Tommy Heinsohn in Hall running [Boston Herald]

Feb. 16--HOUSTON -- Tom Heinsohn, already a member of the Hall of Fame as a player, admittedly was surprised by the news yesterday that the selection committee is considering him for a second induction, this time as a coach.

His Celtics teams won the 1974 and 1976 NBA titles. Over his nine-year coaching career, all with the Celtics, Heinsohn won 427 games -- second most in franchise history behind Red Auerbach. Doc Rivers recently became only the third Celtics coach to cross the 400-win barrier.

"I had no idea about this," said Heinsohn, who recalled his initially unenviable job.

He had to rebuild following the retirement of Bill Russell.

"As a guy schooled by Red in the fundamentals of up-tempo basketball -- and we talked about the importance of it for years -- I believed that was the only way to go," said Heinsohn, who, as Comcast SportsNet audiences know, extols that style to this day on Celtics telecasts. "The thing was that a lot of guys who played for Red went on to be coaches.

"But that's a surprise," said Heinsohn, who pointed out that there are a number of people who have made the Hall first as a player and then a coach, including former Celtic Bill Sharman and even John Wooden.

Satch Sanders, the 2011 inductee who was on hand for yesterday's announcement, had an interesting reaction to Heinsohn's nomination.

Sanders' first thought was of life insurance.

"Tommy sold me a policy in 1964, and I still have it," Sanders said. "He used to sell insurance to a lot of guys."

Players in the old days needed a backup plan, after all.

"I was in the life insurance business until I was 65," Heinsohn said. "I started that the summer before I joined the Celtics."

Heinsohn could conceivably make the Hall a third time as well, as a broadcaster. Referees everywhere would love that one.

The other 11 finalists announced yesterday were: Gary Payton, Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, Guy Lewis, Rick Pitino, Jerry Tarkanian, Maurice Cheeks, Spencer Haywood, Bernard King, Sylvia Hatchell and Dawn Staley.

Brazilian great Oscar Schmidt, former NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik, former ABA star Roger Brown, six-time All-Star Richard Guerin and Edwin Henderson, a black player from the early part of the 20th century were directly elected for induction.

Not so fast

Though much was made of Danny Ainge's comments about his continued interest in Delonte West as a possible replacement for Leandro Barbosa, a league source said yesterday that Celtics management has a lot of candidates to consider first.

West's behavioral issues, according to the source, remain a major concern in the wake of his October release by the Dallas Mavericks.

The Celtics are looking for players in all corners of the world, including China. That country's professional season is close to ending.

Odd query

Be it the NBA All-Star Game or the Super Bowl, there are always questions asked during media breakout sessions that gain immortality.

One honors candidate yesterday came from an Irish reporter, who asked the following of Cleveland rookie Tyler Zeller.

"It's been said that you're a taller, handsomer version of myself. What do you think?"

The reporter then asked Zeller for a shout-out to the one Cavaliers fan in Belfast.

KG is game

Considering that Michael Jordan turns 50 tomorrow, every All-Star has been asked for a Jordan memory.

Kevin Garnett was also asked to name the one event in which he could beat Jordan. The Celtics center didn't hesitate.

"Video games," he said. "I don't think he's a gamer." . . .

Asked about what he would have a difficult time giving up for Lent, Garnett paused a long time before finally saying, "I don't celebrate Lent."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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