Sonics Camp: Day 5 Highlights

Seattle Times

The rundown: Sonics coach Bob Weiss had to invent a new word to describe his interpretation of practice, telling his team they were "raggedy-er" than previous sessions. "I think they're trying, but they're running in mud," Weiss later explained to the media. The team conducted five-minute scrimmages again, but players weren't as sharp. On the final day of two-a-days, Weiss canceled the evening practice, putting smiles on players' faces. The coach has canceled two evening sessions since training camp opened Oct. 3. "I'd rather go a little bit longer in the day where I can go five-on-five and get more done. Early in camp, we got a lot done just conditioning-wise with that second [practice], but right now, I'd like to get ready and use the five-on-five on court."

Sidelined: Forward Vladimir Radmanovic sat out a third consecutive day with inflammation in his left foot. While trainers try to determine the problem, Radmanovic may be unavailable for the Sonics' exhibition opener in Portland on Tuesday. He remains day-to-day.

Battle settled?: While Radmanovic watches practice from a chair on the sideline, power forward Reggie Evans is standing out in camp for more than his loud grunts. Weiss said he will most likely will start Evans, the team's starter at PF last season, and bring Nick Collison off the bench. If Radmanovic can return during camp, he can still challenge for the starting role. "We're still a long ways away," Weiss said. "But Reggie is playing great basketball right now, better defense, better all around. He really worked hard on his conditioning and has had a great camp." Evans wore bandaged ice on his right shin for an injury he suffered Friday but didn't mention to trainers until yesterday. "It's just the normal bumps and bruises of camp," he said.

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