injury report

[Steve Huffman <stevhuff@eastky.net>]

CELTICS NOTEBOOK
Bowen may bow to injuries

By Peter May, Globe Staff, 11/17/97

ALTHAM - The ever-evolving Celtics' injury situation may be
changing again. The latest candidate for the injured list is Bruce
Bowen, who officially is day to day but who looks like he needs
lots of day after suffering a nasal fracture on Friday.

''He's got black eyes, a swollen face. He's going to need some
 time, '' coach  Rick Pitino said yesterday.

If Bowen goes on the injured list, someone will have to replace
 him. Two players currently on the injured list, Dontae' Jones
 and John Thomas, both look fine. Jones plays the same position
as Bowen, so he might be the logical candidate. Pitino gave no
 hint which way he was leaning.

Bowen had company on the sidelines at yesterday's practice. Roy
 Rogers (knee), Dana Barros (ankle), and Ron Mercer
 (concussion/cut) were all  unavailable.

Mercer suffered what trainer Ed Lacerte, speaking, as always,
 through a team spokesman, revealed was a ''mild'' concussion
 after being keelhauled by Popeye Jones Friday. Mercer also
 suffered a seven-stitch cut over his left eye.

“we can't keep Ron awake,'' Pitino said. ''He's groggy, sleeping
 all day, and then up until five in the morning. I'd say he was
doubtful. We thought he might be able to practice, but he couldn't.''

 Barros sprained his right ankle in Saturday's win at Philadelphia.
 He is listed as day to day. Rogers remains on the injured list.

One of the real bright spots in the win over Philadelphia was the
 play of Greg Minor. Taking advantage of the injuries to Bowen
and Mercer, both of whom are ahead of him on the depth chart,
 Minor scored 12 points in his first sustained action of the season.
 ''It was real nice to see,'' Pitino said. ''I kept telling Greg that
the
 way we play, we're going to go with 10 or 11 guys on a lot of
 nights, so it's important to be ready. You can move up or down
  just like that.'' ...

 The Celtics hit the road for games tomorrow night
 (Toronto) and Wednesday (New Jersey.) They have an excellent
 shot at  both, especially given Toronto's terrible start and the
 unrelenting Nets'  injuries. However, they also may have to go up
 against Keith Van Horn, who still hasn't played a game this season
 ... Pitino said he wasn't surprised  that Tyus Edney played well
 Saturday. ''He plays very well against Iverson,''  the coach said.
 Hmm. Edney played 15 minutes against the 76ers last
 season. It must have been an Andy Warhol special. Howeer,
 maybe it was the presence of Edney, for Iverson shot horribly
 (9 for 30) against the Kings last year and averaged 16 points a game,
 well below his  23.5 average.

 This story ran on page C04 of the Boston Globe on 11/17/97.
                  © Copyright 1997 Globe Newspaper Company.

Steve  Huffman