Notebook | Wilks making his case for more playing time

LOS ANGELES — Mike Wilks needed just two games to make Bob Hill begin second-guessing himself.

Before the season, the Sonics coach had a fixed opinion of how the seldom-used point guard would figure in a three-man rotation that included Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson. Hill didn't believe he could play the 5-foot-10 Wilks consistently because of his size and didn't think he could be a normal backup averaging 12 to 15 minutes per game.

"Until now, I would say obviously not, but now I'm not sure he couldn't be," Hill said. "He's such a phenomenal person and he's such a great pro. He sure is building a case for it."

In his first start of the season, Wilks tallied a career-high 20 points against Phoenix on Wednesday. In his second start on Saturday, he had his first career double-double against Portland.

"It happens so often in the NBA when somebody gets a chance, most of the times or a lot of the times, they take advantage of it," Hill said. "When they don't have to worry about making a mistake and that they're going to come out or whatever it is. But he's been phenomenal these last two games."

Wilks had 22 points and eight rebounds against the Lakers.

To tape, or not to tape

Since Ridnour entered the NBA in 2003, coaches have described him as eccentric for declining to tape his ankles and choosing to play in low-cut shoes. But after Ridnour suffered a season-ending sprained left ankle on April 6, Hill questioned the wisdom of Ridnour's quirkiness.

"That's not for me to say," he said. "I can't tell them to tape their ankles. The organization should have new rules."

Hill also acknowledged for the first time that he has had to manage tension between Ridnour and Watson. He also suggested the 6-1, 167-pound Ridnour needs to increase his size and get stronger in the offseason.

Chilly reception

During pregame warmups, forward Damien Wilkins spotted the Lakers' Vladimir Radmanovic across the court and yelled: "Ice Capades! What's up, Ice Capades?"

Lakers teammates gave the former Sonic the nickname after he injured his right shoulder in a snowmobile accident during the All-Star break and missed 24 games. He initially told the team he suffered the injury in a slip on the sidewalk.

Notes

• When informed before the game that Lakers G Smush Parker was not starting because of a falling out with coach Phil Jackson, Hill said: "I'm not surprised." Hill coached Parker at Fordham, where the two had a turbulent relationship.

• Sonics F Danny Fortson laughed when told that referee Joey Crawford gave Spurs F Tim Duncan a pair of technical fouls and kicked him out of Sunday's game against the Mavericks for laughing on the sideline.

"It happens to the best of us," said Fortson, who picked up a technical last season for apparently staring at official Sean Corbin.

• Sunday's game was the last Sonics telecast this season.