Chapter 115: The Return of the King

Barkley was taken off the court temporarily due to an "injury," and Bullets head coach Gene Shue subbed in backup power forward Rick Mahorn.

Coach Gene Shue was a rather unique presence among NBA coaches; he lost more games than he won, but he always had a job.

Not because he had strong connections, but because he often took over lousy teams and was good at pulling those total messes out of the rubble and starting to rebuild.

When Gene Shue coached teams like the 1966 Baltimore Bullets (4 wins, 21 losses), the 1973 Philadelphia 76ers (9 wins, 73 losses), and the 1978 San Diego Clippers (27 wins, 55 losses), the teams were desolate and battle-scarred.

In Baltimore, he successfully led the Bullets to the playoffs, and in 1971, they made it to the finals, where they lost to Alcindor and Robertson's Bucks.

In Philadelphia, he took the 76ers to the 1977 finals, where they lost to the Trail Blazers.