NBA Finals Preview

This past week, we were all 'witnesses' to LeBron James' ascension from a star to a world class player. After bringing the Cavaliers back from 0-2 against the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals (highlighted by a 48 point explosion in game 5 at the Palace), LeBron and his supporting cast take on another team that's been there and done that. The San Antonio Spurs. A team that is looking to win their fourth NBA title since 1999. After having rolled through a much tougher conference than Cleveland, the Spurs are the odds on favorite to win another O'Brien trophy. Should the Cavaliers be taken so lightly? Let's take a look at the matchups:

1. Bruce Bowen vs. LeBron James-Bowen has earned the reputation as a tough as nails, occasionally dirty defender in his time with the Spurs. He always draws the assignment of guarding the opponent's best perimeter player. His assignment in the finals? Somehow contain LeBron James who is playing his best basketball of the season. That's all. Truth be told, the no one player can hold down LeBron James, and Bowen is at a disadvantage in terms of the brute strength of LeBron if he decides to post him up. Bowen is not tall enough to bother James' jumper, not quick enough to keep James in front of him, and not strong enough to hold his ground in the blocks. So what is he to do? Simple, make him work at both ends. This is something that the Detroit Pistons failed to do against LeBron James in the Eastern Conference finals. Despite having a good offensive player in Tayshaun Prince (who albeit had a pretty sub par series), Detroit seldom looked to get him involved in the offense and make LeBron work defensively. It will be a group performance, but the Spurs have to make LeBron at least close out on Bowen from long range. The Spurs can't allow James to roam the passing lanes the way he did against the Pistons.
2. Time for Timmy-Tim Duncan is a world class player who still does not get the credit he deserves for as consistently great he has been his whole career. While he gets most of his fame for his bank shot from the elbow, Duncan is outstanding at setting up his offense in the blocks, is an improving passer, and has extremely underrated quickness. Who on Cleveland's front court can contain him? Zydrunas Ilgauskas is the only player who has the length to bother his shot, but is too slow to stay with Duncan, Drew Gooden is a solid positional defender but can't bother Duncan's jumper. I think the player best prepared for guarding Duncan from a length and athleticism standpoint is Anderson Varejao. However, Varejao has a tendency to play out of control and pick up fouls by the bunches. He will have to play more under control because he may be their best bet in containing Duncan.
3. Guard play-this turned the Eastern Conference finals around as the Cavaliers were able to shut down Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton for most of the series and keep the Pistons offense out of whack. The Spurs guards offer a slew of challenges for the Cavs defensively. Tony Parker is the fastest player in the league and gets into the paint for high percentage looks seemingly at will and Michael Finley is as smart a player as you will find and that makes up for the athleticism he's lost with age. The X-factor is Manu Ginobilli. He has gotten off to some slow starts for the Spurs in their previous series', but when he is on his game, he is almost unguardable. He drives to the basket with such ease and has a knack for knocking down heartbreaking shots. If Cleveland can't contain the guards, it won't matter what they do against Tim Duncan and it will be a very short series.
4. Help for LeBron-Cleveland defeated the Detroit Pistons because of the supporting cast stepping up in key moments, something they were unable to do a year ago. Rookie Daniel Gibson has really come into his own and without him the Cavaliers do not advance. He poured in 31 points (mostly on wide open 3-pointers) to put away the Pistons in game 6, and the accuracy of his shot will influence how much room LeBron has to operate as this series goes on. Aside from the two of them, Cleveland does not have a player capable of taking a game over. However, they do have a handful of players who can hit open jumpers if they are allowed to in Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden. Don't get me wrong, LeBron will have to be sensational for the Cavaliers to win, but his teammates have to contribute enough to make the Spurs pay for double teaming him.

Every way you look at this series, the Spurs have the superior team. That said, I have a sinking feeling that the Cavaliers are going to give San Antonio all they can handle. Expect this series to be a dogfight and for LeBron to build on his superb performance against the weak Eastern Conference. On paper, I would say San Antonio takes it in five games. I'm going to give LeBron credit for being able to steal an extra game for the Cavaliers. My prediction: San Antonio in 6.