<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The News Tribune - With Earl Watson now on board, Sonics guard Luke Ridnour is frustrated with his role, and is at the point where he is wondering about his future in Seattle, The News Tribune is reporting. 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.?</div> Link
Luke needs to go to the basket more often. Many times when he gets there, he gets confused on whether to shoot it or pass it...and he ends up putting up a bad shot or just circles back out. On a similar note....who would you start? Luke or Earl?
He had a throat injury. He collided with Johan in practice and suffered a contusion to his larynx. Ask Craig Ehlo, he'll tell you all about it...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting monty001:</div><div class="quote_post">He had a throat injury. He collided with Johan in practice and suffered a contusion to his larynx. Ask Craig Ehlo, he'll tell you all about it...</div> Nah, Earl with his bad throat could probably still explain it more clearly.
In other news, Bob Hill is a psycho. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"He's all screwed up," Hill said of Ridnour's mental state. Ridnour has averaged a career-high 34 minutes a game this season, but that has dropped to 30 minutes as of late. "I put my arm around him and told him that the only thing you can control is how you play when you are on the floor," Hill said. Hill said things appear to have been smoothed over after Ridnour met with him and talked with the team. Hill would not elaborate on what was said. Ridnour's rookie contract will expire soon. The Sonics are expected to approach Ridnour this summer about an extension. "In Luke's case, he's scared," Hill said. "He's a baby. He wants to be something."</div> link
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SACRAMENTO – Seattle SuperSonics coach Bob Hill was in his hotel room Tuesday morning when there was a knock on his door at 7:15. It was point guard Luke Ridnour. He wanted to talk to Hill about some comments he made to reporters on Monday afternoon questioning his role and his future with the team after getting benched in recent fourth quarters in favor of Earl Watson. Hill declined to divulge what Ridnour told him, but suffice it to say that Ridnour was contrite. “He cares,” Hill said. “Players like that … they care. They can’t sleep, they want to talk, they want to confess, they want to apologize, they want to be educated. There is a reason they want to talk. In Luke’s case he is scared. He is a baby. He is what ... 23? “Like I told him, Avery Johnson was cut six times. He was cut Christmas eve once. Sometimes to really make it at that position, you have to persevere, you really do. That position is hard.” Ridnour said he did not understand why he had been getting benched when he thought he was playing well. But Hill said Ridnour had actually been playing much worse since Watson was acquired based on an efficiency formula Hill got from Pat Riley, with his production cut in half.</div> Ridnour Apologizes for Complaining
Luke hasn't exactly had the season we had all hoped and he really isn't helping his cause by coming out in the press (although he has some good teammates to learn from in that regard), but seriously, is it really necessary for Hill to come out with public comments like that? Seems like he's more interested in a good soundbite than the mindset of his players. I don't want this man coaching the Supes next season.
As much as I like luke, I think our horrid defense this season starts with him. News flash to Ridnour really. The point gaurd we aquired at the trade deadline is better than you. About the same offensively and much better defensively. This spelled out in plain english means - We will start you because the fans like you, but Earl finishes. Something tells me that Watsons injury is a little more than coincidental.
Luke complaining about minutes is an absolute joke. What is our record since we've acquired Watson? I think it's 5-3 with our losses being against Detroit, Memphis, and Phoenix. Not exactly cellar dwellars. Luke has been given every opportunity in the world to become a top flight NBA point guard. The minutes have been there, the support has been there, and the personnel moves have been there. We haven't been looking to bring in a starting point guard to unseat Luke, and AD was let go partly b/c the organization felt that Luke could steer this ship on his own. Watson isn't a top notch starting point guard but he is one of the best back up point guards in the league. I don't think that a back up point guard is worth 30 million dollars, but he has proven to be a great addition to this ball club since he arrived. Luke isn't a free agent until 2007 but I think that he feels that he'll be a victim of the numbers game considering how many other free agents the Sonics have to take care of. Luke is a very religious guy and I would think that he'd put his faith in God before he'd start running to the papers crying about the fact that he isn't getting crunch time minutes. Play your way into a better deal and play your way into a starting point guard role in this league. There isn't a more supportive city in the world for Ridnour than Seattle (and maybe Eugene). He didn't earn his minutes to begin w/, so it make sense for him to shut up and try to earn them back with his play.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Iron Sheik:</div><div class="quote_post">Luke is a very religious guy and I would think that he'd put his faith in God before he'd start running to the papers crying about the fact that he isn't getting crunch time minutes</div> Anyway, tonight another example of why Luke sits in the 4th - some bad turnovers, couldn't hit a open jumper while Earl drains a critical 3, not mention his defense on Redd at times.
I like Luke. How could you not? He looks like everyones kid brother (if you're white). But face it, Luke. Your D is an F, and you COULD BE Steve Nash... if you could shoot. Give him time, but right now, Watson deserves to start. >j<
Whenever you type in NBA or something like Ray Allen...those hyperlinks have been showing up....weird... ...Hmm....they didn't show up in my post....lets experiment again... Steve Nash hmm....
luke shouldn't be unhappy sonics are winning games after having earl back and nothing wrong with that he should just continue to play and play better
Actually, I did that because I thought Nash doesn't make enough money, and I want you all to buy his instructional video. >j< PS - actually, I have no idea what the hell that is.... but I wish it would stop. It even hyperlinked shapecity's "hotel room".
