True Test For Sonics Comes In Upcoming Showdowns

At any other time, the Seattle SuperSonics’ stretch of post-All-Star game basketball could be do or die.

After all, they lost at Houston Tuesday night, followed by games at San Antonio tonight, Los Angeles Friday, Utah at home Saturday and Portland next Wednesday. Not only is it four games in five days, but it likely is against the other top seeds in the West.

But Sonics coach George Karl said because of the Sonics’ 37-11 start, the best in franchise history, there is not the sense of urgency accompanying this week as there otherwise might be.

“I think we have put ourselves in a position where it is important but it is not devastating,” Karl said before Tuesday’s game. “If we were in a different situation, these games could be unbelievably pressurized.”

Karl said rather than focus on winning, he wants the players to concentrate on getting back to the level they were playing at before the break.

“I just want to get back there as fast as we can,” Karl said. “Now, can we do that in one game? I don’t know. Can we do that in two games? I don’t know. It’s hard to do against good teams. But I’m confident we can get back there. The guys are excited, they’ve always responded to difficult challenges really well all season long, I think they are going to respond well here.”

The skinny on McMillan

Karl said Nate McMillan is on schedule to return to the Sonics on Feb. 18, against the Trail Blazers, barring any unforeseen difficulties with his surgically repaired right knee.

Karl still wants 60

Karl said despite having only 35 games left, it isn’t time to start watching the standings to see where the Lakers are. Instead, he wants to concentrate on the big picture.

“I think right now you still hang on to trying to get the 60 wins,” Karl said. “If you get 60 wins and the Lakers beat you, you kind of have to shake your head a little bit and say, ‘A hell of a year.”’