By Brian Wheeler
Trail Blazers Radio Play-By-Play Announcer
Courtesy of Rip City Magazine
This interview with coach Cheeks took place during the all-star break

Rip City Magazine: As we sit here at the All-Star break, what are your impressions of the first 48 games of the regular-season?

Cheeks: Obviously, we didn't start the season the way we wanted to. I actually think we were playing pretty good basketball then, we just weren't making plays at the end of games like we have lately. The thing that has really impressed me about the first half of the season is our ability to defend. We've played great defense and we've been able to win games on the road. Our ability to focus on the road is impressive. We also bounce back from losses very well, especially considering the way we started our season. We really have the ability to refocus and bounce back after tough situations.

Rip City: The resiliency of your team has been nothing short of amazing when you consider all the potential off-the-court distractions they had to deal with in the early part of the season. I thought you did a tremendous job of keeping them focused on the things they could control best, like winning games. But, was that difficult at times?

Cheeks: It absolutely was difficult. All the off-the-court stuff was tough. What I tried to do was talk about the troubles when we were in the locker room. When we were on the court we talked only basketball- rebounding, passing, shooting. The things that happened to us were in our control and that's what I always stressed to the guys. It's not like we were in the wrong place and the wrong time. We were the culprits. I had to make our guys accountable for their actions. I think that's one of the things they realized at the end of the day. The incidents that happened with Rasheed, Bonzi, Damon, and Ruben were things we were in control of. That was the thing that disappointed me the most. There are so many things that happen that are out of your control. You don't want to make things tough in the situations you actually control. That being said, when the things did happen we dealt with them and we moved on. We dealt with them as a team. They were things that affected all of us. I tried to make them all realize that. I think that's one of the reasons we were able to focus on the basketball court.

Rip City: This season Scottie Pippen has been fantastic. Some have said he is playing his best basketball since his glory days with the Bulls.

Cheeks: I don't even know how to describe Scottie's play this year. He has been phenomenal. Early in the season I talked about keeping his minutes down to 20 or 25 per game. That couldn't happen. The way he was playing I couldn't keep his minutes down. Scottie does so much. That's why he'll be in the Hall of Fame. The way he can defend now just amazes me. He's defending guys from small, quick point guards to bigger scoring guards and forwards. He challenges me to play him more minutes and he makes me play him more minutes.

Rip City: Pip is approaching many milestones as his career progresses, including the opportunity, in the not too distant future, to pass YOU for third place on the NBA's all-time steals list. And, he seems to be taking great pleasure in the fact that he'll be passing you up.

Cheeks: If I were passing my coach in something like that I'd take great pleasure in that too (laughing). Keep in mind though that he's played two years longer than I played. He's really enjoying the fact that he's going to pass me, but he's played in a lot more games than I did. He's just such a great competitor. I wish all the guys had the competitive spirit this guy has. I didn't think he'd catch me in the steals department. If he can't get it he'll probably start hacking guys and yelling at the refs. I'm going to be yelling at the refs to call fouls on him to keep him from getting the record. Seriously, I just love this guy and I've loved coaching him.

Rip City: Rasheed Wallace has been your leading scorer and rebounder nearly all season. And, the 7-game suspension aside, has been doing a good job at improving his relationship with the referees as evidenced by the rapid decline in his technical fouls. And, he is a player you can really count on.

Cheeks: I've got a group of great players, and great individuals. Obviously, Rasheed is our best player. He's our best player down low and our best player up top. He is a reluctant superstar. He is not a guy who likes to be singled out and who wants attention. That alone is probably the reason he doesn't score 25 points every night. He loves to get his teammates involved. At times I've tried to force feed him the ball, but he's not really that kind of player.

Rip City: With the Lakers struggling to not only defend their championship, but potentially just to make the playoffs, it seems everyone in the west has gained some additional confidence that this could be their year. Are you confident this Blazers' team is capable of being a serious contender when the playoffs get here?

Cheeks: I absolutely have confidence in our team. We just have to have a rhythm. When we are playing with a rhythm and a confidence that we can win we're tough to beat. Last year, for example, we were rolling pretty good until right at the end of the season when our confidence got shaken. Then, we run into the Lakers in the playoffs. This year we have a little better focus and a little more confidence. Of course, the long-term goal is to win a championship, but we have to take short strides.

Rip City: What are your hopes for the latter part of the regular-season in preparation for the playoffs?

Cheeks: We just have to stay our course. Our course involves taking short steps in hopes of getting in a position to win a championship. Sometimes we get out of step and out of rhythm because we get overconfident. We've got to stay hungry. With success you gain confidence. We know we can play through adversity. Our challenge is to get everyone healthy, play with a hunger, play with desire, and we'll have a chance to win a championship.

Rip City: I know you would like to get homecourt advantage for as many rounds of the playoffs as you can because the Blazer fans seem to turn things up a notch when the games become even more important.

Cheeks: If we can gain homecourt advantage for a round or two in the playoffs our chances will be much better. This is a great home floor, and our fans are fantastic. If we don't get the homecourt edge, we've got the ability to win on the road.

Rip City: I know you would like nothing better than to be leading that championship parade through downtown Portland in June. Who knows? Maybe this could be the year?

Cheeks: I would love it. This is a great city, and a championship would be great. The fans here are very deserving. And, they haven't had one since they beat my old team, Philadelphia. It would be a great honor to lead a championship parade through downtown Portland.