ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 22, 1996 TAG: 9601230014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C.
SOURCE: Associated Press
THE FORMER HOKIE is filling emergency point guard duties for the Hornets and he's not at all pleased about it.
Dell Curry sat in front of his locker stall in the Charlotte Hornets' dressing room, staring at the floor and shaking his head.
``I'm not a point guard,'' the former Virginia Tech All-American said. ``I'm a two-, three-, four-dribble guy and throw it up. It takes too much out of me. That's why I don't like point guard.''
Like it or not, the fact is Curry must get used to it, at least temporarily, because within 24 hours, the Hornets went from two healthy point guards to none.
On Friday, Charlotte acquired Kenny Anderson from the New Jersey Nets in a four-player trade. The Hornets were optimistic that Anderson would be their answer at the point, where injuries have limited the productivity of Muggsy Bogues and Michael Adams.
A smiling Anderson arrived in Charlotte on Saturday, put on his new uniform, held a news conference and went to work. There was no time to waste; Anderson was to start against Golden State.
Anderson's new teammates had given him a quick primer on how to run the team when word came that the Nets wanted to run more tests on Khalid Reeves, one of the players they acquired in the deal. Reeves sprained his left ankle on Dec.11, and New Jersey wants to make sure there's no significant damage.
Until those tests are completed, probably Tuesday, the four players involved in the deal are in limbo.
``They can't do anything,'' Charlotte coach Allan Bristow said. ``We can't risk getting them hurt.''
So Anderson and Gerald Glass, the other player acquired from the Nets, took off their uniforms and watched in street clothes as Golden State defeated the Hornets 110-102.
Bogues, still recovering from off-season knee surgery, also watched in street clothes as Adams pulled up lame with a groin injury. The seriousness of the injury is not yet known. Adams will be examined today.
Without Adams and Anderson, the bulk of the point guard duties fall on Curry, who had 23 points, five assists and no turnovers against the Warriors. He got occasional help at the point from fellow shooting guard Glen Rice, and even occasionally from forwards Larry Johnson and Darrin Hancock. But it's not a perfect scenario.
``We've just got to get true point guards,'' Curry said.
The Hornets also are without their best defender, small forward Scott Burrell, sidelined with a dislocated shoulder.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Curry.by CNB