The NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. San Antonio Spurs

The NBA Finals appear to be a given. The Spurs are going up against the Cavaliers, in what many are saying should be a one-sided affair. What's not to like about the Spurs. San Antonio rolled through the West. In the first round, San Antonio handled Denver in five games, after losing game 1. In the conference semis, San Antonio wore down Phoenix in six games. Finally, in the conference finals, The Spurs really hammered Utah in five games.

The Cavs, of course, had a very pedestrian ride to the finals. In the first round, Cleveland swept an injury-riddled Washington Wizards. In the conference semis, the Cavs rolled over the New Jersey Nets in six games. In the conference finals, Cleveland beat Detroit in six, in which all the contests were relatively close, except for the final game 6.

The experts will spend the series talking about how easy the ride was for Cleveland, and just how good the West was compared to the East.

I'm not going to bore you with any of that.

I'm also not going to bore you with any stats. What's the point.

The West has more offense. The East has more defense. Both of these teams can play D. Both of these teams have offensive players. Whose are better?

I don't think it matters.

The key for San Antonio is simple. Can they stop the rest of the Cavs surrounding Lebron. Many think it will be easy. Many will focus on Daniel Gibson. The problem, however, is that with Lebron, there are several Cavs that can score. They'll have to step up, no doubt about it.

The key for Cleveland is Tony Parker. Can they annoy Parker enough that he can't penetrate at will. When that happens, the rest of San Antonio's offense clearly excel. There will be a lot of pressure on Boobie, Hughes and Snow.

When it's all said and done, I don't feel there is a whole lot different about these teams. Lebron should dominate Bowen, and Duncan should dominate Gooden. Ginobli has the advantage over Pavlovic, but Pavs can be annoying. He is a similar player to Ginobli. Z is a better player than the two centers that rotate for San Antonio. Parker is a better point guard than Hughes.

When you look at the bench, San Antonio has old, wily vets in Finley (starter, but really off the bench), Robert Horry, Brent Barry and Jacque Vaughn. Cleveland has a mix in Boobie, Snow, Varejao, Marshall. All are role players that can turn the tide.

Cavs fans will make a big deal about the 2 wins the Cavs have over the Spurs, and it IS a bigger deal than most Spurs fans will take credit for, but not nearly as big a deal as Cavs fans will make it out to be. It shows the potential for Cleveland to win. It also gives the Spurs incentive.

The bottom line for me, is that this game, and this series will be a lot closer than a lot of people are giving it credit for.

To me, it comes down to the third and fourth quarter. Can Cleveland keep it close in the third quarter, when they have struggled in the past? Can San Antonio pull away in the second half?

If it's close, and I think it will be, it will come down to the stars...and San Antonio has more of them, but Cleveland has the one that really can't be stopped. If it's close at the end, look for the Cavs to steal some games.

And in the end?

Cleveland wins the series in seven games.

Like I said, look for a close series with teams that are much more closely bunched together than anyone gives them credit for.

In the end...

Look for Lebron...

to make EVERYONE a witness.