SIX DEGREES OF BILL FITCH WHEN A GUY HAS COACHED FIVE TEAMS IN 25 NBA SEASONS, HE MAKES CONNECTIONS. SURE ENOUGH, THE CLIPPERS' BILL FITCH CAN BE LINKED WITH ALL 28 OF HIS COACHING RIVALS. TO SEE HOW, TURN THE PAGE

DANNY AINGE, Suns: played for Fitch with Celtics

DEL HARRIS, Lakers: coached Rudy Tomjanovich (Rockets), who
coached under Fitch with Rockets

RUDY TOMJANOVICH, Rockets: coached under Fitch with Rockets

P.J. CARLESIMO, Warriors: coached Chris Dudley (Trail Blazers),
who played for Fitch with Nets

Chris Dudley

JOHN CALIPARI, Nets: coached Tony Massenburg (Nets), who
played for Fitch with Clippers

RICK PITINO, Celtics: coached Tony Massenburg, who played for
Fitch with Clippers

Tony Massenburg

JERRY SLOAN, Jazz: played with Bailey Howell (Bullets), who
played with Don Nelson (Celtics), who played with Dave Cowens
(Celtics), who played for Fitch with Celtics

Bailey Howell

EDDIE JORDAN, Kings: coached with Garry St. Jean (Kings), who
coached with Don Nelson (Warriors), who played with Dave Cowens
(Celtics), who played for Fitch with Celtics

Garry St. Jean

GREGG POPOVICH, Spurs: coached under Don Nelson (Warriors), who
played with Dave Cowens (Celtics), who played for Fitch with
Celtics

Don Nelson

PAT RILEY, Heat: coached with Jeff Van Gundy (Knicks), who
coaches with Don Chaney, who played with Dave Cowens (Celtics),
who played for Fitch with Celtics

JEFF VAN GUNDY, Knicks: coaches with Don Chaney, who played with
Dave Cowens (Celtics), who played for Fitch with Celtics

Don Chaney

MIKE FRATELLO, Cavaliers: coached Bobby Phills (Cavaliers), who
plays for Dave Cowens, who played for Fitch with Celtics

Bobby Phills

DAVE COWENS, Hornets: Played for Fitch with Celtics

JIM CLEAMONS, Mavericks: coached under Phil Jackson (Bulls), who
played for Fitch in college at North Dakota

DARRELL WALKER, Raptors: played for Phil Jackson (Bulls), who
played for Fitch in college at North Dakota

DOUG COLLINS, Pistons: Coached with Phil Jackson (Bulls), who
played for Fitch in college at North Dakota

PHIL JACKSON, Bulls: played for Fitch in college at North Dakota

BILL HANZLIK, Nuggets: coached under Allan Bristow (Hornets),
who played for Dick Motta (Mavericks), who coached with Bernie
Bickerstaff (Bullets), who coached under K.C. Jones (Bullets),
who coached under Fitch with Celtics

Allan Bristow

Dick Motta

BERNIE BICKERSTAFF, Wizards: coached under K.C. Jones (Bullets),
who coached under Fitch with Celtics

K.C. Jones

CHUCK DALY, Magic: coached Derrick Coleman (Nets), who played
for Fitch with Nets

LARRY BROWN, 76ers: coaches Derrick Coleman, who played for
Fitch with Nets

Derrick Coleman

LARRY BIRD, Pacers: played for Fitch with Celtics

BRIAN HILL, Grizzlies: coached Brian Shaw (Magic), who played
for Chris Ford (Celtics), who played for Fitch with Celtics

Brian Shaw

MIKE DUNLEAVY, Trail Blazers: coached Vin Baker (Bucks), who
played for Chris Ford (Bucks), who played for Fitch with Celtics

GEORGE KARL, Sonics: coaches Vin Baker, who played for Chris
Ford (Bucks), who played for Fitch with Celtics

Vin Baker

CHRIS FORD, Bucks: played for Fitch with Celtics

FLIP SAUNDERS, Timberwolves: hired by vice president of
basketball operations Kevin McHale, who played for Fitch with
Celtics

Kevin McHale

LENNY WILKENS, Hawks: played for Fitch with Cavaliers

GATEFOLD COLOR ILLUSTRATION [Colored lines connecting photographs of various NBA coaches and players to photograph of Bill Fitch's head]

FORTY-THREE COLOR PHOTOS: PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (20); ROCKY WIDNER (5); DAVID LIAM KYLE (4); JOHN BIEVER (3);DAVID E. KLUTHO (2); BILL POLO (2); DAMIAN STROHMEYER (2); JIM GUND; HEINZ KLUETMEIER; MANNY MILLAN; BOB ROSATO; CHUCK SOLOMON [Bill Fitch; P.J. Carlesimo; John Calipari; Gregg Popovich; Pat Riley; Jeff Van Gundy; Danny Ainge; Jerry Sloan; Eddie Jordan; Garry St. Jean; Don Chaney; Del Harris; Chris Dudley; Bailey Howell; Don Nelson; Mike Fratello; Rudy Tomjanovich; Tony Massenburg; Rick Pitino; Bobby Phills; Dave Cowens; Bill Fitch; Darrell Walker; Larry Bird; Derrick Coleman; Kevin McHale; Flip Saunders; Phil Jackson; Chuck Daly; Chris Ford; Vin Baker; Lenny Wilkens; Jim Cleamons; K.C. Jones; Larry Brown; Brian Shaw; George Karl; Bernie Bickerstaff; Brian Hill; Mike Dunleavy; Doug Collins; Dick Motta; Allan Bristow; Bill Hanzlik]