SEATTLE -- Seattle SuperSonics center Patrick Ewing said he
was surprised Monday when he learned the team had fired head coach
Paul Westphal.
Ewing didn't blame Westphal for the Sonics' 6-9 start.
"I wish Paul the best; he brought me here," Ewing said at the
team's practice facility. "Paul will be missed. He worked hard."
At the same time, Ewing expressed excitement about Seattle's
potential under interim coach Nate McMillan. McMillan, who played
12 seasons for Seattle, led his first practice Monday.
"I think Nate can be a very good coach," Ewing said. "I think
he has the respect of everyone on this team. He started out by
stressing defense. Hopefully it'll work. If you look at the team on
paper we should be one of the elite teams in the league."
In his 16th NBA season, Ewing is averaging 31.3 minutes, 10.3
points and 8.9 rebounds. The addition of Ewing from the New York
Knicks was supposed to make the Sonics one of the top teams in the
Western Conference. Instead, Seattle has been far from consistent
through 15 games.
The Sonics are giving up 99.5 points per game this season and
have committed 271 turnovers. They are allowing opponents to shoot
45.7 percent.
Westphal was in his third season as Sonics coach. This was the
final year of his three-year contract.
"Things weren't going our way, and a lot of pressure was put on
(Westphal's) shoulders," said top draft choice Desmond Mason.
Mason said Monday's practice under McMillan was "more
intense." Mason said he has tried to stay away from team problems.
"I'm just a rookie, I'm just trying to put my game together,"
he said.
On Nov. 6, after a game with Orlando, guard Gary Payton, forwardVin Baker and Ewing reportedly shouted at their teammates about
their poor effort.
Some players questioned Westphal's ability. Westphal, who was in
an office within earshot, reportedly came into the locker room and
said he would step down if that was what they wanted. The players
talked him out of quitting.
Last week, Payton and Westphal got into a shouting match during
a game in Dallas and, at one point, Payton refused to come off the
floor when Westphal tried to pull him from the lineup.
The Sonics suspended Payton for one game but lifted the
suspension before it could be served, saying Payton had apologized.
Payton wouldn't discuss Westphal's firing Monday.
Westphal also has had differences with Baker, Payton's teammate
on the Olympic team. The coach criticized Baker for being
overweight and out of shape last season and, in the off-season, was
part of an effort to trade Baker to the Knicks in a four-team deal.
"I don't blame coach Westphal at all," Baker said. "We've had
a rough start. We've got to win basketball games. I think we can be
a great basketball team if we play better defense and cut down on
our turnovers.
"We hope we can turn this thing around."
The Sonics play at Portland on Tuesday and play host to the Los Angeles
Lakers on Thursday.
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