Opponent: Los Angeles Clippers
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: KeyArena, Seattle
TV: KONG (Ch. 6/16)
Radio: KJR (950 AM)
The Sonics made a roster move before Thursday’s game, moving guard Richie Frahm to the injured list and activating forward Ansu Sesay.
Officially, Frahm has right knee tendinitis while Sesay is returning from a sprained finger, but in fact neither player is/was hurt seriously. Sesay continued to practice after going on the injured list Dec. 23 (he missed 14 games) while Frahm also will be working out in the coming days.
The Sonics are hoping the 6-9 Sesay will bolster their rebounding and defense.
“His length and his size could help in certain situation,” said coach Nate McMillan. Sesay can defend shooting guards and both forward positions, he added, “and he can rebound and do some other things that could help us.”
Frahm, meanwhile, has made some nice offensive contributions off the bench, primarily with his perimeter shooting, including a career-best 31 points against Denver on Dec. 20.
“Richie’s done a good job for us,” McMillan said. “His strength is shooting the ball, but we have guys who can shoot the ball. We need a little help on the defensive end and with rebounding.”
Frahm is required to miss at least five games, meaning he could be activated for a Feb. 2 game against Chicago.
Sesay was obviously pleased to be back in uniform. “Everybody wants to play,” he said. “You wouldn’t be in this league if you didn’t want to play.”
Collison update: Forward Nick Collison expects to have right shoulder surgery soon, perhaps Feb. 6, to correct loose ligaments that leave the joint prone to dislocating. It will be a similar operation to one he had on his left shoulder on Oct. 15.
During Seattle’s recent road trip, Collison visited with noted New York surgeon Dr. Russell Warren, who did the earlier procedure. An MRI showed that Collison’s right shoulder “basically looks like my left one, and if I get it pulled or yanked a certain way it probably could separate,” Collison said.
There is a chance the upcoming procedure could be done arthroscopically, as opposed to a full surgery, but that determination probably won’t be made until Dr. Warren actually looks at the joint with an arthroscope.
“He felt like there might be a chance (of doing it arthroscopically),” Collison explained, “but if he feels he can do a better job cutting, then he’ll cut. And the recovery time isn’t that much different. I feel a lot better earlier, but the time until I’m cleared to play really isn’t that much different. It all heals the same.”
The progress in his left shoulder “is really good,” said Collison, who worked out on the KeyArena court before Thursday’s game.
Lineup fun: McMillan has been shuffling his lineups frequently in recent weeks, which means the media often asks who he intends to start from one game to the next. Sometimes he answers willingly, sometimes he coyly demurs.
On Thursday, McMillan tried a different tactic. Facing about 10 media folks before the game, he had the writers and broadcasters scribble down their preferred lineups. Then, like a teacher, he collected the papers and perused the answers with a playful smile.
McMillan was delighted that only two of the lineups were the same. And no one had the lineup he eventually started against the Warriors – guards Brent Barry and Ray Allen, forwards Rashard Lewis and Calvin Booth, and center Jerome James.
McMillan obviously enjoyed the moment. “I’ll keep these,” he said, folding the papers and tucking them away. “This’ll be some good reading.”
TV deal: The Sonics have announced an agreement with the FSN cable network to broadcast a minimum of 70 games per year, beginning with the 2004-05 season. The team didn’t announce the years of the contract or the dollar amount of the pact.
Heading overseas: The first standing ovation Thursday night didn’t go to the Sonics. And, of course, not to the Warriors.
The KeyArena crowd came to its feet in the first half to salute the 81st Brigade of the Washington National Guard, which will soon be shipping out to Iraq. About 30 members of the brigade attended the game.
Rich Myhre
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