Holley: Paul Pierce doubtful for tomorrow

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CELTICS NOTEBOOK
Pierce doubtful for tomorrow

He may call in sick against Cavaliers
By Michael Holley, Globe Staff, 11/16/99

WALTHAM - There is a good chance there will be a change in the Celtics'
starting lineup tomorrow night at the FleetCenter. Paul Pierce may not
be  in it.

Pierce missed yesterday's practice, according to the Celtics, because he
has strep throat. Coach Rick Pitino said it is doubtful that the team's
second-leading scorer (19.9 points) will play against the Cavaliers.

''He's very sick,'' Pitino said.

 The coach is not sure who will replace Pierce. He has said several
times that, in  the Celtics' system, the shooting guards and small
forwards are asked to do  similar things. So Pitino might move Adrian
Griffin to shooting guard and insert Eric Williams or Walter McCarty at
small forward.

Pitino would love to have Calbert Cheaney in the lineup (''He's like
Adrian  Griffin''), but Cheaney didn't practice yesterday because of a
sprained ankle.

Putting in some OT

Marty Conlon stayed after practice to shoot and do some cardiovascular
work.Pitino said the forward needs to drop about 5 pounds. At least
Conlon doesn't have to work on his one-liners. Yesterday, while
discussing his pro basketball  experience in Italy, he said, ''They can
dress and they can eat. They just can't hoop.'' ... If all goes well,
Danny Fortson will be playing in a month. Pitino expects him to return
Dec. 15, the day Karl Malone and the Jazz will be at the FleetCenter.
Are there high expectations for the 6-foot-8-inch power forward?  Pitino
said, ''Danny is going to get 13 or 14 rebounds a night.'' Last season,
playing only 28 minutes per game, Fortson was fourth in the league with
an average of 11.6 rebounds. The extra one or two will come, the coach
believes, because Fortson is joining a team that doesn't have a dominant
rebounder at power forward or center ... Pitino said he watched the
Bulls-Celtics tape from  Saturday night ''2 1/2 times.'' Although he
didn't see Griffin foul Fred Hoiberg on the decisive play in the 92-91
loss, he said, ''I can see why an official would make that call.'' But,
he added, ''If we had taken care of business, we wouldn't have been in
that position.''