Ridnour says he’s unhappy with new role

FRANK HUGHES; The News Tribune
Published: March 21st, 2006 01:00 AM



Luke Ridnour’s playing time has been reduced in the past five games, down to 30 minutes a game, and he often sits fourth quarters in favor of Earl Watson.




A little more than two weeks ago, Seattle SuperSonics guard Luke Ridnour experienced one of the most sublime moments of his career, being named to the initial roster for USA Basketball.
Fifteen days later, as Ridnour’s playing time has been cut and he watches Earl Watson lead the team in the fourth quarters of recent games, Ridnour is going through the most difficult, soul-searching period of his career – to the point, he says, that he is wondering about his future in Seattle.

With his rookie contract expiring, the Sonics are likely to approach Ridnour this summer to discuss an extension.

In light of his recent benchings in favor of Watson, Ridnour said he does not know what he will do when the Sonics place that phone call to his agent.

“It makes you think. I am not going to sit here and say I am not thinking about it,” Ridnour said. “I have been here and I have been the guy playing and I don’t want to be that guy that started and just doesn’t play, that plays a quarter or two and then is done. (The extension) is something you have to look at, but at the same time you have to look at what is best for your career too.”

In a nine-game stretch in late January, Ridnour played at least 41 minutes in seven of those games. He is averaging a career-high 34 minutes a game for the season. But in the past five games, Ridnour’s playing time has been reduced to 30 minutes a game, including 21 minutes in a victory over Philadelphia last Thursday and 24 minutes against Minnesota on March 10, with Watson playing the fourth quarter both times.

Sonics coach Bob Hill said he has not designated Watson as his fourth-quarter point guard, saying he is substituting by feel. If Watson is playing well, Hill keeps him in.

But that means Ridnour is relegated to watching from the bench.

“It sucks,” Ridnour said. “It is frustrating, and especially when I felt that I have played well for a long time now, and just like that, even when I played well, it hasn’t mattered, I still haven’t played. It has been tough. I am trying to stay focused and stay positive because it always comes back around. But it has been tough, I am not going to lie.”

It is difficult to argue with Hill’s reasoning. The times he has used Watson in the fourth quarter, the team has won. On some occasions, like the Sonics’ victory over the Sixers, Watson has been sensational. And Watson clearly is a much better defender than Ridnour.

Since Watson has joined the Sonics, he has averaged 7.8 points and 3.8 assists in 23.5 minutes a game. Ridnour is averaging 11 points and 7.5 assists in 31 minutes a game in that same span.

Ridnour said he has not spoken to Hill about his feelings or Hill’s decisions.

At times, Hill has used a three-guard lineup with Watson at the point, Ridnour at shooting guard and Ray Allen sliding to small forward. But Ridnour is not convinced that is ideal.

“It makes us fast but we are small,” Ridnour said. “It puts me at the two, which isn’t bad; it is just different. It has worked at times for us, but we haven’t done it a lot so it is tough to tell if we are going to go back to it or not.”

Not a big talker to begin with, Ridnour has left the locker room immediately after recent games, clearly unhappy about his role.

It is ironic, he acknowledges, that this comes in the wake of being named to the USA Basketball team because the notion is that he is good enough to play for his country but not for his own team in the fourth quarter.

“It makes you wonder where they are going, what is going to happen,” Ridnour said. “It is nothing against anybody here, it’s just the nature of the business I think and it makes you think about, is this the place or not?

“It is something I have to pray a lot about and see where I want to go. But I don’t want to get involved with anything yet because we still have 17 games left and I don’t want anything to be a distraction to that. Like I said, when the season is over, then you re-evaluate.”

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/sonics/story/5604556p-5036816c.html

McK1 - step away from the keyboard...

they've been benching ridnour, for watson? you see, to me, that raises red flags.

Kinda reminds me of Jason Williams when he was on the Sacra Tomato Kings, and they always benched him in the 4th quarter for Bobby Jackson for defensive purposes. Ridnour is young and is a good player, but he who says Jamal Crawford is the skinniest player in the league is yet to take a look at this young fellow. If he doesn't work on his body and get better defensively, he'll be nowhere. If he does, he'll be a real good player for anyteam. It's up to Mr. Ridnour.