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| LeBron, Cavs are championship material | |
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 Game Time: Cavaliers 99, Rockets 90This was an impressive win by the Cavaliers. How impressive?Enough to demonstrate several reasons why they have a terrific shot at winning the championship: If you have a question or comment for Charley Rosen, submit it below and Charley may just respond.Subject: Comment/Question: Name: |
The game has become more complicated since Russell played and coached the Celtics (1966-69). In Russell's first season in his dual role, there were 10 teams in the league — then 12 and then 14 in 1968-69. But these days, 30 teams means more time spent watching game tapes, more game preparations, and more traveling time. To ask a modern-day player-coach to get his between-game rest and also to fulfill all that his coaching duties require is out of the question, even with an experienced staff of assistants. Also, because of free agency, in-season buyouts and 10-day contracts, there's been a tremendous increase in the number of player personnel decisions that have to be made. Decisions that require even more time and effort by a coach. That's why the days of Russell, Bob Pettit, Richie Guerin, Buddy Jeannette, Freddie Scolari, Dick McGuire, Dave DeBusschere, Donnis Butcher, Terry Dischinger, Bob Cousy, Al Attles, Carl Braun, Grady Lewis, Ed Sadowski and Dick Fitzgerald simultaneously wearing two hats are long gone. Travels with CharleyJohn Starks has been idolized in New York for several reasons: His rags-to-riches story of graduating from being a bagger in a supermarket in Tulsa to the NBA.As a Knick, he often played exceedingly well against the league's weaker teams.And for his in-your-puss dramatic dunk that posterized His Airness.But I know him from the CBA: Where he routinely ate peanuts or popcorn while sitting on the bench.Where he was only interested in scoring to the extent that he'd dribble and fake for up to 20 seconds until he could create a shot — and when there was no shot to be found, he'd pass to a teammate who'd then have to throw the ball at the basket to avoid a shot-clock violation.So I was not at all surprised when he totally choked against Houston in the seventh game of the 1994 NBA finals, shooting 2-for-18, including 0-for-11 from beyond the arc. Losers eventually lose the big ones.
Author: Fox Sports
Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
Added: December 24, 2008
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