by instructing his athletes to sit together against one of the gymnasium walls.
It was the NBA equivalent of a trip to the woodshed.
Plainly angry, McMillan gave the Sonics a verbal spanking. Seattle, he pointed out, has lost four straight games, including contests on Friday (at home vs. Miami) and Saturday (at Portland). The team was given Sunday off to rest weary legs, and should have showed up Monday prepared for an energetic practice – particularly with the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers on tap tonight.
Instead, the Sonics put forth a rather ho-hum effort.
“For us to have lost as many games as we’ve lost in the past two weeks, and getting a day off to rest, I would expect (each player) to come in and work hard,” McMillan said after practice to a gathering of sports reporters. “Work hard on your game, work hard to make your teammates better, and try to figure out what’s going on.
“Some guys worked, some guys didn’t.”
McMillan had other beefs, too. Though the scheduled practice start was 10 a.m., he figures pro athletes should be showing up early when the team is losing.
“Just because you’re here when the whistle blows,” he said, “doesn’t necessarily mean you’re on time. You have to do extra. You have to spend more time on extra work. I think each and every one of our guys needs that.
“As a (coaching) staff, we have been working very hard to make sure guys are doing what they’re supposed to do. You have to be willing to work, to commit, to sacrifice. Any time things are not going well, you work harder. You don’t get sloppy. You show up early and you spend more time working.”
Asked if he was more irked by Monday’s practice or by the team’s recent play (Seattle has lost six of its past seven games), McMillan said: “Both.”
Needless to say, the Sonics were not a festive bunch when they were finally dismissed. There was none of the horseplay that takes place at the end of many practices.
Several players skipped the chance to talk with the media. Guard Gary Payton, the team’s best player, was not available. For Payton, that is not unusual. But guard Brent Barry, the most cooperative of the Sonics in the area of media relations, also begged off all interview requests.
One of the players willing to address McMillan’s remarks was forward Rashard Lewis.
“(McMillan) is ticked off because he knows that we can go out there and win ballgames,” Lewis said. “We can compete with every team in this league. We’re just not competing right now.
“We’ve got a good team,” he said. “We have all the tools. But we’re not winning ballgames because we continue to make the same mistakes. So I don’t think the message he’s been sending us is penetrating our heads. We’re listening, but we’re still going out there and making the same mistakes.”
A few hours after their practice, the Sonics boarded the team plane for a trip to Los Angeles, where they will face the Lakers tonight and the Clippers on Wednesday night. The Lakers, of course, present a significant challenge. Even the Clippers, who are much improved behind such soon-to-be stars as Elton Brand, Lamar Odom and Darius Miles, will be no easy test.
Which means the Sonics could easily return from Los Angeles having lost eight of nine to drop a season-high seven games under .500.
“We’ve lost a little confidence in ourselves with losing some close games we felt we should have won,” McMillan said. “But you have to respond to that by continuing to work. … There’s only so many motivational speeches that a coaching staff can give. As a team you police yourselves, and if the energy level is down you talk about it.
“You push yourself and hopefully somebody else will feed off your energy. It’s can be a domino effect for the team. But you don’t allow the energy level for the team to be down, and then you just go along with it.”
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