Scheffler Loses Chance For Some Playing Time
Steve Scheffler watched the Seattle SuperSonics lose to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, with Jim McIlvaine and Shawn Kemp fouling out in the final 5 minutes, and pondered his fate.
“You watch the Lakers game and (the Sonics) are definitely depleted foul-wise and it’s frustrating,” said Scheffler, the 6-foot, 9-inch reserve center who has been on the injured reserve list all season with a damaged plantar faciaitis of his right foot, the tendon that connects the heel to the rest of the foot.
Sonics coach George Karl has mentioned several times that the timing couldn’t be worse for Scheffler, who would probably be seeing some regular, though limited, playing time for the first time in his career due to the team’s lack of depth up front.
But Scheffler said his religious faith has him realizing that he could be a lot worse off.
“It’s more peaceful when you step back and say ‘I’m not in control of it,’ and give it over to do and say, ‘here’s what I’m supposed to do as far as treatment,’ and then let it go,” Scheffler said.
McMillan update
Guard Nate McMillan missed his 15th game Thursday with a pulled groin, but might be able to return for the Sonics’ three-game road trip that begins Monday in Philadelphia.
There has been some sports radio speculation that McMillan ought to sit out the season and get ready for the playoffs, but Karl said “that’s not even a question in my mind.” xxxx Sonics 117, Timberwolves 86 FG FT Reb MINNESOTA Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Gugliotta 33 10-14 7-7 4-10 2 4 27 West 19 0-3 2-2 0-0 0 4 2 Garrett 23 2-5 0-2 4-10 1 3 4 Marbury 40 3-18 0-2 1-2 6 3 7 Porter 30 4-11 3-3 1-1 4 1 12 Carr 22 4-12 1-2 2-5 1 4 11 Mitchell 29 0-6 5-7 3-5 2 2 5 Heal 11 0-3 1-1 1-2 1 2 1 Vrankovic 18 4-5 3-6 2-5 1 3 11 Parks 15 2-6 2-4 2-4 1 0 6 Totals 240 29-83 24-36 20-44 19 26 86 Percentages: FG .349, FT .667. 3-Point Goals: 4-21, .190 (Carr 2-2, Porter 1-6, Marbury 1-8, Mitchell 0-2, Heal 0-3). Team Rebounds: 13. Blocked shots: 3 (Gugliotta, Porter, Vrankovic). Turnovers: 20 (Marbury 4, Gugliotta 3, Carr 3, Mitchell 3, Heal 3, West, Garrett, Porter, Vrankovic). Steals: 3 (Carr 2, Gugliotta). Technical fouls: None. Flagrant fouls: Carr, 6:40 fourth. Illegal defense: None. FG FT Reb SEATTLE Min M-A M-A O-T A PF Pts Kemp 30 6-13 9-10 6-15 1 4 21 Schrempf 25 4-9 3-4 1-4 3 3 13 McIlvaine 27 3-5 3-4 1-5 1 5 9 Hawkins 25 2-7 1-2 0-1 2 2 6 Payton 31 8-15 2-2 2-5 7 0 18 Ehlo 10 1-1 0-0 0-2 1 0 2 Perkins 11 1-3 4-4 0-1 1 0 6 Stewart 25 6-10 7-7 1-3 2 2 19 Snow 22 3-3 2-2 0-2 9 3 8 Wingate 15 2-6 0-0 0-2 1 1 4 Graham 12 3-6 0-0 0-2 1 0 7 Harvey 7 2-2 0-0 0-0 1 2 4 Totals 240 41-80 31-35 11-42 30 22 117 Percentages: FG .513, FT .886. 3-Point Goals: 4-16, .250 (Schrempf 2-5, Graham 1-2, Hawkins 1-3, Stewart 0-1, Wingate 0-1, Payton 0-2, Perkins 0-2). Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked shots: 12 (McIlvaine 6, Stewart 2, Harvey 2, Kemp, Hawkins). Turnovers: 12 (Payton 3, Stewart 3, Kemp, Schrempf, McIlvaine, Wingate, Graham, Harvey). Steals: 13 (Payton 5, Hawkins 2, Snow 2, Wingate 2, Perkins, Schrempf). Technical fouls: Payton, 7:34 first; illegal defense, 3:38 second; Schrempf, :29 second; illegal defense, 1:32 third; Stewart, 6:40 fourth; Coach Karl 5:00 fourth; Kemp, 5:00 fourth. Flagrant fouls: Harvey, 5:00 fourth. Ejections: Coach Karl, 5:00 fourth; Kemp, 5:00 fourth. Illegal defense: 1. Minnesota 19 17 18 32 - 86 Seattle 26 32 30 29 - 117 A-17,072 (17,072). T-2:12. Officials-Bennett Salvatore, Terry Durham, Tony Brothers.