Wilkens had his glory days with the Supersonics, but by the fifth season of the '80s, the residual confidence had almost entirely dissipated.
The team's veterans, the meritorious players, had retired or left, and in 1983, the team changed owners, a sign that often heralds widespread changes within an organization.
Last season, the Supersonics barely made it into the playoffs and were defeated by the Dallas Mavericks in a five-game series.
This year, they won their opening game against the Jazz, but were then trounced by the Phoenix Suns in the second game.
Such a devastating defeat was definitely not a good sign, indicating issues with both the team's strength and morale.
The roster secret that Wilkens once prided himself on was height; he had created a tall frontcourt, using forwards like John Johnson as organizers to establish an intense defensive realm on the court and stifle any opponent.
