The Seattle SuperSonics are going to more centers than a methadone-addicted alcoholic with a fear of heights.

With Calvin Booth sidelined with an injured right ankle, it's Jerome James one night, Vladimir Radmanovic the next.

Friday night against the Boston Celtics, coach Nate McMillan decided it was Olumide Oyedeji's turn - even though Oyedeji had not played one minute the entire season.

With James unable to get up and down the court with the faster Celtics, with Art Long foul-prone (he had three fouls in three minutes in a loss to the New Jersey Nets on Thursday) and with Radmanovic changing the dynamics of the Sonics' offense, McMillan decided to give the second-year player a turn in the middle.

"I felt like our small (starting) lineup, we just became a perimeter team," McMillan said. "Too many jump shots. A lot of us are looking for our attempts as opposed to having a guy in there who scraps and does the dirty work. I think we will start out this way and get one less shooter on the offensive end."

McMillan said he appreciates Oyedeji's work ethic. One of the last to leave practice, Oyedeji shows up at the arena on game nights at 3:45, by himself, almost four hours before tipoff. Oyedeji takes a cab from the hotel because the team bus leaves later.

Via

Oklahoma City

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