Sonics update

  • Wednesday, December 22, 2004 9:00pm
  • Sports

Opponent: Utah Jazz

When: 6 p.m. Monday

Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City

TV: FSN (cable)

Radio: KJR (950 AM)

Open up and say ahhh

An initial diagnosis of an upper respiratory infection for Sonics guard Antonio Daniels turned out to be a little off the mark.

Daniels, in fact, has acute tonsillitis and did not attend Wednesday’s game at KeyArena.

“It was something a little bigger than (a respiratory infection),” Seattle coach Nate McMillan said wryly.

Though it was unclear what remedy would be taken for Daniels, McMillan said the player could “possibly” need to have his tonsils removed, something that was once a standard procedure.

Daniels has been Seattle’s top backup at guard, averaging nearly 28 minutes a game and often playing in a three-guard lineup with Ray Allen and Luke Ridnour. Daniels is also Seattle’s third-leading scorer at 12.2 points per game.

With Daniels out, Flip Murray will get most of his minutes in the rotation, McMillan said.

“It’s an opportunity for us to see (Murray) out there without having to get him and get him out like it was a four-guard rotation,” the coach said.

Murray, who played briefly in the season opener and then missed the next 21 games with a strained quadriceps muscle, had played a total of 24 minutes in the two games preceding Wednesday’s meeting with Denver, making just one of seven field goal tries for two points.

Guard Ray Allen, meanwhile, actually does have a respiratory infection. He was sent home from Tuesday’s practice, then sent home again from Wednesday’s morning shootaround, but returned to play against the Nuggets. Forward Reggie Evans and center Jerome James are two other players who have battled illnesses in recent days.

“It’s that time of year,” McMillan shrugged. “It’s something that basketball players get once or twice a year. You just have to run it out. Go home at night and wrap up with some Vicks VapoRub on your chest and sweat that stuff out.”

Secret to success: McMillan visits with media before every game, and the out-of-town writers are always curious to ask about Seattle’s success to date. On Wednesday, he fielded those questions from two Denver writers.

“I like what we’re doing early this season,” McMillan responded. “My main concern this year was not so much wins and losses – and I know that sounds crazy when you’re in the last year of your contract – but it’s how we play. I felt that if we (played hard), we’d win some games. And we’ve been fortunate to win maybe more games than people expected.”

Seattle and Phoenix have been the NBA’s two biggest surprises this season. While the Sonics took an 18-5 record into Wednesday’s game, the Suns have a league-best 22-3 mark.

“I’ve seen what we’re doing and what Phoenix is doing, and I believe in that,” McMillan said. “I believe that if you play hard and play unselfish basketball, and if you respect the game and the uniform that you’re in, you can win games. I think that’s what we’re doing and I think that’s what Phoenix is doing.”

Scrooge McMillan: Deep down, McMillan probably enjoys Christmas. But his holiday spirit tends to get stifled this time of year, particularly when his team has just one game in a nine-day stretch that wraps around Dec. 25.

“We’re home with so many days off and it’s Christmas, and I don’t like that,” McMillan admitted. “You can get caught up in all of the shopping and wrapping gifts and the family, and you have a lot of days off. So I’d rather be on the road during this time.”

McMillan’s bigger complaint is not so much the Christmas activities as the time off. As a rule, he said, a winning team like Seattle prefers to play games frequently, while losing teams benefit from days away.

“We’d much rather have had another game or two in this stretch, but we don’t,” he said. “For us, this is the schedule.”

Rich Myhre

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

AquaSox outfielder Carson Jones gets settled in the batter's box during Everett's 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 6, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox show progress, but drop fifth straight to Canadians

Jones’ go-ahead, 3-run homer is spoiled in 4-3 loss to wrap up homestand.

Bryan Woo of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Toronto. (Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Three Mariners added to MLB All-Star Game

Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez,… Continue reading

George Kirby (68) of the Seattle Mariners pitches in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, July 6, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenne / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Pirates finish historically bad offensive series in Seattle

Similar to the first two games of the series, the… Continue reading

Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) and Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) guard each other during a free throw in a WNBA basketball game between the Aces and the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena Friday, June 20, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter / Las Vegas Review-Journal / Tribune News Services)
Storm uses third-quarter thunderbolt to down Liberty

Rookie Dominique Malonga scored 11 and took over in the third quarter for Seattle.

AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje follows through on a pitch during Everett's 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 5, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox blanked by Vancouver as losing skid continues

Everett generates just three hits in 3-0 loss to the Canadians on Saturday.

AquaSox infielder Charlie Pagliarini starts to swing at a pitch that he would launch for a two-run home run in Everett's 9-2 loss to the Vancouver Canadians at Funko Field on July 4, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox lack spark in Independence Day loss to Vancouver

Everett draws eight walks, but has just two hits in 9-2 loss to the Canadians.

Kimberly Beard, a rising senior at King's, stands next to the results board after winning the girls hammer throw at the Nike Outdoor National Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 22, 2025. (Photo courtesy Donna Beard)
Beard, Tupua shine at Nike Outdoor Nationals

The rising seniors make their mark on a national stage amidst a busy summer schedule.

Everett AquaSox shortstop Colt Emerson catches the ball at second base for the first out in a double play during the Opening Day game against the Hillsboro Hops on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Emerson’s preparation finally paying off in Everett

The AquaSox shortstop is coming off his best month in High-A. Here’s how it came together:

The Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez, right, claps after stealing second base during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, July 3, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Witt Jr. and Mariners’ bullpen both slide, KC wins series

The Kansas City Royals found a way against the Seattle Mariners on… Continue reading

Seattle Storm guard Skylar Diggins (4) tries to drive past Dallas Wings guard JJ Quinerly (11) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at College Park Center on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo courtesy of the Seattle Storm)
Storm survive Dream on Diggins game-winner

Nneka Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler combined for 45 points in the 80-79 win.

Julius Miettinen listens to a coach during Kraken Development Camp on-ice session for forwards on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Pair of Silvertips check status at Kraken Development Camp

Julius Miettinen hopes to take strides back in Everett, while Kaden Hammell turns pro.

Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with the team trident after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Seattle. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Mariners overcome Perez to beat Royals

The Kansas City Royals found themselves in another close encounter against the… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.