ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, May 29, 1996 TAG: 9605290070
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C.
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Enthusiasm and gusto are what Dave Cowens will be looking for when he takes over as the Charlotte Hornets' coach.
``We will play with a lot of enthusiasm, because that's what the fans come to see,'' Cowens said Tuesday from his home in Texas home before boarding a jet for Charlotte.
``Obviously, you can't win them all. But you can play with gusto.''
When the Hornets introduce their fourth head coach at a news conference today, there is nothing to indicate the struggling NBA team's new leader will be anyone but Cowens.
The former Boston Celtics star confirmed negotiations with Charlotte were completed.
``Everything looks real good,'' he said.
Cowens will succeed former Virginia Tech star Allan Bristow, who won more games than he lost in five seasons with the Hornets, but failed to lead the club to the upper echelon of the NBA.
Cowens, 47, a former league MVP and a key member of championship teams in his 10 seasons with the Boston Celtics, had a reputation as an overachiever during his playing career.
``I had a good time when I played and I tried to play hard,'' he said. ``Most of the guys I played with did the same thing. I expect my players to give a good effort and have a good attitude.''
Competing against centers who were much taller, Cowens, who stands 6-foot-9, played in six NBA All-Star games. Following his retirement, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Asked if the 1996-97 Hornets will be tougher, he said: ``I think they'll be tougher from a defensive standpoint. You have to play smart and intense, with no nonsense.
``When you look at the teams still playing for the NBA championship, you can see they are the best defensive teams,'' Cowens said.
An assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs since 1994, Cowens was player-coach of the Celtics during part of the 1978-79 season, going 27-41. He was one of only two people to interview for the Hornets' vacancy. The other was former Celtics coach Chris Ford.
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Cowens (headshot). color. KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLby CNB