Doc confirms Hollins to Celtics

Share

MILWAUKEEBoston Celtics coach Doc Rivers has confirmed that the team has reached an agreement with Ryan Hollins.

Rivers added that he's hopeful that the 7-foot center will be in uniform on Friday when the C's face Atlantic Division rival Philadelphia.

"He has to go through physicalsso we have our fingers crossed the way physicals have gone," Rivers said.

The physicals would be performed Friday morning, and Hollins would join up with the team before the Sixers game.

In terms of what impact (if any) Hollins will make on the C's, Rivers said it's too soon to tell.

"He's an athletic big; he can run the floor," Rivers said. "A shot-blocker from the weak side. He does defend well; in the schemes that we run, I think he can show and get back in coverage."

However, Hollins' 2.3 rebounds per game career average has to improve significantly if he is to help the already depleted Celtics' frontcourt that will be without Chris Wilcox (heart condition) and Jermaine O'Neal (wrist) for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season.

"We'll really stress rebounding with him," Rivers said. "But he's just another body that we needed. So we'll take him."

Both Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett played with Hollins during the extended offseason because of the lockout, and have been encouraging the C's to pursue him well before he became available after the Cavaliers waived him on Tuesday.

"They've been talking about him for a while," Rivers said. "But listen. He didn't play in Cleveland for a reason. And I don't know what that reason is. We're just hoping he can help us. And I think he can."

Rivers added, "sometimes it just takes one team to fit; hopefully it's us."

Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations, is also hopeful that Hollins can eventually become a contributor off the bench.

"I think he would fit in well with what we do," Ainge told CSNNE.com in a phone interview on Thursday.

Contact Us