NBA BEAT - SPURS vs. CAVS Championship Series A Dream Match-up - June 2007

James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Thursday June 7, 2007

Cleveland's David vs. San Antonio Spurs Goliath's

WOW!!!Finally something to get excited about in an NBA final. It may not be advertisers dream since San Antonio and Cleveland aren't exactly what is referred to as a major market with large populations but Tim Duncun vs. LeBron James and companies should be exciting to watch.

We're talking about the David's of Cleveland who have never been there let alone won a title verses the Goliath's San Antonio Spurs who have won three NBA championships 1999, 2003 and 2005.

Should the Cavs pull off a major upset and take the title it would be the biggest upset in an NBA title series since the Portland Trailblazers with Bill Walton won the title in 1977, a mere 30 years ago.

There are major similarities between the Cavs and the then Trailblazers. One being that they both have teams that have no players that have been on an NBA title team. They both have a superstar player, the Cavs LeBron James and the Blazers Walton.

Walton was in his third NBA season in 1977 and James is currently in his fourth. The Blazers faced a Philadelphia 76er team loaded with stars that included one of the greatest Dr. Julius Erving as well as George McGinnis, Doug Collins and World B. Free.

That team also had Kobe Bryant's father Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, Mike Bibby's father Henry Bibby as well as one of the first major high school to NBA players 7' Darryl "The Chocolate Thunder" Dawkins, the LA Clippers now head coach Mike Dunleavy, Steve Mix and Caldwell Jones.

The Spurs have seven players that were members of the 2005-title team including Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry, Robert Horry and Beno Udrh.

Four players were members of the Spurs 2003 title team, Duncan, Parker, Ginobli and Bowen. Duncan is the only Spurs player that was on the 1999 title team.

The Cavaliers have basically journeymen players that have talent but haven't been a member of a team that has won an NBA title. Portland was in the same situation.

The Trailblazers had good players that finished second in the Pacific Division standings with a 49-33 regular season record four games behind the Los Angeles Lakers.

Maurice Lucas, Lionel Hollins, Bob Gross, Larry Steele, Dave Twardzik, Lloyd Neal, Johnny Davis were respected in the league but they had not risen to the NBA title challenge.

That year they shocked the NBA world by defeating the 76ers and their stars in six games of the best of seven game series after losing the first two games they swept the final four for the title.

It is one of Walton's most memorable moments as his eyes lit up when he recalled the experience.

Though Walton had experienced being a member of two NCAA championship teams at UCLA (1972-73) under then coach John Wooden winning an NBA title was a new challenge and accomplishment.

This season the Cavs finished three games behind the division leader Detroit Pistons with a 50-32 record.

Similarities to Portland yes but it is doubtful that the Cavaliers can accomplish what the Trailblazers did.

One main reason is the 76ers were too overconfident particularly after taking a 2-0 lead in the series. The Spurs are more level headed under the composed levelheaded leadership of Tim Duncan.

It's the classic story of the young guns verses the proven old heads. Who will win is up to you but in this match-up we're picking the been there and done that Spurs to win the series 4-1 for their fourth title.

Think about it this 2007, is an odd year and the Spurs have won all of their titles in odd years. THINK ABOUT IT...

DID YOU KNOW???

The Spurs Robert Horry has been a member of six NBA title winning teams. Horry won the title as a member of the 1994 & 95 Houston Rockets and the 2000 - 2001 & 2002 Los Angeles Lakers as well as the 2005 Spurs title teams.

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