Radmanovic saga blows up after loss to Memphis

MEMPHIS — Just three games into the season, Sonics coach Bob Weiss has a major problem on his hands, and it has nothing to do with an anemic offense that managed the third-lowest scoring output in franchise history in Tuesday night's demoralizing 94-69 defeat to Memphis at FedEx Forum.

Before Weiss attempts to solve Seattle's shooting woes, he must first repair a damaged relationship with Vladimir Radmanovic that has deteriorated to a point where the veteran reserve forward has taken his demands for more playing time to the media and doesn't feel he can talk to his coach.

"This summer, they were telling me I'm the third option and that [I'm] going to produce and do this and do that, then you show up and they don't give a damn about you," Radmanovic said in the middle of the visiting locker room after the loss. "Like you never did anything for this organization. It's really hard. I'm not a rookie. This is not a new coach. This coach has been here for four years together with me and he knows what to expect from me. I don't need all of those excuses. ... He's just not putting me in.

"I don't want to talk to him. I have nothing to talk to him about. Like I told you before, he's the coach and I'm the player. He's responsible for his acts, and I hope to win games."

At issue is Radmanovic's decreased playing time. Last year, he averaged 29.5 minutes. This season, he is averaging about 16.5, but he played extra minutes Tuesday when Weiss went with reserves for the final 6:52.

Radmanovic blames his lack of playing time for averaging just 6.7 points and failing to score 10 in a game.

"It's a difference of 15 minutes," he said. "You can put it together however you want, that's all I can see. Fifteen minutes. I'm not happy. I can pretend I'm happy, but I'm not and he has to make a decision with his rotation and who's going to be that guy who plays."

Minutes after Tuesday's defeat that dropped Seattle to 1-2 and started a six-game road trip on a sour note, Weiss talked about the need to find a consistent third scorer to complement Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Without prompting, he said Radmanovic and Ronald Murray should deliver the scoring, but couldn't explain why they haven't.

Weiss decided to de-emphasize Seattle's fast-break offense, which produced four points against Memphis and caused many of Seattle's 21 turnovers.

Two years ago, former coach Nate McMillan began the season wanting to run, but dropped the idea after two months. Weiss did it after three games.

"I told the team I want to drop thinking about running every time for a while," he said. "There's just too many turnovers. If we get numbers on a break, we'll take them. If we don't, I want us to get into something more organized. We're wasting too many possessions."

Point guard Luke Ridnour was unable to generate shots for himself or teammates

"It's only three games. We haven't run effectively yet, but then we haven't done anything effective yet," said Ridnour, who finished with just two points on 1-of-5 shooting and three assists.

The Sonics not only couldn't score, they couldn't contain Shane Battier and Pau Gasol, who each scored 20 points.

Memphis outscored Seattle 40-20 in the paint, while holding the Sonics to just 32.9 percent shooting from the field and 20.8 percent on threes.

The Grizzlies abused rookie center Johan Petro, who collected this third foul two minutes into the game. But he wasn't the reason the Sonics lost.

Seattle's supporting cast offered little support to Allen (15 points) and Lewis (13 points and 10 rebounds).

Nick Collison and Ridnour are the only other Sonics this season to score at least 10 points. Tuesday, no one else managed more than nine.

Radmanovic was supposed to be the third option, but instead of scoring, he's venting frustrations.

"Trying to make a spectacle about lack of playing time or lack of shots is ridiculous," Allen said. "After you lose, it's the wrong time to do it. It's the wrong time because it's easy for everybody to be hunky-dory when you win. That's not me. ... I want to see their character when we lose. That's when true character steps up.

"He's got to know that he's accountable as much as everybody else on the team. Whether it's in practice, being on time for the bus, all of that factors in. We're grown men. Everybody has to take responsibility on their shoulders for what they didn't do right whether you play five minutes or you play 40. I'm very disappointed that he'd do this right now. It's the wrong time."

Percy Allen: 206-464-2278 or pallen@seattletimes.com