Opponent: Sacramento Kings
When: 7 p.m.
Where: KeyArena, Seattle
TV: KONG (Ch. 6/16)
Radio: KJR (950 AM)
Probable starters: For Seattle – forwards Rashard Lewis (6 feet, 10 inches) and Vlade Radmanovic (6-10), center Jerome James (7-1), guards Brent Barry (6-6) and Ray Allen (6-5). For Sacramento – forwards Brad Miller (7-0) and Peja Stojakovic (6-9), center Vlade Divac (7-1), guards Doug Christie (6-6) and Mike Bibby (6-1).
Sonics coach Nate McMillan was up shortly after dawn Tuesday morning, bound for the team’s Seattle Center practice facility.
“I wanted to see how roads were before we started practicing,” he said, explaining his early arrival.
Though several downtown streets were closed by heavy snow, McMillan figured his players could get to practice. Still, he opted to cancel the workout, partly so his team could avoid a difficult and possibly dangerous commute, and partly because the Sonics had prepared for Sacramento only a few days earlier.
“We just played them a few nights ago,” he said, “so today would have been a day to review things. It would really not have been a hard practice because we have so many games this week (five in seven nights) that we’d be trying to save these guys’ legs.
“What we would have done at practice (Tuesday) we can certainly do (today) at shootaround,” he added. “So we’ll basically just extend our shootaround.”
Trivia question: The NBA began with 11 teams for the 1946-47 season. Of those 11 teams, how many exist in the same cities and with the same nicknames today?
Memories from George: In a recent conversation, former Sonics coach and current television commentator George Karl says he is often asked to name the best player he ever coached.
“I always have to answer that question three ways,” Karl said. “I say the most talented player I ever coached was Shawn Kemp. The best basketball player is Gary Payton. And the best person I enjoyed coaching is Nate McMillan.
“If you asked me who my favorite player is,” he went on, “I might say Nate. He did everything the way the coach wanted it to be done. Without much guidance, he kind of instinctively knew the way it should be done. The only thing Nate cared about was winning. If he played five minutes or if he played 45 minutes, it was fine.”
Trivia answer: Just two, the Boston Celtics and the New York Knickerbockers or Knicks. The other teams in that inaugural season were the Philadelphia Warriors, Providence Steamrollers, Toronto Huskies and Washington Capitols in the East Division, and the Chicago Stags, Cleveland Rebels, Detroit Falcons, St. Louis Bombers and Pittsburgh Ironmen in the West Division.
The Philadelphia Warriors later moved to the West Coast and are today the Golden State Warriors. The other eight franchises disbanded.
Rich Myhre
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
