growing pains

[ducks]

GROWING PAINS: LeBron James may have to chalk up this trip to the finals as an educational experience. He wouldn't be the first superstar to do so.

It took four trips for Hall of Famer Julius Erving, who won the NBA le in 1983 with the Philadelphia 76ers after losing three times in the finals.

"It's the first time for the franchise, period," Erving said. "So I think it's a learning experience for everyone involved with the franchise even though they've got management and coaching staff who've got championship experience."

Erving could tell by listening to the news conference after Game 3 on Tuesday night that the Cavaliers still need some educating.

"I heard more of a defense of what everybody was doing," Erving said. "Everybody was kind of defending their own position. Everybody was saying, 'I did what I needed to do.' It's not really about what I need to do. It's about what we need to do."

Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who won NBA les with Portland (1977) and Boston (1986), said the Cavaliers have a long way to go mentally.

"San Antonio has been the smarter team and Cleveland has to learn to play on the mental level of the championship teams," Walton said.

He also said James needs a better supporting cast.

Walton wouldn't count the Cavaliers out to at least make the series interesting, recalling how Seattle, trailing 0-3 in the 1996 finals came back to win two games against the Chicago Bulls.

"They are learning how hard it is to be the champions and how much of your life it takes," Walton said. "They are realizing how much further they have to go."

[Bear Grylls]

[theroc5]

way of the master is pretty much great.