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Peter May: Ellison Unlikely To Play This Season
[The Boston Globe Online][Boston.com]
[Boston Globe Online / Sports]
CELTICS NOTEBOOK
Don't count on him
Ellison is unlikely to play this season
By Peter May, Globe Staff, 01/09/99
It's been a year and two days since Pervis Ellison badly sprained his
right ankle. Since then, he had countless rehabilitation sessions,
played eight NBA games, could not get into proper shape, and finally, two
months ago, underwent surgery.
Yesterday Celtics coach Rick Pitino said he does not expect to have Ellison
available for the truncated 1998-99 season.
''He's going through rehab now,'' Pitino said, ''but I would seriously doubt
that he'd be back for the season. If he did get back, then he would have to
get into playing shape, and that might only be for the tail end. It's not
impossible, but it's doubtful.''
It may be that Pitino is hoping Ellison isn't able to play, which might free
up some space to bring in another body. If the injury exception remains the
same in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Celtics would be able
to spend one-half of Ellison's salary ($1.21 million) on a new player.
Ellison decided to have the surgery last November during the lockout when
his ankle failed to respond to therapy. He is in the fifth year of a
six-year deal.
Efforts to reach Ellison's agent, Bill Strickland, for comment were
unsuccessful.
Rescue mission
Pitino said the new deal is a lifesaver for the Celtics. ''In pure economic
terms, we were in trouble,'' he said of the possibility of open-ended
salaries under the old deal. ''It would have been difficult for the Boston
Celtics to survive and for probably half the league.'' ... Pitino again
defended Antoine Walker, whom, he reminded everyone, ''I know better than
anyone in this room.'' He said the only time Walker was mentioned in trade
talk, it was because of the Celtics' concern about re-signing him. With the
new limits in place, that no longer is a concern (at least not to Pitino).
''I recruited him. I wanted him,'' Pitino said. ''I think he's going to be a
big part of our future and something to build on.'' ... The Celtics plan to
have four ''people's practices'' around New England during training camp.
The dates and times have not been disclosed ... The Celtics will have a
ridiculous, road-oriented schedule in February simply because there are no
dates available in the FleetCenter. Pitino said the team likely will play at
home Feb. 5 and 6, then head out on the road. They have two other dates
locked in for the month ... The Celtics' interest in John ''Hot Plate''
Williams is not an issue now. Williams, according to Pitino, is playing in
Spain. But Pitino did say he liked what he saw of Williams playing in Los
Angeles, even though he saw a lot more of Williams (270 pounds) than he
wanted ... Speaking of onetime behemoths, Popeye Jones will be in town next
week. Pitino said the once-rotund forward is now a svelte 243 with 12
percent body fat. Jones will be an interesting free agent test; he's a
five-year player, so he falls into the same category as Walker ... Pitino
told his players he expects them to be in great shape when camp opens and
said, ''I think they know how disappointed I'd be if they weren't.'' Last
year's training camp looked more like ''ER,'' with half a dozen players
needing IV tubes. ''That was a farce,'' Pitino said. ''We don't expect them
to be on IVs this year. And we won't pass them out, either.'' ... Pitino was
asked if the lockout had been beneficial on a personal level in that it
enabled him to do something he wouldn't otherwise do. After a long pause, he
said, ''No.''
This story ran on page F05 of the Boston Globe on 01/09/99.
© Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.