Pistons coach resting after hip surgery

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Nov 4, 2004 | by Associated Press

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Pistons coach Larry Brown had surgery on his left hip Wednesday and is expected to be away from the team for seven to 10 days.

Assistant coach Gar Heard will run the NBA champions during Brown's absence. Heard coached the Dallas Mavericks in 1993 and the Washington Wizards in 2000. The 64-year-old Brown could return in time for Detroit's home game against Minnesota on Nov. 17.

"I talked to the doctors in the operating room, and they told me that seven to 10 days is a conservative estimate," Pistons president Joe Dumars said. "It all depends on how Larry is feeling, but that's what we are looking at."

Brown had his hip replaced 15 years ago, and this latest operation was the result of wear on the artificial joint. It had recently caused him severe pain, the team said.

Heard ran practice Wednesday, a day after the NBA champions opened their season with an 87-79 win over the Houston Rockets.

Brown's players were more concerned about his health than his absence.

"He's not just our coach, he's our friend, so we are worried about him," Rasheed Wallace said. "We know what to do on the floor. Our general is down, but the soldiers are going to keep fighting."

MCDYESS FINED FOR KICKING BALL: Detroit forward Antonio McDyess was fined $5,000 by the NBA on Wednesday, a day after being ejected for kicking a basketball into the stands during the Pistons' season- opening 87-79 win over Houston.

McDyess was called for a foul while going for a rebound with 5:51 left in the second quarter. As he walked downcourt, McDyess dropped the basketball, kicked it and was ejected. He had three points, one rebound and one steal in nine minutes against Houston.

The Pistons signed McDyess to a $23 million, four-year deal to replace Mehmet Okur, who signed a $50 million, six-year contract during the offseason with the Utah Jazz.

McDyess has averaged 16.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks during his career, but the former All-Star and Olympian has been plagued by injuries the past three years.

BUCKS SIGN GOLDWIRE: Free-agent guard Anthony Goldwire signed Wednesday with the Milwaukee Bucks after Mike James was placed on the injured list. James, who was expected to start at point guard, has a rib injury.

Goldwire, 6-foot-2, signed a 10-day contract with the Bucks in February but did not appear in a game. The 33-year-old guard also signed a 10-day contract with New Jersey and finished last season in the CBA. Goldwire was with Minnesota during this preseason.

The Bucks' roster was at 12 players for Wednesday night's opener against the Magic in Orlando.

SURGERY FOR LENARD: Denver shooting guard Voshon Lenard will have surgery Monday after tearing his Achilles' tendon in the Nuggets' season-opening loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Lenard injured his left leg late in the third quarter Tuesday night when he slipped while running back on defense. A timeline for his return will be set after surgery, though he's expected to miss the rest of the season.

"It's a tough one, obviously," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said Wednesday. "But Voshon's tough and you try to be optimistic about it."

CURRY PLANS TO KEEP OFFICE: Free agent Michael Curry is optimistic he'll be playing in the NBA this season and has no plans to step down as president of the players' union.

The 36-year-old forward, who appeared in 70 games for the Toronto Raptors last season, has been taking part in negotiations between the union and the league on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Players association bylaws state the union president must be an active player, but there is no language defining active.

"It's not an issue," said Curry, who replaced Patrick Ewing as president of the players' union in 2001. "I'm waiting for the right situation with the right team, and I'll let it take its course. I'm going to sign eventually, but I'm not eager to go to a bad team," Curry said Wednesday.