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Derrick Coleman ran, and ran, and ran some more. Certainly, his elapsed times chugging up and down the basketball court wouldn't make anyone think of Carl Lewis or Maurice Greene.
But Coleman isn't trying out for the Olympics. After sitting out nearly two
weeks of the preseason with a strained groin, the 76ers' 36-year-old veteran
is working to get himself in shape for the start of the NBA regular season in
less than two weeks.
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Coleman participated yesterday in a full practice - from opening whistle to final whistle - for the first time in the preseason at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. His next step, after today's practice, will likely be his first game appearance of the preseason, tomorrow night against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City. Ticketmaster
"I feel pretty good," Coleman said. "The main thing right now
is just conditioning more than anything. So I tried not to come out of practice
at all, tried to play the whole practice."
While it was obvious the 6-foot-10, 270-pound Coleman isn't in game shape yet,
coach Randy Ayers liked what he saw.
"It's great," Ayers said. "We're doing a lot more up and down
[the court] for him to get him going. Then we'll probably back it off after
games and do a lot of half-court stuff. But right now, we're trying to get Derrick
up and down the court.
"He's been great. He's running a lot better than he did at this point last
year."
Conditioning isn't the only area on which Coleman is working. There is also
the development of chemistry, plus the adjustment to new teammates, especially
Glenn Robinson and Marc Jackson.
Coleman is excited about the additions. In Robinson, the Sixers have a catch-and-shoot
player who can draw double teams - as Allen Iverson does - and open up the floor
for someone like Coleman. Jackson is a physical inside presence who occasionally
will team with Coleman to provide toughness on the boards. Ticketmaster
Coleman and Jackson have looked good on the floor together. A bigger adjustment
for Coleman will be with Robinson.
"The main thing right now is playing with Glenn, making passes to him,"
he said. "He's not accustomed to playing [with me]. I threw the ball away
a few times trying to make post feeds to him. With the other [veterans], I'm
used to playing with them. I know where they like the basketball."
In a Coleman-Jackson inside tandem, who plays center and who plays power forward
is immaterial.
"At this stage, it really doesn't matter," Coleman said. "I think
the main thing is to develop some type of chemistry... more than anything."
The next step is playing a game with teammates. Coleman, who expects to participate
in the Sixers' final four preseason games, said the purpose will be "just
to run up and down and get familiar with my teammates.
"Not too many people play hard in preseason," he said. "Guys
are out there and they're playing, but they're not playing all-out. I think
people really use that as conditioning as well.
"I think any opportunity that we get [to play] is good for us. It's good
for us to do it in practice, and when we're out there in the game, just try
to execute and do some things."
Notes. Iverson did not go the entire practice because of a lower back strain.
Forward Kenny Thomas, sidelined with a right flank contusion, also has tendinitis
in his right Achilles tendon. Guard Greg Buckner (hamstring) and forward Monty
Williams (knee) also sat out.