Around The Rim

Look for Houston coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who stuck with the U.S. team for the world championships last summer even though the locked-out pros bailed, to be named this week U.S. Olympic coach for the 2000 Games in Sydney....

Guess what Pacers rookie Al Harrington, who was drafted out of high school, did when teammates demanded that all newcomers sing their college alma mater's fight song: He belted out the Barney theme song....

Opposing coaches impressed with the Sixers' fast start are crediting Larry Brown with a subtle move that is paying off in wins: He's having Eric Snow bring the ball up more often, which enables Allen Iverson to set up in the corner, where he's in prime position to catch and shoot or to wreak havoc by going baseline....

Pistons center Bison Dele has ticked off teammates by giving what they consider a less than total effort in practice. Maybe that's why backup center Eric Montross, who was on the trading block in the preseason, is no longer being shopped....

Donyell Marshall, who seemed to have pulled his career out of the garbage disposal last year, is chafing about all the bench time he's getting and plans to ask Golden State for a trade. Cleveland coach Mike Fratello is willing to look into a Marshall for Bobby Sura swap, but sources say Cavs president Wayne Embry has vowed to nix any trade involving Marshall....

Said Celtics center Dwayne Schintzius after breaking his nose for the second time in three weeks, "I just can't get a break."