Philadelphia ? Maurice Cheeks is trying to leave emotion out of the equation, but he seems to be losing the battle. Cheeks tried unsuccessfully to downplay tonight’s reunion at the Wachovia Center when the Philadelphia 76ers meet his former team, the Portland Trail Blazers.

Cheeks was fired March 2 as Portland’s coach after more than 31â2 seasons, a 162-139 record, and two trips to the playoffs.

The Sixers’ new coach immediately became wildly popular with Philadelphia’s fans and players, the same type of bond he had developed in Portland.

That is why tonight’s game won’t be just a normal one – for the coach, his players, or the opponents.

“No matter who it is, we are trying to win a game,” Cheeks said after practice Monday at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

After a pause, Cheeks conceded that this would not be an ordinary game. “I can’t help but think about it,” he said.

Cheeks was given the pink slip after Portland had sputtered to a 22-33 record. He wanted to play veterans and the Blazers wanted to go with a youth movement. Youth won out, but also lost a lot of games. After he was fired, the Blazers staggered to a 5-22 record over the rest of last season.

“I knew Mo didn’t have it in his heart to play the young guys,” Portland general manager John Nash said after the Blazers’ workout Monday afternoon at the Wachovia Center. “I think he is better suited for a team like the 76ers, with so many veteran players, because he has terrific rapport and understands a veteran team.”

“Not only is he a great coach, but he’s a great human being,” Blazers center Joel Przybilla said as he iced his knees after practice. “Everything about him is great. He is so well respected and caring.

“I owe a lot to him and his coaching staff for developing me as a player, and it will be tough seeing him on the other side.”

The Sixers (7-7) are hoping to end a two-game losing streak. They won’t need any inspirational speeches from their coach to know that this game carries special meaning to him.

“I know what it’s like to play against former teams … and you would be lying to say you didn’t put more on those games a little bit,” said Sixers forward Chris Webber, now playing for his fourth NBA team. “We definitely want to make sure that we win and that we got the better end of the deal.”

Cheeks, the point guard on the Sixers’ 1983 NBA championship team, has always been uncomfortable in the spotlight.

There is no doubt that the firing still stings. Still, Cheeks insists that he holds no grudges, pointing out that Portland gave him his first opportunity to be an NBA head coach after he served seven years as a Sixers assistant.

“I’m not upset at them,” he said. “I’m here in Philadelphia where I started playing basketball and coached here one time. I have to take feelings and emotions and put them aside and do what is best for my team.”

Critics would say that Cheeks was almost too good a person, one who didn’t impose enough discipline. Portland was viewed as a team that sometimes went out of control.

Then again, Cheeks had to deal with some unusual personalities, such as Rasheed Wallace, Bonzi Wells, Jeff McInnis and Damon Stoudamire.

“He had a difficult ensemble,” Nash said.

Still, Cheeks left Portland with the same good feeling from the players that he already has earned in Philadelphia.