Q: Why did the NBA sacrifice the quality of the conference finals with its every other day schedule, and then schedule the Finals to meander through June? Tell me it's more than money and hotel rooms speaking.
— Drew, San Antonio

A: NBA commissioner David Stern said before Game 2 he's rethinking the 2-3-2 scheduling for the Finals, but I don't see them returning to any other format. You could see the effect of the travel in Game 3, with the teams changing coasts and three-hour time differences. This started back in the mid-1980s, when the Celtics and Lakers were playing and the cross-country travel was becoming too much as the series went six and seven games. I actually think it's a good schedule. This isn't baseball, where if a guy gets has to run out a triple, he goes on the injured list. As John Kruk once said, "We're not athletes; we're baseball players." The NBA is the most strenuous of the major sports (football takes a break between every play) and in the premier matchup you want teams at to their best, or as close as you can get. There usually is an extra day off thrown in, like between Games 1 and 2 for TV, with Saturday not a day the networks generally want a big game. And they pay the cost as in all sports. You can believe the leagues wouldn't be scheduling these ridiculously late start times, the worst being in baseball.

Q: Has there been a Hall of Fame foreign player? If there hasn't been one, who do you think is likely to be inducted in the Hall of Fame soon?
— Ronnie Reyes, Mandaluyong City, Philippines

A: Well, Dominique Wilkins was born in Paris, Patrick Ewing was born in Jamaica and Hakeem Olajuwon was born in Nigeria. Bob Pettit was born in Louisiana, and I personally consider that a foreign country, and if Dennis Rodman gets in, he may have been born on Mars. But I know what you mean, someone who didn't play college ball in the U.S and came from overseas. Probably Dirk Nowitzki has the best chance eventually and perhaps Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker one day. There's also been talk of Drazen Petrovic someday getting in.

Q: Why do you continue to call Mike Brown the worst coach in the NBA? The Cavs don't have the talent outside of LeBron James to play the up-tempo game that you want. Plus the last three years the Cavs have overachieved in the playoffs. His job is to win not to entertain you.
— Frederick Senkeeto, Aurora, Co.

A: Why not both? I'm glad you're reading. I say that about Brown as an exaggeration, as there's no definitive way to determine best and worst in coaches. I've just long disliked the coaches who overcoach the game, who put themselves before the team in forcing their style of play over the talent they have. I used to say this about Jeff Van Gundy until Brown became my favorite. I agree Cleveland has a poor roster. But I hate the way Brown allows the defense to gang up on James by playing so slowly. Who knows how they'd do if they played differently? I'd love to see Mike D'Antoni coach James and I believe I will in 2010 as James gets tired of being beaten up in Brown's stagnant system.

Q: What do you think of an "All-Star game" featuring U.S. players vs. foreign-born players? Wouldn't it be good to see the likes of Tony Parker, Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili, and Pau Gasol against a team of Americans?
— Jasper, Chicago

A: I do like that idea. There are enough international players now in the NBA and it would make the game more of a competition. But I don't believe the players want that. They seem to enjoy just coming to the All-Star weekend to avoid anything serious or strenuous and then play a few competitive minutes at the end of the game. Plus, taking out East and West would limit the number of All Stars, which would upset the players as many negotiate bonuses for being All Stars and like to say they are. So although it might be interesting spectacle for the fans, I don't see it happening.

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