They'd Rather Be Constant

The key to how Fitch wants the game played lies in the role assigned each player. Campy and Carr are to shoot out the lights; ditto Forward Bobby (Bingo) Smith, the only remaining original Cav. Guard Jim Cleamons is to run the offense and execute a tough defensive assignment; Fitch wants Dick Snyder, Cleamons' partner in the backcourt, to keep throwing up his dead-eye jumpers; Forward Jim Brewer is supposed to clear the boards; Center Jim Chones, a onetime ABA malcontent who has found a new disposition with Cleveland, is to rebound and play rugged defense in the middle; Foots Walker should race in as a playmaker and jazz up the offense when it's hitting sour notes; rookie Guard Mo Howard, a second-round choice from Maryland, is to lug the film projector from city to city. Notice that scoring is not a major assignment for most Cavs.

Scoring goes unstressed because Fitch recognizes that the one natural instinct every basketball player has is to shoot the ball when he gets it. But Fitch admits, "We are not really an equal opportunity offense."

For all its success in the early going, Fitch is not wholly satisfied with his team's performance. "We may have to call a meeting of the family and change roles," he says. Although at one moment he talks of needing 10 good men, all playing regularly, in order to win the title, at other times he says he is considering going with just five players. What about the other seven guys on the team? "They will get new roles," says Fitch. "It will be called Boy Scout—you know, be prepared." In fact, Fitch is not likely to do anything quite that drastic. But one real possibility is that Carr, Russell or both will—hallelujah for them—become starters. At the moment, Russell usually is the first sub in, Carr the next, depending on the situation.

Indeed, there is some small cause for Fitch to fret. Chones is having trouble with his rebound-defense role (scoring remains heavy on his mind) and his backup, Nate Thurmond, 35, whom Fitch calls "Instant Defense," may finally be feeling his age. Too, Walker has been hurt and is only 5'11". Says Fitch, "We want to avoid wholesale trades, as well as sending players down to the Eastern League—if we can."

Fitch thinks of Russell as potentially an extraordinary player. Though he almost drives the coach to distraction with his gum-popping, Russell can play all positions and do everything, Fitch believes. "All I expect from Campy is that he learn all these things—before I kill him." Fitch gets lyrical when he talks of Campy's magic hands and laments only that "Russell has played so many years without having to concentrate."

Russell, a hardship case in 1974, says, "My hardship was I was tired of playing college basketball. The biggest hardship, though, was the money I'd have to do without if I didn't go that way."

Carr, a 1971 first-round draft pick from Notre Dame, has had two knee operations, but now is at full throttle. He says, "When you have an operation, 70% of the cutting is in your mind." He is playing smoothly, and smartly, and says of his role, "I just have to make sure I don't run out there and become a thorn. I have to fit in with what's going on." Carr is so mild-mannered that Fitch says, "If I ever raised my voice at A.C., I'd feel I had done something bad."

When you can start games with your two best players seated, things by and large must be going pretty good, even though Fitch laments that his team is "like the golfer who used to shoot in the 90s, finally got into the 80s, and now is going nuts trying to get into the 70s." Further, he confesses that it is difficult to keep 12 college stars happy as pros, money aside. Says Fitch, "Every one of them wants to be Clark Gable in Gone With the Wind. Somebody has to paint the scenery."

At least Fitch's situation is happier than it was in 1970 when, the coach says, several of his players threw eggs at his house. How do you know it was the players? "Because they missed the house and hit the fence." Not so this year, with six Cavs hitting in double figures ( Snyder is almost the seventh with 9.4) and everyone sharing the burden.

Meanwhile, Fitch is performing his new trick (tying a stem of a maraschino cherry in a knot using only his tongue) and playing philosopher. "All your prayers will be answered in the NBA if you are willing to accept the fact that most of the time the answer is No," he says. So far, though, the answer for Cleveland has been Yes, Yes and Yes. Instantly.