Opponent: New Jersey Nets
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: KeyArena, Seattle
TV: KONG (Ch. 6/16)
Radio: KJR (950 AM)
As expected, Sonics coach Nate McMillan adjusted his rotation for Sunday’s game, bringing Vitaly Potapenko off the bench as the first frontcourt substitute.
Potapenko, a 6-10 native of the Ukraine, was promoted ahead of Jerome James, who lost his spot after managing just one rebound in his last two games, a combined 28 minutes. McMillan cited that statistic from memory, just as he knew that James has only 11 rebounds in 106 minutes this season, a feeble total for someone 7 feet, 1 inch.
“Rebounding is something that’s needed, as well as defense and consistency out on the floor, so we’re going to give Vitaly an opportunity to play,” said McMillan, adding, “I need to know what I’m going to get each night from guys.”
The feeling among several Sonics is that Potapenko is the smartest of Seattle’s three centers, not to mention the most aggressive. In addition, McMillan said, he has the advantage of experience.
“He’s been in big games,” McMillan said. “He’s been a starter. He knows how to play the center spot and he gives us an understanding of what’s going on out on the floor. Normally he’s in the right position.
“He can also give us a physical presence in the paint. He’s not a shot blocker, but I think he can get (opponents) off the (low post) and rebound the ball.”
James, meanwhile, has yet to produce in his third Sonics season and the second of a three-year, $15 million contract.
“This is going into our third year where you’ve got to see some growth, you’ve got to see some improvement,” McMillan said. “You’ve got to see something different in consistency, and I haven’t yet seen it.”
James will still get occasional minutes, such as next Friday’s game when Seattle hosts Houston and 7-5 center Yao Ming. “I’m not totally going away from Jerome,” McMillan said. “I just want to look at Vitaly.”
Potapenko played 12 minutes against Washington and was scoreless (0-for-4 from the field) with two turnovers, but did have three rebounds and a blocked shot.
Allen update: A week ago, injured Sonics guard Ray Allen said he hoped to return for Seattle’s Dec. 6-12 road trip to the East Coast and Midwest. Now it seems more likely that Allen will not be back on the court before the middle of the month.
Allen will return to Los Angeles on Dec. 4 for a consultation with Dr. Richard Ferkel, the surgeon who removed bone and cartilage fragments from Allen’s right ankle on Nov. 1. Though Allen is now walking and riding an exercise bike, he is not allowed to run or put excessive weight on his ankle until he sees the doctor again.
“When the doctor told me to come back (to LA) in two weeks, I wasn’t happy about it,” Allen said. “I wanted to hear him say, ‘You’ve been off it two weeks, you can start practicing.’ But that’s not what I heard him say.”
Assuming Allen is cleared to practice after his next visit, he would probably need about a week before McMillan begins easing him back into the playing rotation. It now seems Allen will return either at the tail end of the road trip or for the first game back in Seattle, Dec. 14 vs. Milwaukee.
Strange, but true: Seattle’s substitutes went 0-for-11 from the field and managed just one point, a free throw by Ansu Sesay. In a statistical quirk, the bench also had just one assist (Luke Ridnour), one steal (Reggie Evans) and one blocked shot (Sesay).
Wizards injuries: Washington guard Gilbert Arenas left the game with 4 1/2 minutes remaining when he suffered a strained abdominal muscle while doing an inadvertent splits after his foot slipped. He hobbled to the bench as the Wizards called an immediate timeout, but as he tried to stand moments later he collapsed to the floor and eventually had to be helped to the locker room by two teammates. He later returned to the bench, but the apparent severity could keep him out several weeks.
The Wizards were also without guard Jerry Stackhouse, who is on the injured list as he recovers from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in late October Stackhouse, the team’s top scorer in 2002-03, has yet to play this season. He is due back around the first of the year.
By the numbers: The Sonics are 6-0 this season when Rashard Lewis scores at least 20 points. … Flip Murray has scored 20 or more points in 10 of Seattle’s 11 games. … The Sonics were outrebounded for the game 47-39 and in the second half 20-11, managing just six defensive rebounds after halftime while Washington had nine offensive rebounds.
Familiar face: Former Sonics coach and player Lenny Wilkens watched the game from the stands. Wilkens, who coached the Toronto Raptors last season, is out of coaching this year.
Rich Myhre
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