Not much is going on these days with the Sonics. After discussing and discussing again player dynamics, there just isn't much of a story on that end. We are still in the midst of a victory recession enduring since season's inception; but I venture that is no more newsworthy than bobble-head mania slated to strike Key Arena. This season, judging by the coach, players, and the posts on this board, its fair to say hasn't been incredible fun for anybody.

For some, it's not "just because we're losing" it goes deeper then wins and losses. To leave it at that might imply we have a team of sore losers, as fans and media have become largely fair weathered. I know some of you may feel that is exactly the case, but the closer I look, the more I think that's not how things are.

From my own perspective, I know it goes deeper because there were losses I came away feeling good about (Sonics versus Pistons) and wins that I didn't particularly care for. After thinking about why that was, the answer was no more complicated then, its how they play the game.

There may be no fun in losing but there is fun in competing.

When most of us were young, all we did is compete. Go outside and play tag, race, play kickball, manhunt, basketball, football, baseball, swimming, video games, board games, and the unconventional. Gym class ranked right up there with lunch as most young boys' favorite part of the school day.

Then there is the other form of competition; competition where it isn't done for the sake of sport, but for actual real world consequences. Fiscal competition, SAT scores to get into college, 2 associates after the same love interest, interviewing for desperately needed employment. That's not the competition we grew up fostering. It is often times difficult to handle. This type of competition is not a game, stakes are high and the result having tangible, significant, real world implications.

Professional Sports has the ability to turn the former into the latter and when it does, the game, particularly basketball, can go south with it.

I wonder if things like:

* "They didn't renew my contract, I am going to remind them how dominant I can be"; or
* "I have to score this much more, because I averaged that much last season"; or
* "I get paid this amount, so I have to score x amount, if not more", or
* "I am a rookie and I have to make a name for myself being I was drafted so late" or
* "My shooting percentage is going down, maybe I should stop shooting buzzer beaters"
* "I have an opportunity to be the future 1-2 punch on this team, I have to increase my own scoring even if it means sacrificing some passing"; *"I am a starting guard in this league, no way I am going to sit behind a rookie so I have to 'do me' while I'm on the floor"; or

In general, players have personal agendas through the 82 games that promote individualism while hindering the notion of team concept.

None of these things are bad within itself, but when we have an assortment of agendas, putting them together within a team concept will prove to be difficult. As the nature of these agendas goes, most don't coincide with team play. Most are an "I" or a "me", rather then a "he" or a "we".

This is when the team, and the Sport become less of a team game and more of a showground for personal achievement.

As it implies to the Sonics, it's not always the players' fault. They deal with tremendous outside pressure, some of them. Take Vin Baker, What happens if he averages not enough points? If he doesn't average his 17-18 points, his name will stay in the paper for another season. Desmond Mason, who has been billed the Sonics future #2, likely has a personal mission to make sure he showcases he is capable of stardom -- even if it means becoming a black hole at times.

I've seen some Sonics ignore open players, even on fast breaks during garbage time, which is absurd. Garbage time doesn't even feature basketball, but a highway of players pumping their own game stats. They know that a basket scored for the team, goes in the row next to the player who scored it, and that becomes a factor. And it only takes one player with a personal agenda for the others to follow his lead. The reverse, in a way gives light to the notion that passing would be contagious---which was more then evident when Jason Williams signed on with the Kings, or Kidd with the Nets.

One thing I hope McMillan can do with the Sonics is making the game fun again for everyone. Show me a game where the Sonics clearly had a lot of fun playing in, and I'll go to bed happy independent of the result. I make no reference to the result because I know there is no team in the NBA, that no matter how hard the Sonics compete, they cannot stick with and eventually defeat on a given night. So we'd get our share.

But as far as winning and losing, it's true winning has the ability to appear you're cured of all that ails. We've seen so many times this season the Sonics put together some impressive win, giving the fans a feeling of optimism. But for what it's worth, wins don't produce a solid foundation a solid foundation produces wins. You know you have the latter when the consistency prevails.

Anything less is a short wins' deceit, to put it in terms of automobiles, temporarily hiding what's "under the hood." If what you have isn't truly fluid, what this inconsistency hints at, that car can only go so far before it stalls again.

That would imply the more telltale sign of a "working vehicle" is not the wins, but the losses. The losses are the gospel, the losses are the truth, and the losses are the reality. That may not sound very profound, but it's actually something that is significant.

We have had great wins against the Los Angeles Lakers, against the Spurs, against the Orlando Magic both home and away. But we have 15 losses in 26 games. The conclusion drawn from that doesn't just stop at the Sonics are inconsistent. True, that they are, but that doesn't nearly tell you as much as it could, or as much as I feel this next statement tells me.

The 15 losses say something is wrong. Something is not in working order. It may not be entirely X's and O's. The whole Zen coach philosophy attempts to delve into that realm and if he can find what he is looking for, can correct an innate affliction.

McMillan brought to light that he couldn't understand his players, why they didn't come out with the professionalism they should. Things we are hearing now go beyond the X's, and the O's and that requires a different method of application that needs to also come from the top.

I know one thing, if Schultz ever hopes to put fans in the seats, he should consider if his own players aren't having tons of fun, how can the fans? And if the players aren't having tons of fun, through what other avenue do they channel their enthusiasm?

Scoring averages? Contract money?

That's what got us here in the first place.

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