Stoudamire, McInnis still dueling for starting role Maurice Cheeks says he will continue to evaluate in the final three exhibition games who will be the Blazers' No. 1 point guard 10/19/03 JASON QUICK http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1066564600300911.xml SPOKANE -- Opening night is 10 days away, and Trail Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks still doesn't know if his starting point guard will be Damon Stoudamire or Jeff McInnis "It's a battle, that's for sure," Cheeks said. "I don't know if they're dead even, but right now, there's just not a winner. Both have played fairly well." After Saturday's 101-95 exhibition loss against Seattle at Spokane Arena, in a game in which Stoudamire drew the praise of Cheeks, there are three games for Cheeks to evaluate who is best suited to start. "If there is no clear-cut winner, then I will have to go on my gut feeling," Cheeks said. "And there is no clear-cut winner as of today." Heading into the final week of exhibition play, McInnis is averaging 11.2 points and has 20 assists to nine turnovers while hitting 54.3 percent of his shots. Stoudamire is averaging 8.8 points with 11 assists and 10 turnovers while hitting 50 percent of his shots (4 for 9 on three-pointers). The competition has stunted Cheeks' plan to identify a starting lineup early in training camp, then give that group extended playing time to develop cohesion for the beginning of the season. "My initial thing was to put our guys on the floor and get them used to playing together," Cheeks said. "I probably haven't stuck to that as much as I thought I would, but a lot of it has had to do with trying to get other guys minutes. But as these three games wind down, I think I'll start playing those guys who are actually going to be on the floor" when the regular season starts. Cheeks said his decision could be made easier if Stoudamire or McInnis assumes more command in directing the offense. "Neither Jeff nor Damon has gotten better at telling guys what to do on the floor," Cheeks said. "They haven't mastered the art of telling a player to go here or go there. That part for me would make it easier to pick a point guard out if one of them had those qualities. Neither one of them has those qualities, and given the type of team that we have, we'd benefit from having a point guard who says, 'Go here, go there.' " It is an interesting battle because both have different styles. Stoudamire is a better long-range shooter, while McInnis is a better pick-and-roll player. Stoudamire is better at defending quick point guards, while McInnis is better at full-court defense on the ball. "We knew Damon could always shoot, but I think he is making more of an effort to run our basketball team, because he knows that's what I like," Cheeks said. "And Damon does a lot of the little things, getting in the paint and rebounding, running down guys on defense. "And Jeff has been trying to run the basketball team as well, and he has been shooting the ball well in the preseason. And from what I understand, Jeff is a lot more comfortable now in terms of trying to be the player he once was." McInnis, who felt uncomfortable last season while struggling with limited playing time in his first season in Portland, said he is more at ease this season. "I'm getting a chance to play, I mean just really play," McInnis said. "Everytime I'm coming down, I don't have to look at (Cheeks) to see what he wants -- I have a lot more freedom. And I have more confidence, so naturally I'm going to be a better player when I'm confident. It's basically not worrying about things, just playing." The competition has created a delicate situation for Cheeks, because he knows one of the guards will be upset if he doesn't start. "Oh, yeah, I think it's going to be a big deal (telling the non-starter), but that's part of my job, to do what's best for the team," Cheeks said. "I think the guys in the NBA love to start. I don't know if it's because they like hearing their names when the lights go out, or what it is, but guys love to start. The thing is, both of those guys are going to play pretty much equal minutes. And whoever is playing the best, that's who is going to be out on the floor." Notes: Cheeks fined Rasheed Wallace and Ruben Patterson $10,000 each for not attending Thursday's mandatory appearance at an event held for sponsors on owner Paul Allen's yacht. Patterson said he was buying a house. Wallace declined to comment, and Cheeks said he did not ask why Wallace did not attend. . . . Former University of Oregon guard Luke Ridnour made his exhibition debut after recovering from a stomach muscle injury, finishing with six points on 3 of 4 shooting and one assist in 13 minutes. . . . Zach Randolph led the Blazers (2-3) with 21 points and Patterson and Wallace finished with 14 points each. Wallace, who hit 4 of 18 shots, was given a technical with 4:19 left in the game for arguing a foul after he blocked Richie Frahm's layup attempt. . . . Ray Allen led the Sonics (4-2) with 24 points on 8 of 12 shooting. Vancouver's Frahm, who was in Blazers camp last season, had 11 points in 19 minutes. Jason Quick: 503-221-4372; [email protected] --

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