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Saturday, November 18, 2000
Hornets put Coleman on injured list
Associated Press
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Derrick Coleman, who missed the entire
preseason because of an irregular heartbeat, was placed on the
injured list Saturday so he can improve his conditioning.
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The move comes after Charlotte Hornets coach Paul Silas
complained about the power forward's weight.
"He doesn't have lift on his shot and he can't move as well on
defense," Silas said. "He can't run up and down like you
would like and you're more susceptible to injuries when you're like
that."
Coleman missed all of the preseason and the first four games of
the season while he adjusted to new medication to treat his
irregular heartbeat. While on the medicine he was prohibited from
contact work.
But Silas said Coleman was allowed to run on a treadmill and
participate in shooting drills. At issue is how much of that
Coleman did.
"It's not like I was just sitting around not doing anything,"
Coleman said.
But Silas contends Coleman would not weigh as much as he does if
he were really working out. He is 6-foot-10 and listed at 260
pounds in the team's media guide, but the club has not disclosed
his actual weight.
"He knows he's got to get (his weight) down and there's only
one way to do that -- you've got to get on the treadmill and run 45
minutes every day and then it will come down," Silas said.
"You've got to do that to get rid of those calories. It's not
going to come overnight."
Since being cleared to play Nov. 6, Coleman has appeared in six
games, averaging 8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds in 24 minutes. He was
scoreless in 15 minutes against Miami, the night Silas complained
about his physical shape.
"A player that is not in good physical condition is at a
greater risk of serious injury," Silas said Saturday. "I demand
that all our players be properly conditioned to perform at their
highest level on the court."
The Hornets filled Coleman's roster spot by activating rookie
forward Terrence Roberson, who was on the injured list because of
tendinitis in his right knee.
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