Blazers coach Maurice Cheeks and Temple alum Rick Brunson were recently reminiscing about Philadelphia landmarks when Philly native Rasheed Wallace sat down next to Cheeks. Anyone wondering why Sheed’s run-ins with refs are down and Portland’s postseason stock is up can start right there.

It’s no secret Wallace doesn’t respond positively to authority figures. But when Cheeks talks, Sheed listens. More older brother than stern taskmaster, Cheeks can needle Wallace about driving an older S-Class Benz than his head coach, then mention matter-of-factly how wrong it is that people talk more about Sheed’s T’s than his talent. “Terrific kid,” says Cheeks. “But you’ve got to to talk with him about stuff beyond basketball.”

Last fall, when Wallace threw a training-camp tantrum at a pair of rent-a-refs, Cheeks said nothing. Two months later, with the Blazers a game under .500, it was a different story. A ball bounced out of bounds on a busted play during practice. “We’re all right,” said a way-too-casual Wallace. “No, we’re not,” said Cheeks, choosing that moment to deliver a message to his franchise player.

Normally, Cheeks prefers to defer. He doesn’t bark at Damon Stoudamire for trying to create shots, especially in the clutch. And he lets Sheed set up outside for threes as often as he posts up. So when Cheeks makes a point, it gets through.

Portland’s prayers that Mo’s cred would help calm Wallace were answered: Sheed has 14 fewer T’s this season than last, when he set a NBA record with 41. Cheeks, typically, demurs: “Maybe I planted a seed, but he wanted to change.”

Not that everything’s perfect in Portland. The Blazers still want Wallace to defer less to Damon. And they want him to practice harder. But at least Wallace isn’t passing off last-second plays designed for him, as he did under former coach Mike Dunleavy.

“I’m excited that we have a new coaching staff in here,” says Wallace, who grew up watching Cheeks win a title for the Sixers on Channel 17 in Philly.

“Sheed respects Maurice,” says Scottie Pippen, who cautions that Portland is still no more than a first-round upset threat. But hey, a little brotherly love can go a long way.

This article appears in the April 29 issue of ESPN The Magazine.