Little-Used Richmond Stays Patient

Mitch Richmond arrived in mid-December averaging a little more than 12 minutes a game--and falling, with his jump shot cold from lack of exposure, and with his right knee trying to gain on the rest of him, which feels pretty good.

In Coach Phil Jackson’s guard rotation, Richmond rates behind Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Lindsey Hunter, and occasionally behind Brian Shaw, another veteran guard lacking in playing time.

Also working against the forgotten guards, Devean George has played well, a fact that provides unexpected depth at small forward, which means Bryant plays fewer minutes in the front court, ultimately stealing those minutes from the bigger guards, Richmond and Shaw.

“In a rotation, in a 48-minute game, it’s really tough to play five guards,” Jackson said. “You might get away with four guards for a few minutes. But, five guards, unless you go to a small lineup or something, is almost an impossibility.”

So, Richmond, the former all-star who took $1 million to come play for a championship, instead might only watch a championship.

He has not complained, and indeed appears content to slowly work his knee to better health, and to be available when the opportunity comes.

“You’re always going to have those things happen, every year,” Jackson said.

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Center Calvin Booth, bothered by a sore right ankle all season, did not play for the Seattle SuperSonics.

He will be evaluated today, and could go on the injured list.

The SuperSonics activated Antonio Harvey before the game.