WILL BIRD SOAR AS A COACH, TOO?

Byline: Scott Soshnick Bloomberg News

Larry Bird never shied away from a challenge during his 12-year career with the Boston Celtics.

The French Lick, Indiana, native now faces perhaps the most formidable test of his basketball life: making the transformation from superstar player to successful coach. Many who knew Bird the player said he and the Indiana Pacers likely will be able to accomplish what longtime rival Magic Johnson couldn't.

``If anyone can do it, it's Larry,'' said legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who led Boston to nine world championships, including eight straight from 1958-1966. ``He was like a coach when he played.''

From 1980 through 1992, few did it better than Bird, whose picture-perfect jump shot, unsurpassed will to win and ability to make those around him better put him on the NBA's list of its 50 greatest players.

Beside his personal accolades, which include 13 All-Star selections and three NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, Bird led the Celtics to world championships in 1981, 1984 and 1986.

Though Bird the player expected nothing short of greatness from himself, Bird the coach said he won't hold his players to the same standard.

It wouldn't be fair, said former Celtics coach Chris Ford, now with the Milwaukee Bucks. ``He's a very determined man and he knows what it takes to succeed in the NBA,'' Ford said. ``I think Larry will do very well.''

As a player, Bird was doing just fine until 1992, when persistent back pain forced his retirement.

He remained close to basketball as a special assistant with the Celtics, whose epic battles with the Johnson-led Lakers of the 1980s started the NBA's boom in popularity.

Like Bird, Johnson once tried his hand at coaching, although it was a short-lived attempt. He coached the Lakers for the final 16 games of the 1993-94 season, posting a 5-11 record and discovering that he couldn't cope with today's ego-driven athletes.

Until now, Johnson was perhaps the best-known superstar-turned-coach, although he isn't the only one.

Celtics legend Dave Cowens knows what it's like to coach players less talented than himself. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981, Cowens is entering his second season as head coach of the Charlotte Hornets.

He said there's no correlation between a player's talent and his ability to coach.

``You could have been a mediocre player or a good player or a great player or an average player,'' said Cowens, whose Hornets went 54-28 last season. ``It really doesn't matter.''

Bird is coming to a team that has been successful in recent years under former coach Larry Brown. He led the team to a 190-138 record the past four seasons.

Brown, in his first season as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, said his former players are in good hands.

``Anybody that has had the success that Larry had as a player and knows the game the way he knows it is going to command respect instantly,'' said Brown, who led the Pacers to the Eastern Conference finals in 1993-94 and 1994-95. ``I think he will have a great run because he deserves to coach and I am sure he will be a terrific one.''

While most NBA coaches said Bird likely will succeed as a coach, some aren't so sure.

Bernie Bickerstaff of the Washington Wizards said Bird, one of the most fundamentally sound players in league history, might get frustrated when his players don't perform up to his expectations.

``He doesn't have Larry playing for him and I think that's a biggie,'' Bickerstaff said. ``Patience is the one thing that will be very trying because not too many people can do things they way Larry Bird can.''

While Bird certainly was an exception, the Pacers have a number of experienced, talented players.

The team's starting five of Chris Mullin, Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, Rik Smits and Dale Davis have a combined 47 years in the league.

The Pacers last season slipped to 39-43, largely in part to an injury to Smits and the lack of a consistent scoring complement to Miller, perhaps the best long-range shooter in the NBA.

The team tried to help Miller by acquiring Mullin, a 12-year veteran with a career scoring average of 20.5 points, in an offseason trade with the Golden State Warriors.

Brown said the addition of the 34-year-old Mullin, who teamed with Bird on the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team, could transform the Pacers into a team to reckon with.

``It was an unbelievable pickup,'' Brown said. ``Adding Mullin is going to take the pressure off the two offensive players that need pressure taken off them.''

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PHOTO It's natural to wonder if Larry Bird will expect the players he coaches to perform at his level of excellence.

Associated Press