Supersonics’ Record Places Them In Same Class As Bulls

Besides everything else surrounding the Seattle SuperSonics’ game with the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night, it served as a tiebreaker, of sorts.

Since 1992, Sonics coach George Karl was informed, Seattle and Chicago had identical 325-121 regular-season records.

“Do we get a trophy for that?” Karl said jokingly before the game.

“That’s kind of unbelievable,” Karl continued. “But I think it’s still such a Bulls realm that it isn’t funny. You forget, this (Chicago) team has never been challenged. In its three championships, six games (in a best-of-seven series) is as far as they’ve been taken. This team has never been to a seventh or a fifth game. If somebody comes out and beats them (in the playoffs), I would consider it a major upset.”

Chicago now has a one-game lead.

Good coaching no accident

Caught up in the excitement of Tuesday’s game, Karl was feeling rather, shall we way, verbose. He was asked about Bulls coach Phil Jackson saying if he does not come back to Chicago, he may take a season off just to collect himself.

“Hell, I felt that way three years ago when they tried to fire (me) after that L.A. series,” Karl said.

Then Karl went on - not so subtly - to use Jackson as a forum for stumping for himself.

“I think successful coaching is not an accident,” Karl said. “There are, I think, five or six or seven coaches in the last five or six or seven years who have proved they are going to win. And wherever he goes, that guy is going to win.

“And why an organization doesn’t want to keep that guy baffles me, because they think they are going to find a guy better. And the league says you don’t do that. I don’t know. Relationships, animosity as far as decisions, all that stuff comes into play. Some days I want to leave, some days I want to stay.”

Money motivator

For the first time this season, Karl used a little financial incentive to motivate his players.

On the bottom of the Sonics’ message board in their locker room was the line: “$50 for every slip.”

It meant for each player who set a pick, slips down after the screen, takes a pass from the person with the ball and scores, they get $50. Karl was the one paying.

Free advertising

Gary Payton wore his signature “Glove” shoes for the first time since he debuted them against the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 29. And why not, considering it was a nationally televised game. They will not be available until February.

Blast from Huskies’ past

Former University of Washington men’s basketball coach Marv Harshman will perform the honorary ball toss before tipoff of the Sonics’ game against Miami Thursday at KeyArena.

It is a part of the “Making of an All-Star” campaign, honoring Payton, Detlef Schrempf, Vin Baker, Sam Perkins and Hersey Hawkins.

Also before the game will be a video of former University of North Carolina coach Dean Smith honoring Perkins, a former Tar Heel.

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