Cavs' Defensive Focus Rooted in West

Filed under: Cavaliers, Lakers, Playoffs

SAN DIEGO, Calif -- The Lakers are still the NBA's team to beat, but if the Zen Master's lads can't get it done for West Coast Bias, maybe the "San Diego Cavs" can.



The braintrust of the Cleveland Cavaliers includes three hardcore basketball dudes who were part of the University of San Diego's program nearly 20 years ago -- head coach Mike Brown, his grizzled assistant Hank Egan and assistant general manager Chris Grant.



All three have deep roots at the small Catholic school that overlooks the Pacific Ocean, not to be confused with UC San Diego, where Cavs star LeBron James stages his summer basketball camp.



All three are devout believers in firm defense, tenets of which they learned in the West.



All three paid their hardwood dues in the NBA before reuniting in Cleveland.



Same as San Diego, Cleveland has gone four decades-plus without a major sports championship, and the San Diego Cavs know the heat is on.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/03/cavs-defensive-focus-rooted-in-west/