Sonics have plenty in reserve

Consider Game 2 against the Sacramento Kings a refresher course on what the Seattle SuperSonics’ bench can do when it’s at full strength.

Scoring? Check. Rebounding and defense? Oh yeah.

Steady hand to lead the offense? Got it.

Put it all together – some Vladimir Radmanovic, a little Nick Collison and Danny Fortson and a substantial dose of Antonio Daniels – and the Sonics reserves played a key role in the team opening up a 2-0 lead in their best-of-7 series with the Kings. Game 3 is tonight at Sacramento.

“I think (the bench) struggled a little bit at the end of the season and that had to do with injuries,” said Radmanovic, who missed the last 19 games with a stress fracture in his right fibula but has played in both playoff games.

“We’re playing the type of basketball we played at the beginning and the middle of the season.”

Remember those times before the Sonics finished the regular season 2-8?

Before a slew of injuries robbed the bench of its top players, the Sonics could count on their reserves to deliver a jolt of whatever was needed in a game. But once Radmanovic went down, it changed the rotation that had served coach Nate McMillan so well.

Daniels’ left knee began acting up and Fortson missed 11 of the final 20 games because of a host of minor injuries. To top it off, Rashard Lewis suffered a bone bruise in his right foot which meant even more minutes were required from a bench that was already depleted.

“We’re healing up,” Fortson said. “Vlade’s back, A.D.’s knee is better, my shoulder is better.”

It showed in Game 2. Those four were on the court when the Sonics took their biggest lead against Sacramento, a 26-point margin in the third quarter.

Radmanovic finished with 10 points, Fortson and Collison combined for 16 points and 12 rebounds and Daniels added nine points, three rebounds and three assists.

McMillan said a lineup of Radmanovic, Daniels, Fortson and Collison teamed with starting point guard Luke Ridnour is one of the team’s most dangerous and one he wants to use more.

That combination gives the Sonics two ball-handlers, two rebounders in the post and good shooting. They can play at a fast pace and cause matchup problems for the other team’s second unit.

“We’ve busted open some games with (that lineup),” McMillan said. “I’ve tried to get back to that lineup.”

In that set, as well as others, the key for McMillan is the versatility of his reserves.

Radmanovic is usually the first player off the bench. Because he’s 6-foot-10, Radmanovic can play anywhere across the frontline, and he’s athletic enough to play the off-guard spot as well. McMillan uses him to spread the floor and force other teams to come out and guard him.

“When you have Vlade out there shooting and you’re preparing for Ray (Allen) and Rashard, you’ve got a lot of people out there you have to defend,” McMillan said. “By him knocking down some shots, it opened up our offense.”

Daniels, with his ability to penetrate and knock down midrange jumpers, plays three positions, but it’s at the point where he’s used the most.

In the first two games against Sacramento, Daniels has run the offense over the last 6-to-7 minutes of the game.

Fortson and Collison provide the inside muscle as either the power forward or center, depending on the other players on the floor.

And here’s the kicker: McMillan has even more choices if he goes a little further down the bench. He can call on Flip Murray for offense, Damien Wilkins for defense and Vitaly Potapenko for another post player.