Celtics Cut Coleman

October 21, 1997

Lorenzo, we barely knew ye.

Rick Pitino made his first cut yesterday and it was hardly a jaw-dropper. Center Lorenzo Coleman, who had been playing so well that Pitino was forced to sign another big man to make Coleman break a sweat, was waived. The move reduces Boston's roster to 14 players, two above the maximum.

"He wasn't ready to play at this level," Pitino said, "but he was worth taking a look at."



Coleman's days became numbered last week when Pitino said the big man needed to play with more intensity. Two days later, the Celtics signed 6-foot-11-inch William Cunningham, and it was clearly an either/or situation.

Coleman was the first player off the bench in Saturday's blowout loss to the Bucks in Green Bay, Wis. He played five minutes and had 2 points, 1 rebound, and 3 fouls.

Bowen is doubtful

Pitino said Bruce Bowen, who suffered a concussion in Saturday's game, is doubtful for tonight's game in Orlando. The swingman, who has been a Pitino favorite throughout camp, did not practice yesterday or Sunday . . . Antoine Walker averaged 30.7 points in the first three exhibition games and then scored only 3 against Milwaukee. One reason: He played only 13 minutes . . . The Celtics are planning to retire Robert Parish's jersey number, 00, now that the Chief has officially hung 'em up. The date is Jan. 18, when Larry Bird will be in town with his Indiana Pacers. Too bad Bill Laimbeer isn't around anymore. Or Rick Barry, for that matter . . . Pitino on the roster: "I don't think we can stay the whole season with four point guards." Of the four, Dana Barros logged the fewest minutes Saturday (six). Yesterday, Barros said he doesn't think the Celtics are in shape yet to play the kind of game Pitino wants. "Everyone wants to play fast," he said, "but I don't think we understood the type of shape we needed to be in. And that's a big key. We play well for six to eight minutes and then we get tired and then we see all the layups and the dunks."