Piatkowski Not Content to Sit

You might think Eric Piatkowski would be more than happy to sit out the final seven games of the season because of a strained abdominal muscle.

After all, his team is going nowhere. His own career is on the upswing, his scoring average of 11.3 points nearly double that of his lifetime mark.

And besides, he has a newborn daughter, Paige Lynn, at home.

But if you think he is content, you’re wrong.

“People come up to me and say, ‘Oh well, at least you were playing well,’ ” said Piatkowski, who sat out his sixth game because of the injury Tuesday night. “They don’t understand how badly I wanted to play the last 13 or 14 games. I wanted to have a real good feeling heading into the summer. Now, it’s not going to be as positive.”

Piatkowski got into the lineup at shooting guard when Brent Barry was traded Feb. 19.

“It’s so depressing for this to happen after becoming the starter,” Piatkowski said.

After suspecting he had strained the abdominal muscle and trying to play through it, he went on the injured list March 29.