Wasn't he too quiet, too reserved? Was he really sure he wanted to be an NBA head coach? Hadn't he simply found his comfort zone in seven seasons as an assistant with the 76ers? Maurice Cheeks was surrounded by questions about coaching the way he once was surrounded by stars as the Sixers' point guard for 11 seasons. He had the answers then, and - in his head-coaching debut with the Portland Trail Blazers - he has them now.

Witness a 31-24 record, including 18 victories in the last 24 games. Witness his resolute willingness to confront problems, to establish his modus operandi, to establish who is directing the team.

"I think his personality as a player was misperceived,'' said Blazers assistant Jim Lynam, a former head coach, assistant and general manager with the Sixers, tonight's opponents. "Yes, he was quiet, but he directed all those Sixers shows as the proverbial coach on the floor.

"The moment now that he steps in the gym, there's a 180-degree difference from that. To borrow an expression, it might still say 'Cheeks' on his jersey, but that's where the resemblance ends.''

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Portland Trail Blazers, Philadelphia 76ers

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