Sonics | End of season in view, but tonight it's Kobe

The end of the season can't come soon enough for the Sonics. Not only are they short on players because of injuries, but they're riding a three-game losing streak, their morale is teetering and to make matters worse the "50-Point Man" visits KeyArena tonight.

That's what Sonics forward Rashard Lewis calls Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers star who became only the second player in NBA history to tally four consecutive games of 50 or more points last month.

"Right now things are obviously bad for us, but these teams that we're playing, they don't care about that," Lewis said. "Denver and San Antonio, they didn't care. The (New Orleans) Hornets, they don't care. And I know Kobe Bryant won't care either. He's going to go out and try to score 80 points on us if he can because that's just the type of player that he is."

The Lakers (39-36) are clinging to the No. 6 playoff seed and hold a half-game lead on Denver and a 1 ½-game lead on the Los Angeles Clippers.

Meanwhile, the Sonics (30-45) "just want to finish strong and have fun," according to guard Luke Ridnour. On Saturday, the Sonics visit the Utah Jazz followed by games against Houston, Phoenix, Portland, a rematch with the Lakers in Los Angeles and the regular-season finale against Dallas.

Finish strong and have fun? Good luck.

Judging the body language after Wednesday's 101-92 overtime loss to New Orleans, the Sonics will be fortunate to finish as a cohesive group.

"As a team, a young team, you can either take [the losing] two ways," reserve guard Earl Watson said. "You can either let it destroy you as a team or get encouraged for these last couple of games to hold on and do something to end the season strong. But it's to the point now where it can go either direction. We're at a crossroads, and we have to keep pushing in the right direction."

Coach Bob Hill, who appears to be a lame duck after dour statements from chairman Clay Bennett on Wednesday, is trying hard to maintain the status quo over the final two weeks. He refuses to dramatically alter the starting lineup and tinker with the rotation because he fears it would send the wrong message to the players.

"They haven't given up, so I'm not going to either," Hill said Wednesday.

While some may argue that it would be prudent for the Sonics to elevate rookie forward Mickael Gelabale into the starting lineup and play rookie center Mouhamed Sene as many minutes as he can handle so the front office can evaluate how they would handle those situations, Hill believes his course of action better serves the team.

Gelabale has played at least 20 minutes in seven of the past eight games, but he hasn't reached double-digit scoring since Feb. 7, and a few weeks ago, Hill admitted Sene hasn't developed since the start of the season.

Lewis supports his coach's decision to stick with regulars in the final seven games.

"Weezy [Chris Wilcox] needs these minutes with me on the floor," he said. "So does Damien [Wilkins]. We need to get Luke going before we end this thing. You can't do all of that if you're messing around with the lineup."

Lewis has also benefited from Hill's plan. Without injured shooting guard Ray Allen, Lewis has become the focal point of the team. He has been given unprecedented freedom to develop a one-on-one game at the top of the key, and he has the green light to shoot as much as he wants. Against the Hornets, Lewis attempted a career-high 13 three-pointers.

"Record wise, these games may not be important, but we can get something out of them," Lewis said.

Notes

• Sonics F Andre Brown underwent successful nasal reduction surgery Tuesday to correct the broken nose he suffered against Denver on March 28. He has been cleared by physicians and should be on the active roster tonight.

• Allen will undergo ankle surgery Saturday.

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