NBA Legends The NBA Playoffs: Where Legends Are Born The ultimate goal of an NBA team -- Destination Finals. The ultimate goal of the Destination Finals blog: Enjoy the journey, every step of the way and document it. Join us as NBA legends such as Clyde Drexler, Julius "The Doctor" Erving and George Gervin -- to name a few -- criss-cross the country and make appearances with that most coveted piece of NBA hardware: The Larry O'Brien Trophy. Recently, Dan Roundfield, Gail Goodrich, Spencer Haywood and Artis Gilmore went on a USO Tour of Kuwait and Iraq. See the pictures from the USO Tour.

Joaquin Henson :  Nov 26 Martin comes of age Dan Roundfield on USO Tour in Kuwait and Iraq Visiting Kuwait and Iraq on the USO Tour was a great experience. I met a lot of young people who I enjoyed talking to. Their spirit was upbeat. Everybody complained about the weather, but for me it was great because I like hot weather. There was a really good interaction between myself and the troops. We wanted to express our appreciation for what they did. They all thought people in the United States had forgotten them. But that is not the case. There were a lot of people over there that were from San Antonio. They were asking, "How is San Antonio doing? What do you think about their chances of winning?" There were a lot of people from Fort Hood which is near San Antonio. There were not as many people from Detroit as I thought there would be. There were a lot of people from Georgia and I got a chance to speak with them because I am from Georgia. There was a lot of good interaction between the players and the troops. I have [visited troops?] before in Sarajevo and Italy. I think this is my fourth trip overseas in an eight-nine year period. Back home, I am paying close attention to the Finals. The Spurs lost one game. They need to put that behind them and move forward. But I am from Detroit and I played for the Pistons, so I am kind of hoping Detroit wins. I think it is going to be a great series and I think it will go at least six games, maybe the full seven. I do not want to make a prediction, though. I just hope that it will be a really good series and good entertainment for everyone who watches it. Posted by NBA Legends - Jun 16 2005 1:08PM Gail Goodrich on USO Tour in Kuwait and Iraq From my perspective, the USO tour to Kuwait and Iraq was very knowledgeable. It was eye-opening in many respects to see what our young men and women are doing for the rest of the people in the United States. The conditions in which they are working are remarkable. To see the extent of what is necessary to fight a war and to defend our country is beyond comprehension unless you visit the bases, talk to the soldiers and really get a feel for what they are doing. It was just a real eye-opener. You can start with the temperature. It is 130 degrees on a daily basis during the summer. You look at these bases?these bases are all for support for all the activities going on in Iraq?and some of them have permanent structures and an airfield, but a good part of them are all tents. You look at how they are protecting the borders in Kuwait and the extent of the work that had to go into this. The concrete business has to be unbelievable over there. There are so many concrete barriers. They literally pick these bases and they are out in the middle of the desert. There is nothing there and they have built, in effect, a small city that on a permanent basis houses 20-25,000 people. Everything is brought in. Power comes from generators. The water, the ammo, the gasoline, all the equipment, everything is brought in. It is all trucked up to Baghdad. I think it is a two-day drive. The security is very tight. There are bunkers and towers with machine guns. Maybe you read about things like this, but when you see it, it really opens your eyes. All of America should be really proud of what these young men and women are doing. You think how fortunate you are that you do not have to live in these kinds of conditions. We met with some soldiers and took pictures, gave them autographs and chatted with them. They are going up to Iraq for a year the next morning. We are leaving to go home and they are going to the frontline. You really see how fortunate you are. Their attitude and morale is fantastic. They are a real team. They work together. They are very positive and upbeat. You say, "How can you be positive about fighting in a war? War is hell." But that is their job. They are doing it with a great deal of positive effort. They are well-trained and they are optimistic that they can get the job done. You talk to some of these people and it is remarkable. I chatted with two young women from Wisconsin. I asked them what they did. They said, "Well, we drive these huge equipment trucks. We drive them up to Baghdad." That is what they do. They have no fear and that is what they do and they enjoy it. Would they rather not fight this war? Yeah, probably, no one likes war. A lot of them are reserves. A lot of them have jobs at home. They are there for a year. The Air Force rotates every four months. But the Army is there for a year. We ate with them. We chatted with them. We also went right to the Iraqi border. There is a barbed-wire fence on the border between Kuwait and Iraq. It is probably eight-to-ten feet wide, eight-to-ten feet high, all barbed-wire. It goes the length of the country. There is a ditch, there, eight-to-ten feet deep, eight-to-ten feet wide in addition to the barbed wire for protection. You are out in the desert. There are dirt roads and a lot of dust. It is 130 degrees. One of the guys had a radar thermometer that he shot at the ground and it came back at 130 degrees. They are out there in shifts. I asked a guy who was manning the tower how long his shift was. He said it was for twelve hours. Everything is camouflaged. He had his machine gun pointed right where it should be pointed. I have never been in the military. I look back at what I did. We just played a game. We are so fortunate in the United States. This is not a game. The risk is raised dramatically. Overall the trip was a wonderful, wonderful experience and I am glad I got the chance to go over there and support our troops. Posted by NBA Legends - Jun 16 2005 12:17PM

Artis Gilmore on USO Tour Kuwait and Iraq The USO tour to Kuwait and Iraq was really great. They treated us superbly well. No question, the troops are excited about any little association with home. Specifically, they were really happy that the NBA legends were visiting with them. They spent some time with the Larry O'Brien Trophy and they enjoyed that. Kelly Clarkson was a huge hit, as well. She is an extraordinary young lady. She was very excited about being there. It was a truly good experience. We are really happy and proud of what the troops are doing and I tried to share that with them and let them know how much we support them. Many of the personnel that just got there are excited about the challenge. They know they have a difficult road ahead of them and they have prepared themselves, mentally, for it. Many others are excited about being rotated out and getting the chance to go back home and be with their families. They all take their responsibilities very seriously. They are committed and they believe in what they are doing. Because of the time difference and their work schedule, it is really hard for them to follow the NBA Finals. Whenever there is chance, though, they check the games out. They love the game and they are thoroughly enjoying the playoffs. Whenever the time permits, they take advantage. They are also able to record the games and watch them at a later time. In the Finals, I like the intensity Detroit showed in Game 3. I am, no question, a big Spurs fan, though. Hopefully they will take the championship. I am still very partial to San Antonio. Neither team will let down. The Spurs realize that they had an awful lot of turnovers at the end of the third quarter going into the fourth quarter. They understand now that you cannot beat the Pistons like that. Everybody has already crowned the Spurs as the champions, but the Pistons are still the defending champs and you have to take that away from them. Of course, the Spurs have an edge as they lead 2-1. Right now, it is a two-game series for the Spurs and it is a three-game series for the Pistons. I anticipate the Pistons bringing the same intensity. Ben Wallace was incredible in Game 3. He realized that his performance had been down. But he came out and scored the first five points for the Pistons. He was on. He had five blocked shots right away and plenty of rebounds. He also added 15 points, which was a tremendous compliment to his game. But I think the Spurs will come out and perform better in the next game. The team that takes control from the beginning has the advantage. The game has become very physical for San Antonio and they have to respond to the Pistons with their own show of physical strength. Every play that Parker came to the basket, he was slammed to the floor. Everybody was getting knocked around. Ginobili ran into Tayshaun Prince and he seemed a little hurt by that. They were saying that his injury was similar to the one Shaquille O'Neal had late in the season. Hopefully, this injury is not that serious and the Spurs will get back on track in Game 4. Posted by NBA Legends - Jun 15 2005 11:18PM

Spencer Haywood on USO Tour in Kuwait and Iraq Helping boost troop morale We were in Kuwait and Iraq on a USO tour for a whirlwind three days. The trip was super. We had a chance to go and visit all kinds of camps where all of the soldiers are and we boosted up their morale. I was just my usually clowning self and I had a ball. Danny Roundfield was there. Gail Goodrich was the master that he is. There is something about those UCLA guys. John Wooden really taught them well. Gail was such a class act. Artis Gilmore is a class act, too. As tall as he is, his heart is twice as big. He is a wonderful gentleman. We also had a wonderful time with Kelly Clarkson who just put her heart on the line for the soldiers. She did it all. I was very impressed with her. A lot of the soldiers are in pain, though. Many of them had just been informed that their tour of duty in the Middle East was going to be longer than they originally thought and they cannot come how now. That hurts a lot of people. They were all ready to leave, they did their duty, they survived, they were not shot or wounded, but they cannot go home. That is the pain that I felt. We did our best to make them feel better, though. So, I talked to the soldiers at length. We talked about personal things and what they feel about what they are doing. Soldiers are there and they are doing their duties. Of course, their hearts are back at home in America and they want to be with their families. Sometimes when we send our soldiers away, we have to be very, very careful that we take care of their families while they are away. A lot of the soldiers' families are on welfare and food stamps. It is a pain for them to see their families like this and without the health care that they need. But we also brought some joy. It is great that the NBA thought so highly of them that they would send the Larry O'Brien Trophy over there. We did a lot in those three days. We traveled all over Kuwait up to the border with Iraq. At the border there is a big old line separating the countries. You do not go past that line. But if you know anything about Spencer Haywood, who would want to go across that line? So, there I was, going across the line. We took a shot of that. Back home, though, the NBA Finals are heating up. Even though they are down, I am picking Detroit to win it all. I am a hard-core Detroiter. That is my team. Everybody wrote them off and said they would not win a game. I am still hanging with my original pick. Detroit, Detroit, Detroit. We are blue-collar workers. We are not fancy caviar-eating types like some of those Spurs. I do appreciate the Spurs' superstars, though. Ginobili would fit in well in Detroit. He is a blue-collar guy. And my daughter absolutely loves Tim Duncan. He is the second most-important man in her life. She is 14 years-old and probably the third-best player in the country and she patterns her game after him. She is headed to the WNBA, for sure. I love Tim Duncan, too. But I have to stick with my team. I am a Detroiter. Posted by NBA Legends - Jun 15 2005 1:57PM

George Gervin in San Antonio Our Visit to the Gervin Academy I am really thankful to the NBA, Artis Gilmore and Clyde Drexler who came down to San Antonio to visit and support the George Gervin Academy on Friday afternoon. This is my ninth year with my charter school, which serves grades nine through 12th and we also have Pre-K as well. Education should be young people's No. 1 priority. A lot of our kids look at sports and think that is the way out. Only one percent in America make it to be a professional athlete. I recognize that. I was fortunate enough to play professional basketball. I was not a real good student as a young man. I did not really understand the value of education. This is my way of giving back and letting our young people know there is going to be very few Icemans. I tell the students that they can accomplish greater things than I ever did. By educating yourself, you can become a doctor, lawyer, or even a carpenter or a plumber or anything that takes education to accomplish it. That is why I started this school. I started this school because I know how important education is. I am really proud of our teen pregnancy program. In San Antonio we are one of the top cities in the country as far as teen pregnancy. We have a teen pregnancy house called the "Doll House." We have some girls who are teen moms and are pregnant. A lot of girls get discouraged and do not want to go to school. But we develop our Doll House so they can continue their education while they are having their child. I think that is important. That is why I started it. We also have a Youth Build program where we teach kids how to build homes. We have built over seven homes in the San Antonio area with the help of a builder and a contractor. We bring our kids aboard and we teach them a skill. Those are a couple of programs that are dear to my heart. I believe in vocational programs. Not everyone wants to go to college. But if you are able to acquire a carpenter's certificate or graduate in plumbing, drywall, which are all out of the mainstream now. Vocational schools today are far and few between. I always felt that it is important to have a skill like that because you will always have a job. That is what I stress to kids. I also stress that they should understand having good credit and not having a criminal record. Those are two things that can follow you and keep you from having a valuable life. Helping people out is better than being in the Hall of Fame because I am changing people's lives. I am getting people to understand that you have to go through this system with education. If you do not educate yourself, you are going to be a laborer all your life. You are going to be making five, six, seven dollars an hour. It is hard to make living with that kind of paycheck in our society. The George Gervin Academy had graduation yesterday and we graduated 72 kids with diplomas. We have graduated over 600 kids since my program has been in existence. We are changing lives. We have worked with over 8,000 kids since my program has been in existence. It means the world to me. I never won an NBA Championship, but this makes me feel like a champion. After the school, visit, Clyde, Artis and I visited the Burn Unit at the Brook Medical Center in San Antonio. We visited some guys that had been burnt up pretty bad. Our goal was to go in there and see them, hopefully boost up their spirits. More than 97 percent of their bodies were burned. The only thing that was not burnt was the bottom of their feet. To see the hospital and to know that this hospital is the No. 1 burn center in the world and to know if we find one of our kids who is burnt badly in Afghanistan or Iraq, they can send a plane over there and bring them here in a timely manner. Without a first-rate facility like this, we will lose a lot of our kids. They would lose their lives. Brook Medical Center is truly a special place. Posted by NBA Legends - Jun 4 2005 3:56PM

Archibald and Parish On the Pistons and Reggie Miller Pistons Clicking on All Cylinders (Tiny Archibald) You have to protect your home court and the Detroit Pistons defense was outstanding in Game 5. They just shut Indiana down. Indiana was not penetrating and they were not hitting their outside shots and they seemed to be standing around and trying to play one-on-one ball. Every time somebody drove, Detroit's help defense was just there and they shut the Pacers down. On the offensive end, the Pistons were moving balls and moving bodies. They were making three or four good passes and they were getting uncontested layups or dunks. They penetrated Indiana's defense. There was no answer for the Pistons tonight. They were just dominant on offense and defense. The next game is extremely vital for Indiana, especially when you talk about protecting your home court. The Pacers beat Detroit on their home court and then Detroit beat them in Indiana. The Pistons are up 3-2 now, and the Pacers have to go back home and try to protect their home court. All they can do is try to win one game. It is not a seven-game series anymore. All the Pacers want to do is prolong the series. If they get one game at home, then they will make it to the seventh game. Then, the pressure is on Detroit to withstand that home court again. But, the pressure is on Indiana right now. Game 5 was not even close. It was a substantial beating. So, now they have to go home and try to win a game. This could be Reggie Miller's last game, but you do not want to define it like that. The Pacers are just looking to get this game and then see what happens. Game 6 is vital for the Pacers. They do not want to close down the season. Reggie's Heading to the Hall (Robert Parish) I do not think anyone on Indiana played well in Game 5. Detroit was dominant on both ends of the floor. They played stifling defense and they moved very well on offense. Indiana extended their defense and Detroit got a lot of uncontested shots. Ben and Rasheed Wallace both did a good job on the boards. Indiana did not have an answer for the Pistons. You have to like Detroit in Game 6. They have the momentum and the confidence. Indiana cannot be feeling too good, right now. Not only did they lose, but they lost by a substantial margin. They definitely have to regroup and show a lot of character and a lot of heart in Game 6. Whether Game 6 is Reggie Miller's last game or not, I have a lot of respect for Reggie Miller and what he has accomplished for himself and the entire Pacers organization. He is one of the greatest clutch shooters to ever play the game of basketball. The final destination for Reggie is definitely the Hall of Fame. Posted by NBA Legends - May 18 2005 12:32PM

Lenny Wilkens -- May 16 Sonics Surge; Bowen Is Not A Dirty Defender With the series tied at 2-2, the Sonics are playing great basketball and they could make it to the Western Conference Finals. How have they bounced back to tie this series at two games apiece? First of all, the Sonics are going to be a little more comfortable playing in front of their home crowd. When they were down 2-0, they kind of had their backs to the wall. So, they came out and played tough on their home court. I thought they were able to steal that first game because San Antonio was atrocious from the foul line. They only won the game by one point. Now, they come back in the second game in Seattle and they are really feeling confident because a lot of the things they did, they were successful with. The screen-and-roll was very effective and they put pressure on San Antonio and made it really difficult for them. And, of course, Ray Allen is incredible. He set a fantastic pace for the team. It is a huge confidence builder that they won without All-Star Rashard Lewis in Game 4. Seattle feels really good about this. They feel if Rashard comes back, it will make them that much stronger. When a key player is out, sometimes that is a great opportunity for someone else to step up and guys did step up. They started Antonio Daniels and he played terrific out there. Luke Ridnour had a great game. He played very well. Damien Wilkins came in and brought a lot of energy for them. That said, the pace was set by Ray Allen and everybody fed off of it. There are not a whole lot of things San Antonio can do differently in Game 5. They could start Manu Ginobili. That way, it forces Ray to focus on Ginobili, where I think, in Game 4, he did not have to worry about anything. He focused on his offense and that kind of set a tone for everybody. San Antonio has to get after Seattle right away. They cannot let Seattle set the pace of the game. They have to set it. But these are decisions that Coach Gregg Popovich will have to decide upon. An interesting subplot to this series is all the talk about Bruce Bowen being a dirty player. I do not buy into that hype. He is a good defensive player. He is going to come out and make you work hard. He is not going to give you anything easy and that is the way it should be. You should have to earn everything you get. The guy plays hard and he knows the Spurs are dependant on him playing good defense. That is how he earned his minutes. Seeing the fans excited again means a lot to mean, having played and coached in Seattle. This is a good sports town and it is great to see fans out there, enthusiastic and getting behind their team. It really helps the players. These guys come out and they see that and all of a sudden they get a little bit of a lift out there on the floor. That is the way it should be. Seattle has always been a great sports town. It's now a best two out three series. There will be at least one more game returning to KeyArena. Sonics Fever at the Boys & Girls Club By Detlef Schrempf All of us NBA players are very fortunate to get paid a lot of money to do what we do. I was blessed to have played in the NBA for 16 seasons and have lived in a lot of great cities ? Dallas, Indianapolis, Seattle and Portland. Those experiences were only enhanced by those respective communities. This past weekend, Lenny Wilkens, Rick Barry and Bill Russell and I visited the local Boys & Girls Club of Seattle. We conducted various basketball clinics and talked to the kids about the importance of education. We also talked playoff basketball and as you can imagine, all of the kids are very excited about what the Sonics are doing in the playoffs. This visit was special to me on several levels. I not only played on the Sonics but also have spent most of my basketball career in the state of Washington, having played at Centralia High School and the University of Washington. This place is also home to me and my family. This is where my kids have grown up. It's important to maintain the ties to the Seattle community, that's why in 1996 I started my own foundation to assist children and their families. We host a variety of events each year to raise money. Even though I no longer play in the NBA, the needs are even more apparent in our local communities than ever before. Helping out and hopefully making a difference is the least me and my family can do for a community that has embraced us. Posted by NBA Legends - May 16 2005 5:04PM

George Gervin -- May 10 On Nash and the USO Nash Has Something to Prove With Steve Nash becoming only the fourth point guard to win the MVP, he placed himself in the NBA history books. The true sign of the MVP is that you make the guys around you better. That's exactly what Steve Nash did. We cannot take anything away from Shaq, though. He did a super job, too. I have always liked Shaq. He has one of the greatest personalities in the game. I was not voting, though, so we cannot do anything but congratulate Steve Nash and wish him well against the Mavericks. I think the Mavs-Suns series is going to be interesting series for the simple fact that Dallas let Nash go and now he gets the chance to come back as MVP and play them in the playoffs. Being an ex-ballplayer, myself, you know that if somebody lets you go, obviously they did not think you were all that. You know how competitive Steve Nash is, so in the back of his mind he's saying, "Oh yeah? Well, I'll see you guys down the road." So he is going in with a vengeance. I like the way he is playing it right now. He is being very humble. That is the way he should be. But he is saying, "I want to get my 11 assists and maybe get 30 points a couple times, maybe beat them by 20." His teammates will be motivated too. They are not mad that Dallas let him go. They are glad Nash came along and made them all better. It should be an exciting series. I do not know who is going to win it. It's a toss-up. They match up real well with each other. If Jason Terry continues to play like he has been playing he can offset some of the things Steve Nash does. Dirk Nowitzki is going to have to be a lot more consistent. Dallas has to take advantage of his height and his ability to put the ball on the floor. I am also glad for Avery Johnson. He also made history by being winning a seventh game as a rookie coach But Phoenix has Shawn Marion, the Matrix Man playing well for them. Amaré Stoudemire is running the floor real well and pounding the boards. It is going to be an interesting series. It is going to be exciting basketball for the NBA. USO Thank You Along with some other supporters of the USO, some NBA legends and I were waiting on the other side of customs at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport greeted about 300 soldiers as they got off the plane from Iraq. We had a chance to shake hands with them and welcome them home and tell them how much we appreciated them. We also did some hugging as well. We are all so appreciative of the men and women who put their lives on the line for us. I would not have been able to do some of the things I did if soldiers had not put their lives on the line to keep America free. It was very heartfelt. It is very special to have an opportunity to greet them and to tell them thanks. One by one, the soldiers stopped and we talked with them. We did not talk about the war or anything. They were just thanking us for being there when they got home. To see the smiles and hear the gratitude from these kids is just enough to make you realize how blessed we are that there are people willing to sacrifice for a better America. There were a lot of young kids. You wouldn't think that would know us former NBA players, but they did. That is real special because we are old vets. The guys knew Clyde Frazier, Clyde Drexler, Ike Austin, Desmond Mason and myself. That really made us feel good. Nobody likes to be forgotten. We realize that as athletes and we want to relay that to the soldiers. We let them know, "We do not forget about you. We do not take you for granted. We appreciate you." There were several Spurs fans in the group so that kind of hit me right at home. It was real nice. Posted by NBA Legends - May 9 2005 6:10PM

Clyde Frazier in Indy -- May 6 Pacers Are Pretenders ... Al Jefferson Is Not The Pacers proved once again that they are pretenders. They let the Celtics off the hook once again. This series should have been over, 4-1, and Indy should be preparing to play Detroit. Instead, they must go up to Boston in front of a hungry, hostile and boisterous crowd for Game 7 in which anything can happen. In what could be Reggie Miller's last home game, this certainly wasn't a memorable occasion if you're a Pacers fan. Indy had at least seven opportunities in the fourth quarter to take the lead but squandered every one while the Celtics still haven't learned to maintain their composure. We saw it once already when Antoine Walker got kicked out earlier in the series and saw it again by Paul Pierce, which nearly cost them the game. These players can't put themselves first. They need to think about the team. They lose their composure and don't think about the consequences and the magnitude of what is happening. With a one-point lead, Pierce got exactly what he wanted and that was a foul by Jamaal Tinsley. He should have just let it go but instead, his ego got involved and it was just a foolish play for him to retaliate. Getting kicked out with everything on the line wasn't a smart move for him or his team. Fortunately, for the Celtics, players like Ricky Davis and Al Jefferson maintained their composure and provided them with a huge lift off the bench, especially in the first half when they stole the momentum from the Pacers in the second quarter. I really like Jefferson's game. He's one of the few 6-10 players in the league who you don't see out on the perimeter. He's an interior guy, he rebounds. He hustles and muscles off the glass. He capitalizes on what he does best, not shoot three pointers 30 feet away from the basket. He didn't show any emotion, wasn't fazed by the pressure of the game at all. It was a real growth game for him. A double double by the rookie in the paint against the likes of Dale Davis and Jermaine O'Neal is doing the job. I thought the Celtics should have gone to Jefferson more. There isn't any rhyme or reason to this series. What ever you think is going to happen then the opposite occurs. I'm going to go with the Celtics in Game 7. You always have to go with the home team. It's really the only thing separating these two teams. It's also a must watch game, considering that this ultimately could be Reggie's farewell. Posted by NBA Legends - May 6 2005 11:34AM

Rick Barry in Memphis -- May 2 Suns Rise: Who?s Next: Mavs or Rockets? You have to be impressed with the Suns and the way that they played in sweeping the Grizzlies. They've shown during the regular season and thus far in the playoffs that they are relentless in pressing the issue as far as forcing the ball up the floor trying to get easy opportunity shots. And if you get caught up playing their game, you have a really difficult time beating them because it's so hard to control the tempo of the game. The Suns are a better defensive team I think than people give them credit for. They really do work hard together and they feature one of the league's best one-on-one defenders in Shawn Marion. The Suns are such a fun team to watch. They pass the ball exceptionally well on the offensive end of the ball. Even though Steve Nash is such an integral part of their offense, I think a player who is just as important to that team and maybe even more so from all aspects is Marion. The Matrix made the big plays in Game 4 to be able to sweep the Grizzlies, coming up with great defensive plays, big rebounds while scoring 23 points in the clincher. I love the way he plays the game. The sweep allows the Suns to get some valuable rest while Dallas and Houston head into Game 5 tied two games apiece. However, the Suns don't want to be off too long because they can lose their edge a little bit. If you get a chance to get your bodies rested, get some good workouts in, then it's great. You don't want it to extend beyond three or four days. If the Rockets and Mavericks go seven games, which could very easily happen, then the Suns would have the entire week off since Game 7 wouldn't be until next Saturday. As a coach, you really worry as to whether your team is ready to go, especially in the first or the second quarter of the initial game that you play when you start the next series. Can the Suns go all the way? Well, if the officials call the game the way they did during the regular season, then the Suns have as good of a chance as any to win the title. But if they call it where they allow a lot more physicality to take place, then that could be detrimental to the Suns. Posted by NBA Legends - May 2 2005 5:39PM

Rick Barry in Memphis -- May 1 Moving Experience at The Grizzlies House Dave Cowens, Spencer Haywood and myself visited the Grizzlies House at St. Jude's Hospital in Memphis on Saturday. It was a very moving experience to have the opportunity to spend time with the patients who are afflicted with various types of diseases. The Grizzlies should be complimented on their fantastic support and monetary gift that they gave to St. Jude's to build such a beautiful facility and take care of the children, who are just so precious. It's wonderful that they have this facility to seek treatment where they can feel at home. The building is fantastic, the rooms are great and the treatment they receive is amazing. Also, there isn't a cost. The Grizzlies House fly the patients in, put them up and take care of them. They are so blessed to have this type of environment available to them. We found the youngsters to be in high spirits and the opportunity to interact with some of the families was a special experience. For me, personally, it was especially meaningful because of the experience that I'm going through with my granddaughter fighting for her life with Neuroblastoma, my son, Drew's only daughter. I was delighted just to have the opportunity to be part of it... Game 4 Suns-Grizzlies... Pride should be on the line for the Grizzlies as they face a potential elimination game in Game 4. Nobody wants to be swept, that's something that's very difficult to live with. You're playing at home with your fans and you would like to salvage something to keep the series going. Even though no team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit in a seven-game series, some team will be the first and why can't it be the Grizzlies? That is how Memphis should approach tonight's game. However, I don't think that Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni along with Steve Nash and Amaré Stoudemire will be complacent and will want to close the door to take advantage of some extra rest time before their next series. Posted by NBA Legends - May 1 2005 10:10PM

Spencer Haywood in Memphis -- May 1 It's all about giving back I grew up not too far down the road from Memphis, down in Mississippi, and it felt like home in a way visiting this fine city on our way to the Grizzlies House. I ran into a few Highway 61 signs along the way. It meant the world to me to spend part of this visit with Dave and Rick. It's always about giving back and you can never receive unless you do give back. It's been a tremendous experience for my heart to see the kids, talk a little basketball and put a few smiles on their faces. One of the day's highlights was a three-on-three tournament which me, Dave and Rick all participated in. We were all on separate teams and each had two patients as our teammates. We were pretty excited because the basket height was not regulation size so we were able to dunk whenever we wanted. We all had a great time, especially Rick's team, which won. And of course, knowing Rick, he has to continuously remind us that his team won. The bragging can get to be too much sometimes. As Dave Cowens put it best, you never want to lose, especially to a team with Rick on it. Posted by NBA Legends - May 1 2005 10:08PM

Robert Parish and Morris Peterson A Debt of Gratitude to the Men and Women Serving Our Country ROBERT PARISH On Friday, I visited the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., which was my first time visiting a military hospital. It was a good experience for me because we owe those people a debt of gratitude to the men and women for what they have done for us. For me, it was an honor and a pleasure. Some of the patients were fans and I was impressed with the fact that they were willing to talk about their experiences over in Iraq. They were telling us about how they got injured and about their surgery and going through rehab and their withdrawal from the experience. Overall, their spirits were pretty good. A lot of them were on medication because of their pain so we couldn't get a feel for their spirit and their mood. For the most part, it was all right. They were following the playoffs. There were definitely some sports fans. I was with Dominque Wilkins, Spencer Haywood, Bob Lanier. Without a doubt, it was humbling because those guys made the ultimate sacrifice and they put their lives on the line. Everybody here was humbled by the experience. It brings everything back into perspective, that's for sure. When you see men and women in that type of condition, it lets you know how quickly things can change. It tells everybody about how scary it is during wartime and what can happen to you. War is a very ugly business. Seeing those people losing limbs and body parts, that lets you know just how good you have it over here. I also have a new respect for the soldiers. Without a doubt, I'd like to make more visits. We owe the men and women of our military service a debt of gratitude that we can never repay. We can never pay that back. They've given up the ultimate sacrifice and that's your life. MORRIS PETERSON Friday is a day I won't ever forget for the rest of my life. I was among a group of NBA and WNBA players and NBA and WNBA legends who visited the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. We walked around and talked to some of the patients, some of the soldiers who, unfortunately, got injured during combat in Iraq. We wanted to say thank you and hopefully in the process, lift their spirits. Just to see the look on their faces when we came in was special for me. I was there with Dominique Wilkins, Robert Parish, Bob Lanier, Steve Kerr as well as Alana Beard and Kym Hampton among others and just to have a chance to interact with the patients was something that I'm truly appreciative to have received the opportunity. I had a chance to hear some of their stories, how they were injured and it was a real humbling experience for me. Some of these men and women had been in Iraq for a couple months while some for a few weeks. Every soldier I met, I welcomed them home and I thanked them for putting their lives on the line for us. Some people don't understand what really goes on in these types of wars. It is one thing to hear about what happened but just to hear their first-hand accounts and how everything happened, it was quite humbling. I think I've had a hard day because I had a bad game. In my basketball world, it's just wins and losses. In their world, one bad move could mean their life. I saw soldiers who lost legs or lost arms and I couldn't imagine myself being over there fighting in a war. These men and women are putting their lives on line and losing arms and legs just to fight for us. It made me appreciate what I have a lot more but more importantly, appreciate the fact that today and every day moving forward, there are brave men and women who are serving this country, laying it on the line. Hopefully, we made a little bit of difference and took their mind off things. We talked about the NBA Playoffs, they asked who we thought would win and we asked them the same. We signed some autographs as well. A few people I spoke to were a little down. Hopefully, we cheered them up a little. I let them know how much I appreciate what they've done for me and what they've done for their country. To the men and women currently in Iraq and all over the world, thank you for your bravery and sacrifice. Posted by NBA Legends - Apr 30 2005 10:44PM

Artis Gilmore in Chicago -- April 27 Bullish on the Bulls Playoff basketball is in full bloom in Chicago. The fans are hungry, excited and love to rally around this hard-working bunch who continue to impress night after night. Every game it seems like someone on the Bulls rises to the occasion. Game 1 it was Andres Nocioni. On Wednesday, it was Kirk Hinrich was set the tone with 34 points. This is a team that many people say is devoid of a true NBA star. All I know is that this is a team in every sense of the word. Scott Skiles and the management team have done a terrific job from the coaching and personnel standpoint in assembling these talented guys. Even though the Bulls are up 2-0, it is still a seven-game series and anything can happen. This isn't a five-game series like in years past. The Bulls have the inside track but need to get Game 3 to really put the Wizards on their heels. For me, personally, it means a lot to see the Bulls back in the playoffs. I played six seasons in Chicago and we enjoyed tremendous support in the good years and even in the lean years. I loved playing here. Chicago Stadium, which used to be across the street from the United Center, provided us with terrific home court advantage. The fans here are simply the best. They really appreciate the all-out hustle and hard work. Attending the game also gave me an opportunity to reconnect with a lot of old friends and the fans were so gracious to me every where I went in the United Center. Before the game, Robert Parish and Clyde Drexler assisted me with an on-court clinic with kids before the game. I was a little rusty but always welcome the chance to interact with the young fans and teach them about the game of basketball. We had the kids doing drills and working on their fundamentals. I tell you, Clyde and Chief look like they can still play today. They're in such great shape. Posted by NBA Legends - Apr 28 2005 12:21PM

Willis Reed in Phoenix -- April 24 Three-point spree in the Valley of the Sun It was a high energy scene at America West on Sunday night as more than 18,000 fans waved their white Suns towels in support of their beloved Suns the entire night and their favorite team certainly didn't disappoint. The Suns are so talented and have a good amount of depth, you just don't know which All-Star ? Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire or Shawn Marion ? will step up and take over. Sunday night, it was Marion's turn. He got his team off to a roaring start, hitting something like his first six shots from the field while the Grizzlies couldn't stop the Suns from the three-point line. While the Grizzlies did a good job of containing Nash and Stoudemire, the other Suns' players stepped up. The night belonged to key contributors Quentin Richardson, Joe Johnson and Steve Hunter who had excellent games. The Suns demonstrated in Game 1 how well they play together, spreading the floor, moving the ball, playing unselfish basketball. While he had an off night from his standards, I'm very impressed with Stoudemire's game. I think he's the NBA's next Tim Duncan, only with more swagger. He's a magnificent player who has a tough streak in him. He's so quick, can create his own plays and possesses good footwork and is only going to continue to improve. He's the NBA's next great player. I really like his game. It was an enjoyable evening for me because I also got a chance to hang with the other NBA legends -- Dave Cowens, Robert Parish, my former teammate Clyde Frazier and Bill Russell, which was a particular thrill because Mr. Russell was my idol growing up in Louisiana. He's the ultimate winner. I learned so much about the game by just watching him play. He is the ultimate team player who concerned himself with only one thing --- winning. On the offensive and defensive end, he made sure everything he did was going to help his team win games whether it was rebounding, blocking shots, setting picks or scoring. It's always great to catch up with him. As I told the fellas before we said goodbye after the game -- It's a lot better hanging out with you guys than it is playing against you. It's a lot easier on the knees. Posted by NBA Legends - Apr 25 2005 1:03PM

Artis Gilmore in Miami -- April 24 Heat Set the Tone in Game 1 The anticipation heading into Game 1 of the Nets-Heat first round matchup focused on whether MVP candidate Shaquille O'Neal would play or not. While Shaq did play, he wasn't quite 100 percent. You could tell he didn't have his legs but it was OK because his teammates, particularly Dwyane Wade and Damon Jones, more than picked up the slack for Miami. The playoffs are where big-time players step up and Wade has proven, especially this season, that he is one of the best players in the league. He led the way for Miami. Jones also sizzled from the field, especially from three-point line. The Nets didn't help themselves with their cold shooting spell in the first half. The squandered a lead and quickly found themselves trailing by 15 before they knew it. The Nets never got closer than 10 in the third quarter. The Heat showed its depth Sunday afternoon with Alonzo Mourning, Christian Laettner and Shandon Anderson all providing a spark off the bench. The Heat set the tone of this series, scoring 116 points without their best player, O'Neal, being 100 percent. If you're the Nets, that's not a good sign. Fortunately, for them, it's a seven-game series and they can bounce back in Game 2 but will have to be more consistent from the field. For a team that didn't finish well down the stretch, the Heat are stepping up when it counts the most, playoff time. Posted by NBA Legends - Apr 25 2005 1:00PM

Dave Cowens -- April 22 Playoff Fun in the Valley of the Sun It was quite an afternoon in Phoenix. The Suns held a playoff rally on Friday and the Suns fans are rarin' to go. They can't wait for the playoffs to begin on Sunday against the Grizzlies. Being here in Phoenix, talking to the fans, it wasn't something I necessarily envisioned 29 years ago when I played for the Celtics against the Suns in the NBA Finals. I was just hoping that there weren't too many older fans in the crowd so I wouldn't get heckled. Luckily, I didn't. We had a great time meeting everyone. I was joined by Bill Russell, Willis Reed, Clyde Frazier and Robert Parish. The Suns also were represented by Dick Van Arsdale, Connie Hawkins, Fat Lever and Jeff Hornacek. We talked to the fans about the playoffs, posed for pictures with them in front of the Larry O'Brien Trophy and had a great time. The fans' enthusiasm is certainly warranted. The Suns have a real good chance of representing the West in the Finals. I think it's going to be them or the Spurs. When we weren't talking about the playoffs, me, Russell, Reed and Frazier were talking about the amenities in today's game, specifically the locker rooms. We said that if we have the equipment today's players have, we would all be playing. Getting on the road has also given me a chance to reconnect. It's been a long time since I've spent a lot of time with Bill Russell. I was with him on Thursday for the Destination Finals festivities at Tiffany's and the Fifth Avenue Parade. This is probably the most time we've ever spent together in about 20 to 30 years, which is a long time but it's like no time went by. It's pretty cool. Posted by NBA Legends - Apr 23 2005 12:32PM

Clyde Drexler -- April 22 Playoff Fever Sizzles in Miami The Destination Finals Tour rolled into Miami on Friday after an excellent start in Manhattan on Thursday: The Larry O'Brien Trophy unveiling at Tiffany's in the morning, a Destination Finals Parade down Fifth Avenue en route to the NBA Store with legends and a TV legend, Regis Philbin, on Thursday -- Russell, Erving, Frazier, Abdul-Jabbar, Monroe, Cowens, Ice Man, Malone, Parish, have to throw my self in there, too -- 29 NBA championships in all. I think those guys know a thing or two about winning basketball. The Heat pep rally was jumping. I was joined by Moses Malone, George Gervin, Tiny Archibald and Artis Gilmore. Miami Mayor, Manny Diaz was fired up. He said he hoped to see the trophy back in June. The crowd roared with approval. The fans in Miami are really pumped up. This is the first time in the history of the franchise that they feel like they have a real shot at winning the Larry O'Brien Trophy. It's going to be difficult to get through Detroit but the Heat are a focused group and aren't going to settle for anything less than an NBA championship. I had one of the all time coolest experiences. Yours truly delivered the Larry O'Brien Trophy via helicopter for the event. No, I wasn't piloting the craft but I kept the Trophy close in hand and what an awesome experience that was, flying in like that with the coveted prize. Even though I retired, I still get excited about this time of year. It brings back so many found memories. The NBA Playoffs are what it's all about. It's why you play the game. The regular season is a tune up for the playoffs. It's where the intensity is at an all time high. Every second counts, every play counts. If you're a competitor, you live for the pressure moments to perform. You live for the playoffs. Posted by NBA Legends - Apr 23 2005 12:27PM