European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 5, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 34 stars and stripes june 2007 Donovan waffles on joining magic by Mark Long the associated press Billy Donovan is conflicted about his decision to leave two time Mcaa Champion Florida to coach the or Lando the Aba team said and talks will continue about the contract he agreed to last its unclear whether Donovan has signed the million contract with the while Central the or Lando magic and Billy were energized with the announcement of his contract signing on know there was a different feel ing in Gainesville and people have been tugging at him since that the magic said in a Billy is conflicted with those emotions and the Opportunity he has ahead in Orlando and in the weve had numerous conversations and a personal visit in Gainesville with Billy Over the last 48 and we have a commitment from him that the Dia Logue Between us will citing two Anonymous reported sunday that Donovan was having second thoughts about coaching the magic and had approached both sides about getting out of the according to one of the source the magic forced Donovan to make a rash Florida athletic director Jere my Foley and sports information director Steve Mcclain declined comment Early said last week that he had always been intrigued by the and that Orlando was the perfect situation because it was an Upan coming team and close to he led the gators to consecutive National titles the past two seasons and was slated to sign a seven year Deal Worth approximately million the Deal was in the process of being approved when he agreed to coach the Donovan agreed to the Deal with Orlando on one Day after the magic met with former Miami heat coach Stan Van Gundy about the Van who also interviewed for coaching vacancies in Indiana and Sacramento in re cent might not be Avail Able for had a second interview with Sacramento owner ship group in Las vegas on Satur the gators contacted Virginia Commonwealth coach Anthony Grant soon after Donovan Deci Foley had been scheduled to meet with Grant on saturday in but the meeting never took and Grant said sunday night that he haunt been offered the can King James really ascend to throne Jim Litke four Days people Are still de bating where Lebron James 25 straight Points to end game 5 ranks on the nabs list of Al time Best the Only Point Worth adding is this whoever has James ear be tween now and thursday can serve the King Best by reminding him that better be just the James better have a few More games like that in and were not talking during the course of his but Over the next two this will be remembered As the Aba finals that he got close enough to see his reflection in the Larry Obrien trophy and not much its easy to forget How Tricky it can be for even the brightest Young Star to Trace a learning curve that reaches the top without a single maybe because miamis dwyane Wade did it Only last to his didst need he recently described climbing Over the pistons and out of the East Ern conference in just his second try As an other chapter in my i but James also understands he wont write that Happy ending without the Tough part will be deciding How much to if i get double teamed and the game is in going to pass it James despite catching flak for doing just that at the Start of the Detroit if we make the in on top of the if then in under a lot of Trees and its Fine with ill take the criticism that comes with in the Leader of this theres a Nice bit of symmetry in having the spurs stand Between James and that shiny piece of hardware he wants so the Cav Aliers have modelled themselves As the spurs of the and two of their chief Deci coach Mike Brown and pm Danny actually did their management training in san but the sharing a not to mention a real reset pretty much ends the Only Coronation the spurs plan on at tending anytime soon is their they can grab their fourth championship since a run of titles that might finally Garner san Anto Nio and reluctant superstar Tim Duncan the respect and recognition that has so far consistently lagged behind their the spurs last appearance in the against Detroit in was almost the oppo site situation from what James and the cars will be facing this time it was framed As a referendum on whether Duncan was truly a great or just a very Good one Lucky enough to land in san Antonio when the spurs boasted a deep and  supporting As that series stretched out toward game the nabs promotional tagline for the where legends Are began to sound like a Duncan responded with 25 11 re two blocks and three nearly All the numbers flowed easily from the spurs the Plain John Cleveland Star Lebron James holds up the Eastern conference trophy after the Cavaliers Defeated the Detroit pistons 9882 in game 6 saturday in Cleveland to reach the Aba game except for a stretch late in the third Quarter when Duncan scored nearly half his total and grabbed the game by the in a hallway former teammate David Robinson Savoured the win and that third Quarter As much As any of duncans some people talked about Tim like a the Way that Man has performed Over the i dont understand said Robin who partnered Duncan for two of san an tonics for him to dig Down tonight and show everybody what Hes made of is just Awe he settled it the Best James Doest have Robin Manu Tony Parker or even Rob Ert Horry to take Over the show Long enough to catch his and unlike Shaquille Oneal wont be there to cover his if James is going to win a title this Hes going to have to do it the same Way he just sent Detroit packing largely on his the 25 Points in a Row that closed out game 5 were part of a 48point night that got most of the but James performances on either Side of that game were almost As he averaged 33 11 rebounds and eight James cant afford much slippage if Cleveland is going to have a so spurs coach Gregg Popovich want exaggerating when he pick a we have with Hes fantastic in every Way pick any aspect of the Hes a but More telling was something that Dun can said a Little you have to respect someone like that and focus a Little More of the attention toward but there going to need a team to beat he Lebros not going to do it by not spurs in Jim Litke is a National sports columnist for the associated write to him at  schedule june 7 at san Antonio sunday Junt 10 at san Antonio Juno 12 at Cleveland june 14s at Cleveland june i at june 1 at san june 21 at san necessary san Antonio spars playoffs Cleveland Cavaliers starter Symira c Fabriolo Oberto Tim Duncan f Bruce Bowen g Michael Finley g Tony Parker Cavaliers c by Pranai Migauskas f Drew Gooden f Lebron James g Sasha Pavlovic Larry pig 2 key reserves spurs g Manu glow la f Robert Horry g Brant Barry g Jacque Vaughn rebounds per but they got Little Ginobile was Only lfor8 from the floor in Cleveland 82781 Victory on Jan 2 an the spurs shot Only 40 percent in the two Hughes scored 18 Points in each storyline in his fourth James has the cars playing for their first and the first by any Cleveland pro sports franchise since they have to go through perhaps one of the Aba s most respected As the sours Are Trevino for their fourth Rena since key matchup i Bowen Bowen is one of the nabs top perimeter defensive Andi theres a lengthy a Stop offensive stars he has frustrated with his variety of but James is so Strong he should be Able to handle whatever Bower tries against and he is much More than a so even if Bowen takes that James can Hurt the spurs in other was w key matchup is Ginobile Gibson has turned into one of Cleveland most important offensive players helping break open a few recent Victor is with his outside the Rookie scored a career High 31 Points Ini thei cars game 6 Victory in the Eastern a prediction spurs in capsule by Brian the associated press