Sonics' Watson can't quiet doubters

CLEVELAND — So, what's wrong with Earl Watson?

He's too short? Too methodical? He commits too many turnovers? He's doesn't dribble as fancy as Luke Ridnour or shoot as accurately as Delonte West? He doesn't have Gary Payton's swagger or Nate McMillan's leadership qualities?

Or maybe after all this time, he doesn't have the potential of Memphis freshman Derrick Rose and Indiana freshman Eric Gordon?

It's always something with Watson. He has never measured up in comparison to point guards in the past, present or future.

At UCLA, he stood in the shadows of Baron Davis and Tyus Edney. In Memphis, he could never unseat starting point guard Jason Williams. And in Denver, the presence of Andre Miller and Earl Boykins precipitated Watson's trade to the Sonics on Feb. 23, 2006.

His past two years in Seattle hasn't been without controversy. In each of the past two seasons, the Sonics entered training camp with the 6-foot-1 guard competing for a starting position.

Last season, he lost early to Ridnour but claimed the job late.

This season, he won the job in October — partly by injury default — and already he has started more games (27) than he has during any season in his six-year career.

Still, he will admit to moments of insecurity. The Sonics (9-24) aren't his team, and without warning his starting job could be given to West or Ridnour if they're able to stay healthy and remain consistent.

Watson is candid enough to talk about the possibility of being traded for the third time and said he has given up wanting the coaching staff and management to embrace him the way other NBA point guards are appreciated. He mentions Dallas' Devin Harris as a reference.

"I don't know if this situation will be that type of situation because it's almost to the point of the season where you don't look for it any more," Watson said. "Like if it doesn't happen early, it's mental toughness from that point on. It's mental toughness on staying focused.

"It can definitely be an obstacle. It can almost be self-destruction. To me, you've almost got to just put it away. If at the beginning of the season that point [naming a starter] is never made, you don't search for it and you just go out and play."

To be fair, coach P.J. Carlesimo also shuffled the starters at small forward and center and might tamper with the power-forward spot if Nick Collison continues his remarkable rebounding in the absence of injured Chris Wilcox.

Still no position has generated as much negative publicity as the Watson-Ridnour-West point-guard controversy.

"It helps to have consistency with the point guards because that's one position that can dictate other guys probably more than other positions," Collison said. "Earl has been healthy, so we've had more time to play with him than the other points.

"The other guys are definitely capable of doing it also, it's just that they've been hurt so much that the team is probably a little more comfortable with Earl running the show strictly because he's had more time do it."

In Thursday's nationally televised game against Phoenix and two-time MVP Steve Nash, Watson delivered 20 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and didn't commit a turnover in 37 minutes. Still, his contributions went largely unnoticed and critics complain he throws too many errant passes and dribbles too long.

"To me, Earl gets overlooked a lot," rookie Kevin Durant said. "He's almost one of the tops in the league in assists. He's probably the best defensive player on the team. He's tough. He competes every time he's on the floor.

"In practice, going three-on-three or two-on-two, he competes. He goes hard. That's what every team needs."

Among NBA guards, Watson ranks 16th in assists (6.2) and 26th in assists/turnover ratio (2.98). Among the Sonics, he is third in average minutes (28.0), fifth in steals (24) and seventh with 8.6 points.

His scoring is lower than it has been the past two seasons, but Watson said he's still adjusting to a new offense.

"I'm so used to scoring off Ray [Allen] and Rashard [Lewis], just catch and shoot," he said. "In Denver, playing off 'Melo [Carmelo Anthony], catch and shoot. In Memphis, it was playing off Pau Gasol, and catch and shoot.

"Here all of my shots come off the dribble, pick-and-roll and create your own shots. Very rarely are you in a catch-and-shoot situation."

Watson, who has two years and $13 million remaining on his contract after this season, expects the next month will test his focus because his name is already swirling in trade rumors.

"Players that survive are players that adjust," he said. "I think I'm more positive because I found a way to grow in a tough situation."

Notes

• Wilcox (dislocated right pinkie) will not join the Sonics for today's game in Cleveland or Wednesday's game in New Jersey. He is questionable for Friday's game against Dallas.

• Ridnour, who is recovering from a partially torn left quadriceps, aggravated the injury and is doubtful tonight.