Mcmillan’s Stand Up No Comedy For Sonics Defensive Specialist Misses Sleep, Play Because Of Back

Nate McMillan, one of several Seattle players expected to try guarding Michael Jordan in the NBA Finals, may miss tonight’s series opener because of a nerve problem in his back.

“I’m thinking I might sit this one out and give it rest until Friday,” the backup guard said Tuesday after the SuperSonics practiced at the United Center.

“But the doctors are telling me it won’t change. One, two, five days are not going to help. A week or two aren’t going to help. You need months, but we don’t have that kind of time.”

So McMillan may try to play against the Chicago Bulls despite pain which shoots down his left leg.

“At best, I could play a few minutes here or there,” he said. “I’ve gotten two injections but they didn’t help and I’m not getting another.”

Sonics coach George Karl said he still hoped McMillan would play Game 1 in a back brace. He had been counting on the combination of McMillan, Hersey Hawkins, Gary Payton, Vincent Askew and David Wingate making life difficult for Jordan, the NBA’s top scorer.

Besides being a defensive specialist, McMillan, in his 10th season, is a team leader. He’s also a fine 3-point shooter.

But after making 65 percent of his 3-pointers in the first two rounds of the playoffs, McMillan’s sciatic injury flared up against Utah and he was 1 of 12 from 3-point range.

Because of the pain, McMillan stood much of the way on Tuesday’s team flight. He didn’t practice later in the day.

“I haven’t slept the last couple of days,” he said. “I keep tossing and turning and flipping over in bed, and I look up and the sun is rising.”

Like the rest of the Sonics, McMillan had to live with the team’s early playoff exits the previous two years. Now that the team has advanced to the title series, he hates the idea of not playing.

“I really do need to be a part of this,” he said. “I’m going crazy because I think it will be a great series to play in.”