Richard Barnett, 26, is a bony, medium-sized giant whose regular starting position in the Los Angeles Lakers' lineup is a 2-ft.-wide section of white pine planking on the Laker bench. There he sits, impassively watching the action or examining the toes of his size 12½ sneakers, until some Laker starter misses a few easy lay-ups or begins to pant on the way downcourt. Then Coach Fred Schaus yells, "Dick, get in there!" and Barnett unfolds his full 6 ft. 4 in. and trots onto the floor. To serve melodrama properly, he should promptly rattle...
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