Peter May on the Charlotte Game

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

                                [The Boston Globe Online][Boston.com]
                                [Boston Globe Online / Sports]

                                
                                CELTICS NOTEBOOK
                                Russell mourns loss of friend and foe
                                <snips>
                                By Peter May, Globe Staff, 10/14/99

                               

                                Opening with a loss

                                The Celtics' exhibition opener resulted in
                                a 110-103 loss to Charlotte before what
                                was listed as a crowd of 13,863, which
                                must have meant that limbs were also
                                counted. Charlotte jumped out to early
                                leads of 8-0 and 13-2 and never looked
                                back, leading by as many as 25. ''They
                                were ready to play. We're not, yet,''
                                coach Rick Pitino said. He said good times
                                are ahead once the players learn the sets
                                and each other better. ''I think we're
                                going to be an outstanding ballclub,'' he
                                said. The Celtics shot 41 percent and were
                                led in scoring by Eric Williams, who had
                                17. Four others were in double figures and
                                the Celtics had a 53-40 rebounding
                                advantage, with newcomer Danny Fortson
                                collecting 11. The Celtics committed 42
                                fouls and gave the Hornets 58 free throws,
                                half of them coming in the fourth quarter.
                                Had Charlotte made its freebies (it was 14
                                of 29 in the fourth), it would have been
                                an even bigger margin of victory. Two
                                Celtics, Antoine Walker and Calbert
                                Cheaney, fouled out. Charlotte was
                                whistled for 30 fouls. David Wesley (24)
                                and Eddie Jones (21) led the Hornets.
                                Every Celtic but Eric Washington got into
                                the game, including Pervis Ellison, who
                                went 12 minutes in his first action since
                                the 1997-98 season. Dana Barros was not
                                with the team due to an illness in the
                                family.

                                Meet and greet

                                The Celtics were out shooting before the
                                game and then made their way to the
                                turnstiles at 6 p.m. to greet fans
                                entering the building. It couldn't have
                                been a laborious exercise, given the
                                sparse turnout

                                This story ran on page F05 of the Boston
                                Globe on 10/14/99.
                                © Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.