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Michael Holley: Anderson Grounded For Behavorial Problems
[The Boston Globe Online][Boston.com]
[Boston Globe Online / Sports]
Anderson grounded for 'behavioral' foul
By Michael Holley, Globe Staff, 04/06/99
ORLANDO, Fla. - Long before the
Celtics were scheduled to depart
Boston to come here Sunday, Rick Pitino
had made up his mind about Kenny Anderson.
The coach told him not to pack his bags
for Central Florida.
So when the Celtics played the Magic at
Orlando Arena last night, they were
missing their starting point guard, who
was more than 1,000 miles away. Pitino
would not get into specifics about the
decision, but he did say there was a
standard for how the players should behave
as professionals and Anderson did not meet
that standard.
''What he did is not real serious by
nature,'' Pitino said. ''It's going to be
completely forgotten by me [today]. I just
want him to think about it.''
Anderson is not injured, and Pitino
wouldn't say whether he had been fined or
suspended. But he did say, ''If I don't
stop certain types of behavior now, it
will have negative effects on the team
later.''
According to sources, the behavior of
which Pitino spoke took place during a
91-79 loss to the Nets Sunday at the
FleetCenter. Anderson believed he was
playing well when Pitino took him out of
the game. He asked why he was taken out
and reportedly told the coach, ''I want to
play.'' Pitino didn't like being
questioned and told Anderson about it.
Before the team left the arena, the
decision to keep him off the trip had been
made.
Pitino said Anderson hadn't done anything
that any other player hadn't done but
during a season in which his team has been
booed at home and lost more than most
expected, Pitino told his players a month
ago to stay together. That included
staying positive and maintaining
professionalism.
Anderson released a comment through the
team, saying that he has no bitterness and
that it ''was Coach's decision.'' Jeff
Wechsler, Anderson's agent, said last
evening that he couldn't comment on
specifics because, ''I haven't talked with
Kenny about all the details.''
But this is not the first disagreement
between Anderson and Pitino. The coach
made a point of saying last night, ''Kenny
is one of my favorite people - off the
court.'' On the court, the two have had
philosophical clashes that have led to
verbal confrontations. Pitino would like
his point guard to set up the offense as
he did in 1997-98 and defend as he never
has in his career. Anderson would like to
have more control over the offense.
Anderson and Pitino have had disagreements
on the past two Sundays. During halftime
of the nationally televised game against
the Pacers, Anderson reportedly bristled
at Pitino's comments about his defense
(Mark Jackson had posted him up repeatedly
in the half). Anderson opened the third
quarter guarding Chris Mullin, who is 6
inches taller and about 60 pounds heavier
than Anderson. Mullin had a 16-point third
quarter.
Pitino dismissed suggestions that he and
Anderson cannot coexist, and when asked
about a Sports Illustrated report that
said Anderson had tired of Pitino's style,
Pitino said, ''I haven't talked to Sports
Illustrated in seven years, so how would
they know?''
If Anderson and Pitino don't get along,
cold numbers suggest that they had better
learn fast. This season, Portland owner
Paul Allen is paying Anderson's contract.
Next year, the Celtics take over payments
on a deal that does not expire until 2003.
The Celtics will be responsible for nearly
$30 million if they don't trade the
28-year-old guard.
This story ran on page E01 of the Boston
Globe on 04/06/99.
© Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.