Coles coming aboard

["Stephen Beauregard" <sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Coles coming aboard

Guard insurance for playoff push

By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 3/8/2003

he Celtics will sign Bimbo Coles this morning, picking up the point guard
insurance they wanted for their playoff push and beyond. Not coincidentally,
Coles was also the man Eastern Conference-leading Indiana wanted since Feb.
28, when the veteran was waived by Cleveland.



''We're extremely excited about Bimbo Coles because the new ownership went to
the financial well and acted quickly to secure his services and ensure our
team optimum insurance for the stretch run and the playoffs,'' said general
manager Chris Wallace.

Believing Boston has as good a chance as any team to make it out of the East,
Coles will sign this morning for a prorated 10-year-plus veteran minimum worth
approximately $247,200. Although the league will pick up 60 percent of the
contract, the new owners will end up paying approximately $600,000 for Coles's
services given luxury tax stipulations.

Coles also was impressed with coach Jim O'Brien and assistant Lester Conner
when the Celtics' staff was recruiting him when he was a free agent during the
summer of 2000. Coles will become a free agent again at the end of the
season.

''It feels great,'' said Coles on signing with the Celtics. ''They have a lot
of tradition. They're right in the thick of things for the playoffs and I'm
exicted to be here. I think I can help out on defense and by knocking down
open shots. Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker will be getting double-teamed quite
a bit. I'll also be able to help the young guys out and bring my leadership
skills to the team.

''I know it's an organization very committed to winning basketball games. I
wanted to be a Celtic with the tradition and the championships. I wanted to be
in a city where the fans are awesome.''

Coles arrived in Boston last night and had his team physical. He will practice
with the Celtics this afternoon, though he did not know whether he would play
tomorrow against San Antonio.

When Coles left Cleveland, he was averaging 4.9 points and 2.7 assists in 24.6
minutes per game.

Boston has been suiting up just two point guards since Shammond Williams was
traded to Denver Feb. 20.

''It's in all probability our last roster move this season,'' said Wallace.
''Bimbo shores up a position that we're a little exposed at right now. He's an
excellent defender, can shoot the medium-range shot, capably run a team from
the point guard position. Much like Grant Long, he's a proven veteran presence
with outstanding leadership capabilities.

''This really battens down that point guard position. If an injury would
occur, we're in a much more favorable position to handle that situation.''

Coles's agent, Sean Holley, complimented Wallace on his recruiting of the
veteran the second time around. ''Bimbo selecting the Celtics over teams with
better records was made very easy by Chris Wallace's pursuit.''


Pain in the back

Pierce missed last night's game against the Clippers with a recurrence of the
lower back pain that ended his consecutive-game streak Feb. 28. Pierce missed
the home-away series against Toronto.

''Paul is out,'' said O'Brien. ''He can't seem to get over the hump. We've got
to get this corrected. We will keep him out as long as is necessary. I don't
want this to be a nag, nag, nag, nag, nag until the end of the year.''

Pierce got treatment last night at the Celtics' training facility and the
team's medical staff will continue to evaluate his situation on a daily
basis.

''[Bad backs] are very finicky,'' said O'Brien. ''If you're playing a game
where you're moving like basketball players do and you're Paul and you're
taking charges, it can act up. We just have to get it healthy.''


Homecoming for DJ

It would have been remarkable had Dennis Johnson been able to approach the
game with the calm of a seasoned coaching veteran who has seen it all before.
But the Celtics franchise, the parquet floor, and the city itself have meant
too much for too long to try to pass this off as just another game. The new
Clippers skipper was nervous, excited, distracted, and elated.

''I love this place,'' said the Celtic legend, an hour before tipoff. ''I
always have a good time when I come back to Boston. I think the fans are
appreciative of what I did, and I'm appreciative of them. This has been a
lifelong experience for me.''

Last night, as public address announcer Dave Jageler introduced the Clippers,
he paused with just the right amount of dramatic effect before declaring,
''The head coach of the Clippers . . . Dennis Johnson.'' The crowd burst into
spontaneous and delighted applause. That applause gained momentum as the
seconds ticked on, and before DJ knew it, the opposing team's fans were giving
him a standing ovation.


Brown gets call

Kedrick Brown got his fifth start of the season in place of Pierce and scored
2 points. O'Brien thought the second-year swingman did a respectable job when
he replaced Pierce in the two Toronto games. ''I thought he had a good home
game against Toronto and I think he was not as effective up there,'' said
O'Brien. ''But you would expect that because they had a chance to prepare for
that lineup. I think Kedrick really defends well and runs the court. He's a
very talented young man.'' . . . The Clippers placed forward Elton Brand on
the injured list with a stress fracture in his lower left leg. It was Brand's
first time on the injured list in his four-year NBA career. Prior to last
night, Brand had missed the last five games with the injury

Thanks,

Steve
sb@maine.rr.com

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