GAME THREAD: NBA: CLEVELAND (12-4) at SAN ANTONIO (12-4)

NBA: CLEVELAND (12-4) at SAN ANTONIO (12-4)

<h3>Spurs, Cavaliers meet in Game One of the NBA Finals</h3>

<div class="pre">Cleveland at San Antonio 9:00 pm EDT</div><div class="pre">NBA Finals Game One</div>

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Depending on the point of view, Thursdaymay mark the coronation of the San Antonio Spurs as an officialNBA dynasty or the beginning of a new era for the ClevelandCavaliers.

The Spurs host LeBron James and the upstart Cavaliers in GameOne of the NBA Finals at the AT&T Center.

San Antonio, which is gunning for their third championship infive seasons, heads into the finals eight days removed fromtheir five-game series victory over the Utah Jazz in the WesternConference finals.

In pursuit of their fourth overall NBA title, three-time finalsMVP Tim Duncan once again is up to his old tricks, as heaveraging 23 points and 11 rebounds through 16 playoff contests.

Cleveland, on the other hand, is making its first appearance inthe NBA Finals behind the stellar play of the young superstarJames. Many have suggested that the Cavaliers have brokenthrough as a regular title contender after having dispatched thefavored Detroit Pistons in six games.

While many will play up the Duncan vs. James matchup, there areseveral intriguing storylines that will play a major factor inwhich team emerges victorious and whether San Antonio adds totheir legacy or Cleveland is just starting to write their own.

Undoubtedly, the 22-year-old James will draw the attention ofevery Spurs player, but will have the undivided attention ofrenowned defender Bruce Bowen.

A member of the All-Defense First or Second Team seven times,Bowen recognizes the challenge in front of him and is certainlyno stranger to being asked to limit the players that preciousfew other players can.

"Everyone always tries to come up with a new and improved way ofdescribing LeBron," Bowen said at Wednesday's media session atthe AT&T Center. "He's a phenomenal player, period. But I'msure you guys are going to try to come up with other ways.

"It's a situation that you have to understand you don't want himgoing to the basket easily. He is so good in traffic. Whetheryou foul him or not, he's still strong enough to finish anddunk on guys as everyone has seen before. (It's best) to try todeny him the ball at times."

Much like James causes fits for his opponents, Duncan has been aheadache to gameplan against for 10 years, which coincides withthe number of consecutive seasons the Spurs have reached theplayoffs. The Cavaliers figure to take a committee approach todo their best to keep him off-balance, but with all his big-gameexperience, it may be a moot point if they fail to beat Duncanto his spots.

"You have to meet him early because he does such a good job ofusing his body, and that's something that we've emphasized toour bigs," Cavaliers assistant Chris Jent said. "Run ahead ofhim, try to meet him early, so he can't use his (body) angles.He can use the angles on you close to the basket. You've got todo your work early on him."

Perhaps as compelling as the on-court battle will be the chessmatch taking place on the sidelines. Cavaliers coach Mike Brownspent three years under the tutelage of Spurs coach GreggPopovich and was on the staff in 2003 when the Spurs won thesecond of their three titles. He is 3-1 in his meetings againsthis former boss, including two victories this season.

"They're one of the better defensive teams in the league, andnobody's figured that out," said Popovich, whose team led theNBA in defense. "Their rotations are good. Their individualdefense is filled with effort. They communicate, they try tocover for each other. And that's one of the things they dowell. It's not just the LeBron (James) show."

In its two wins, Cleveland limited San Antonio to 81 and 78points. The Spurs shot a combined 40 percent (57-of-142) fromthe field in those games and did not score more than 21 pointsin six of the eight quarters.

Bowen was 1-of-11. Robert Horry was 2-of-9. Michael Finley was3-of-10. Manu Ginobili was 6-of-19. That's 12-of-49 for aquartet that usually thrives off the post play of Tim Duncan andthe penetration of Tony Parker, a pair of All-Stars.

Parker averaged 23.5 points and Duncan 21.5 in the two games.But the Cavaliers conceded Duncan and Parker their points andprevented the perimeter players from getting into the act.

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS


CLEVELAND AT SAN ANTONIO - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


CLEVELAND SAN ANTONIO

F Drew Gooden F Bruce Bowen
F LeBron James F Tim Duncan
C Zydrunas Ilgauskas C Fabricio Oberto
G Larry Hughes G Tony Parker
G Aleksandar Pavlovic G Michael Finley

OFFICIALS: Mike Callahan
Steve Javie
Ken Mauer</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 6
SAN ANTONIO 10 8:20 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 10
SAN ANTONIO 16 5:52 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 13
SAN ANTONIO 16 3:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 15
SAN ANTONIO 20 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 15 15
SAN ANTONIO 20 20 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

CLE - DREW GOODEN 4, ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 4,
DANIEL GIBSON 3
SAS - TIM DUNCAN 8, TONY PARKER 6, MICHAEL
FINLEY 2</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 19
SAN ANTONIO 20 9:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 25
SAN ANTONIO 22 6:04 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 26
SAN ANTONIO 33 2:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 35
SAN ANTONIO 40 HALFTIME</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 15 20 35
SAN ANTONIO 20 20 40 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

CLE - ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 8, DANIEL GIBSON 7,
ANDERSON VAREJAO 5
SAS - TIM DUNCAN 14, TONY PARKER 12, MANU
GINOBILI 5</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 37
SAN ANTONIO 42 8:57 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 43
SAN ANTONIO 49 6:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 49
SAN ANTONIO 58 2:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 49
SAN ANTONIO 64 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CLEVELAND 15 20 14 49
SAN ANTONIO 20 20 24 64 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

CLE - DREW GOODEN 14, ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC 8,
LEBRON JAMES 8
SAS - TIM DUNCAN 20, TONY PARKER 18, MANU
GINOBILI 11</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 54
SAN ANTONIO 70 9:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 62
SAN ANTONIO 76 6:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: CLEVELAND at SAN ANTONIO

<div class="pre">FINALS

NBA FINALS
CLEVELAND 69
SAN ANTONIO 78 2:59 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>