Pierce's spin on new coach: Hire a DJ

SAN ANTONIO -- Paul Pierce plans to give former Celtic and onetime NBA head coach Dennis Johnson a call. The two know each other from summertime workouts at Southwest College in Los Angeles. With the end of the regular season fast approaching, Pierce figured he would see how Johnson is doing. He also wants to gauge Johnson's interest in becoming the next Celtics coach.

"I like DJ," said Pierce. "I've worked out with the Clippers. I like him as a person. I don't really know him [as a coach]. But I think being a former Celtic and having some coaching experience, he'd be a guy people could definitely respect. I have a lot of respect for DJ. He's the front-runner right now for me."

Other candidates who have been mentioned for the head coaching job many believe will be vacant once John Carroll finishes his run as interim coach include Paul Westphal and Lionel Hollins. But if they don't fit the vision of director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, Pierce came up with a couple of other playful ideas.

"I'd like to see us go back to the old days and let me be player-coach, like Bill Russell," said Pierce. "I'm comfortable with me."

He also mentioned another coach with NBA experience: George Karl. Don't forget, Pierce criticized Karl after competing in the 2002 World Championships in Indianapolis. Karl coached the US entry to a sixth-place finish.

Upon further reflection, Pierce said of that candidate, "Hell, no."

"John Carroll is doing a great job," said Ainge. "Paul is really passionate about the Celtics. But I don't think there should be any discussion about players for next year or coaches for next year in the middle of a playoff race."

Guess who The Celtics seem to have poor timing in Texas. This trip to San Antonio is no exception. On Thursday, the Spurs welcomed back reigning MVP Tim Duncan for their game against the Timberwolves. After missing nine of the previous 10 games with an irritation of his left knee joint, Duncan came off the bench for a 27-minute stint. It was the first time in Duncan's 507-game NBA career that he was used as a reserve. Given how well the knee responded Friday, Popovich reinserted Duncan into the starting lineup last night at the SBC Center and it paid off again. Duncan had 26 points and 15 rebounds in the Spurs' 103-87 victory. "We knew we were going to play him limited minutes [against Minnesota] and, if we started him, we weren't going to have him for the time we needed him in the fourth quarter," said Popovich. "We communicate with him and the trainer all the time, just to see if he's feeling anything in that knee. He didn't feel anything so that's really good." . . . Poor Timing, Part II. Pierce has a theory for the Celtics' poor showings in Texas, which continued with a loss in Dallas Friday night. (The Celtics have lost 13 straight games in San Antonio.) "Every time we come on this trip, it's like our fourth game in the fifth night," said Pierce. "At least this time, we haven't played a lot of games this week. We had a few days off this week. Usually, you see this trip right after the All-Star break after playing like three or four games already."

Hyberbolic Heinsohn In his capacity as a broadcaster for Fox Sports New England, Tommy Heinsohn is not known for restraint, be it in praising the Celtics or criticizing referees. So it should have come as little surprise that he said Pierce will go down as the best offensive player in Celtics history. When Pierce scored his 10,000th career point faster than any other player in team history (March 12 against Indiana), Heinsohn said, "When it's all said and done, Paul Pierce may very well be Boston's best offensive player of all time." Pierce accomplished the feat in 431 career cames, surpassing Larry Bird, who scored his 10,000th point in his 436th game. Pierce, though. was surprised by Heinsohn's statement. "That's a hell of a comment to make with all the great players that played for the franchise," said Pierce. "All the top 50 guys, guys that are in the Hall of Fame. For me to be part of history, if he feels that way, that's a heck of a compliment. I measure greatness by how many championships you get. All the greatest players have been able to win a championship. Until I get to that level, I'll just be one of the good Celtics."

Good, bad, and better Raef LaFrentz, on the rehabilitation of his right knee: "There are good days and bad days. The same report. I'm getting stronger, but I better be. I better be doing something right." . . . Although Pierce claims he has had a rebounding slump, he has recorded 18 double-doubles this season. He is one shy of the career-high 19 he had last season. "I went through a bad period where I wasn't rebounding the ball because I had certain injuries that were bothering me," said Pierce, who had 18 points but only three rebounds last night. "My hip was bothering me. My back was bothering me for a few weeks and I was putting up two or three rebounds per game. But I think I've always been a strong rebounder, but it was down a little bit because of minor injuries." . . . Carroll met with mentor and San Antonio assistant P.J. Carlesimo over lunch yesterday. "I was probably spending as much energy thinking about our friendship as I was thinking about who he has on his team," said Carroll. "I consider him to be more of a big brother than a friend." Carlesimo introduced Carroll to big-time college basketball, bringing Carroll to Seton Hall. Then, Carlesimo took Carroll to the NBA, installing him as a scout with the Trail Blazers . . . More positive campaigning for Mark Blount as Most Improved Player. He has nine double-doubles in the last 14 games. In March, only two players have more rebounds than Blount (112) -- Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett.