NBA -- Celtics Begin Unusual Camp -- They Remember Lewis, Look To Future With Earl

WALTHAM, Mass. - The Boston Celtics gathered in the same building where Reggie Lewis suffered his fatal collapse. They spoke of their fallen leader. They also joked around like any bunch of young athletes.

The Celtics have gotten over the initial grief of Lewis' death. Now they begin the struggle to recover from his absence on the court.

They opened an unusual training camp yesterday. Their 14-season streak of making the playoffs is in jeopardy. Larry Bird retired after the 1991-92 season. Kevin McHale retired after last season. Lewis died July 27.

Robert Parish is their only player who was on the last Celtics championship team in 1986.

"There are expectations," the 40-year-old Parish said. "They're just not championship expectations."

Lewis, 27, died of cardiac arrest after being stricken while shooting baskets at the Celtics' Brandeis University practice facility. His death deprived them of their best player and foundation of the future. But they haven't abandoned hope of a decent season.

The Celtics signed center Acie Earl, the 19th pick in this year's NBA draft, to a five-year, $5.5 million contract.

NOTES

-- The New Jersey Nets will retire the number of the late Drazen Petrovic before their Nov. 11 home opener against Indiana. Nets spokesman John Mertz said in addition to retiring Petrovic's No. 3, the Nets will wear black stripes across their uniform shoulder strap. Petrovic died last June in a car crash in Germany.

-- Shawn Bradley butted heads with Moses Malone and banged knees with Clarence Weatherspoon. The result was a tired, limping, 7-foot-6 rookie. "I was happy with what that kid did," 76ers Coach Fred Carter said. "This is like a whole new world to him."

-- Milwaukee opened camp and showed off new uniforms which mix green - the team's long-time color - with purple. The Bucks also have a new logo this year. Getting a look in camp is 7-6, 265-pound center Greg Ritter. "In the Los Angeles summer league he had about four or fives games where he blocked 10 shots in a game," Coach Mike Dunleavy said.

-- Miami signed free-agent guard Jeff Martin, who played 32 games last year for Zaragoza in the Spanish league and averaged 17 points. Martin was drafted out of Murray State in 1989 by the Clippers and played two seasons before being traded to the Detroit Pistons in August 1991.

-- The Indiana Pacers signed guard Ledell Eackles. He last played for the Rapid City Thrillers in the CBA. Earlier, he spent four seasons in the NBA with the Washington Bullets.