Beard's task is a tough one

The Journal Sentinel staff

It's something short of a miracle that Butch Beard even has the New Jersey Nets within reach of the playoffs.

Beard, in his first year as the head coach for the Nets, has had to deal with irascible Derrick Coleman and a host of injuries that have decimated the roster.

After losing to the Bucks, 107-92, on Friday at the Bradley Center before 18,633 fans, the Nets find themselves four games behind the Boston Celtics for the final Eastern Conference playoff berth with eight games to play. Three teams, including the Bucks, stand between Boston and the Nets in the playoff race.

"It would be a big achievement to get into the playoffs," said Beard, who had stints with five teams in a nine-season National Basketball Association playing career. "There is hope, but this makes it very tough."

The game against the Bucks was close to a must-win situation. The Bucks jumped out to a 15-4 lead to take control early.

"We just didn't start like there was a degree of urgency," Beard said. "That's why it was really an uphill climb from there."

The Nets' Armon Gilliam said, "We didn't play with a Leg 1 ends here sense of desperation. We just have to come out and take care of business and see where that leads."

The Nets' roster looks like a collection of free agents and former stars who have seen better days.

Rex Walters and P.J. Brown log considerable playing time. Rick Mahorn and Eric "Sleepy" Floyd have limited roles on this team.

Coleman didn't make the trip and missed his third straight game with a sprained left wrist.

Chris Morris, a forward, is on the injured list with a strained hamstring. Kevin Edwards, a guard, is out with a tear of his left Achilles' tendon. Yinka Dare, a center, had surgery on both knees on Feb. 2.

It's not the situation Beard had in mind when he decided to leave Howard University after serving four years as its head coach and guiding the Bison to the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament in his first season.

Making the playoff drive without Coleman figures to be difficult.

"We have to use who we have," said Gilliam, who scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds. "The guys that we have here are going to have to do it."

With Coleman and Morris Leg 2 ends here down, Kenny Anderson is the lone marquee player on the court for the Nets.

Anderson had a difficult time shooting the ball but had a lot of success driving to the basket against the Bucks' guards.

Anderson, who made 5 of 17 shots, finished with 10 points and 13 assists.

To make matters worse for the Nets, Anderson went to the bench with a back injury in the fourth quarter. "I aggravated something," Anderson said. "I knew it was acting up. I just tried to push it."

Anderson isn't sure if he can lead this collection of Nets to the playoffs.

"We have to put forth the effort and whatever happens, happens," Anderson said. "Our schedule is not too difficult. If we go out and put forth the effort, you never know."

The Nets finish the regular season this way: at home against Miami, at Charlotte, at Philadelphia, at home against Philadelphia, at Boston and at home against Atlanta, Washington and Boston.

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