They are one of the best shooting teams in the NBA, and last Saturday the Sonics found something else they could hit -- bottom.

That's the feeling associated with a loss at home to Chicago, the league's worst team, one that arrived with a 1-21 road record.

The defeat capped a mystifying week in which the Sonics returned from a 3-1 road trip to lose three consecutive games at KeyArena and fall back to .500.

Last Tuesday morning, they were 23-20, the sixth-best team in the Western Conference, looking playoff caliber. This morning, they are 23-23, ninth in the West, looking lottery-bound.

A 92-86 loss to Portland? Acceptable. A 99-95 loss to Sacramento? Understandable. A 97-91 loss to Chicago? Inexcusable.

"It's a devastating loss to the team, the organization, the city and fans of the Sonics," said coach Nate McMillan.

As with any other traumatic development, the idea now is to move on, which is what the Sonics will do tonight, facing the Golden State Warriors in Oakland.

The healing process takes time, but Golden State figures to quicken the pace: the Warriors have lost 10 in a row to the Sonics.

Hoping for a better matchup with the bigger Warriors, McMillan will replace 6-foot-9 starting center Art Long with 7-1 Jerome James.

Just like the Sonics, McMillan's move is somewhat confusing -- and it's one in a series.

Long's strengths are toughness and rebounding, offsetting his offensive limitations. The Warriors are No. 1 in the league in rebounding.

McMillan also plans to keep using guard Earl Watson in relief. The more offensive-minded Shammond Williams had moved ahead of Watson on the road trip, but is suddenly back on the bench again, in a curious flip-flopping of coaching preferences.

"I just wanted a change," McMillan said. "(Watson) gives us a different look defensively."

In addition, although McMillan had said he planned to streamline his rotation, it continues to include 10 players, one of whom is Predrag Drobnjak. The rookie forward has shown little to justify his lumbering presence on the floor.

Known for his perimeter shooting, Drobnjak has made only 40 percent of his attempts, giving the Sonics a double negative, considering his defensive liabilities.

Then again, who can blame McMillan for trying anything and everything, given his minimal options inside, with center Calvin Booth still sidelined by ankle tendinitis?

If the Sonics had not exceeded expectations in the first half of the season, the Chicago defeat would not have been this surprising.

It created plenty of concern, warranted or not. "What's wrong with the Sonics?" was the most-asked question after yesterday's practice at the team's training facility.

"We're reverting back to where we were in mid-December (at 10-15)," McMillan said. "It's not one individual. It's each guy contributing, making mistakes."

So they are winning and losing as a team. Forward Vin Baker, who talked about "cleaning up the small mess we've made," said the players are sticking together.

"Our unity is great," he said.

Their execution is not.

"A turnover here, a turnover there, a quick shot ... not making the hustle play," McMillan said. "It's a little bit of everything adding up to a major problem."

Most bewildering of all: allowing the Bulls -- playing without Ron Mercer, Greg Anthony and Charles Oakley -- to score 41 points in the fourth quarter.

"I can't bring that fourth quarter back," McMillan said. "So I get myself ready for Golden State."

On his drive home after the game, McMillan told himself: "The sun will rise tomorrow." Then it set in St. Louis for Rams fans, the Super Bowl enhancing McMillan's perspective.

"Everybody expected St. Louis to win," he said. "It doesn't happen that way all the time."

The Sonics have not lost to Golden State in nearly three years. Oddsmakers favor the Sonics by 2 1/2 points tonight. Seattle is expected to win.

Whatever the outcome, McMillan believes his players will turn it around eventually.

"They need to come together and work their way out of it," he said. "They know they can do it."

SONICS VS. WARRIORS

WHEN: Tonight, 7:30

WHERE: The Arena in Oakland

TV/RADIO: KONG/6, 16; KJR-AM/950

RECORDS: Sonics 23-23; Warriors 14-31. Sonics lead season series 2-0, winning 100-91 on Nov. 16 at KeyArena and 111-108 in overtime Dec. 21 in Oakland.

INJURY REPORT: Sonics: C Calvin Booth (ankle tendinitis) is out. Warriors: F-C Marc Jackson (second game of two-game suspension) is out. G Mookie Blaylock (strained calf) and G Dean Oliver (shoulder tendinitis) are out.

SCOUTING REPORT: In addition to a four-game losing streak and terrible record, Warriors have a player (Jackson) who is serving a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. Warriors are coming off 98-97 loss to Phoenix Sunday night in which they blew a 21-point lead.

OUTLOOK: Based on recent results, Sonics should struggle ... but won't. They routinely handle the Warriors.

LINE: Sonics by 2 1/2

P-I PICK: Sonics, 99-97

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Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors

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