Rivals as NBA coaches, Byron Scott and Larry renewed their friendship Tuesday night.
View full sizeRyan Hollins, one of the newest Cavaliers, delivers a first-quarter dunk during Tuesday's exhibition season opener against Charlotte at Quicken Loans Arena.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Byron Scott went missing before Tuesday night's preseason opener against the Charlotte Bobcats at The Q.
Team officials couldn't find their coach for his pre-game media session. Turned out, he was sitting out on the floor visiting with Bobcats coach Larry Brown. Scott calls Brown his best friend, and Brown feels the same way. Brown coached Scott in Indiana.
"Byron's special," Brown said. "When I got the Indiana job, we traded for him and he was a phenomenal teammate and a great player, but we got him toward the end of his career.
"He really helped me. I had him and Sam Mitchell. The way he carried himself and the input he had and the example he set for our team was phenomenal. We've been friends ever since."
Brown always had the sense Scott would make a good coach after watching his relationship with Pacers star Reggie Miller.
"He really helped and mentored Reggie in a lot of ways," Brown said. "Reggie had been in the league for a while, but I felt he had a real influence on our whole team. He played for some great coaches and shared some ideas with me and the players.
"I got the feeling he would someday accept a role like that. You never know how successful these guys will be, but he's obviously done a great job everywhere and he'll do a great job here."
Ready to go: Mo Williams, who has been sidelined with a groin injury, is getting antsy to play. Scott said Williams did a little running in Tuesday's shootaround, got some shots up and took part in some drills.
"Mo wants to do more," the coach said. "We want him to slow down and stick to the schedule. We want to make sure this thing is gone."
Dribbles: NBA officials briefed the Cavs on Tuesday on the points of emphasis this season, including respect for the game. Players who voice their objections too overtly or strenuously to the referees will receive technical fouls. ... Before the game, the team unveiled its renovated two-story, 5,700 square-foot team shop. Not surprisingly, it is devoid of LeBron James merchandise. ... NBA sources have confirmed various reports on Tuesday that the Cavs spoke to Indiana Pacers president and former coach Larry Bird in the course of their coaching search before hiring Scott. That the team cast a wide net, as evidenced by its discussions with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, is no surprise. No one but Scott was offered a contract. ... Cavs assistant equipment manager Mike Templin completed his first marathon in 3:06:44 last weekend in Akron. It was good enough to qualify him for the Boston Marathon, although it may be a couple of years before he tries that.