<div align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">Cleveland Advances to the NBA Finals</span>By: CelticBalla32</div>The Cleveland Cavaliers are making their first NBA Finals appearance in their 37 year existence, as they eliminated the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 98-82. You'd think that LeBron James would have been the biggest factor offensively, but rookie guard Daniel "Boobie" Gibson had a remarkable night, as he scored 31 points off the bench, hitting all five of his three-point attempts as well as 12 of his 15 free throw attempts. Gibson was very aggressive throughout the night, but he was a completely different player in the 4th quarter, as he went on a surge and dismantled Detroit with his outstanding shooting display from the perimeter.While James wasn't the high-point man of the night, his performance still deserves a mention. He only attempted two field goals in the first half, but he managed to get the free throw line 11 times by the break as well. James may not have scored 48 points like he did in Game 5, but he displayed his incredible all-around talents, putting up 20 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing 8 assists. He also displayed strong efforts on the defensive end, as he blocked two shots and came away with two steals, as well as not allowing Tayshaun Prince to do any damage in the post. LeBron James is a truly remarkable talent, as he has led his team to the NBA Finals at just 22 years of age.The biggest factor in the game was the fact that Cleveland simply wanted it more. Cleveland won the battle on the boards by a margin of 20 rebounds, 53-33. Cleveland also got great contributions off the bench, as the Cavalier bench combined for 43 points, 31 by Daniel Gibson, to help the team come away with the victory. They were out-hustling, out-running, out-rebounding, out-shooting, and out-working Detroit, and the Pistons fell apart at the end of the night. Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace lost his cool in the closing minutes of the 4th quarter, as he was hit with two technical fouls and ejected from the game after losing his cool towards the officials. Had there been a Game 7, Wallace would have been suspended for it, due to his technical foul totals in the playoffs.Cleveland will face the San Antonio Spurs in the 2007 NBA Finals, led by all-time great Tim Duncan. Game 1 of the 2007 NBA Finals will be on Thursday night at 8:00 pm ET. By that time, San Antonio will have had an eight day rest, while Cleveland will have a 5 day break. Will LeBron James pull off the impossible and give Tim Duncan and the Spurs a serious run for their money? Only time will tell. You'd better get your popcorn ready, sit back, and enjoy the ride.
Wooot. I wouldn't be able to handle another pistons spurs finals. If bron wins the ring he is the best player in the league. No doubt about it.
^ For sure. Dude was sick with it and dropped the roc with fire.I think I saw the ball catch flames at one time .. lol Cavs in 5.
Any of ya'll thinking that the tide has turned and that Detroit might not make it back to the Finals for a while?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Klashnekoff @ Jun 2 2007, 09:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>^ For sure. Dude was sick with it and dropped the roc with fire.I think I saw the ball catch flames at one time .. lol Cavs in 5.</div>Are you serious? :no3:
He's a Cavs fan... but yeah, saying Cleveland will defeat San Antonio in five games is absolutely ludicrous. If the series lasts only five games, then it will be the Spurs holding up the trophy, not Cleveland.I would have rather seen a Spurs-Pistons Finals series... I don't know why a lot of people thought that it was a boring series... I loved that series.Oh well, Spurs in six...
This makes me sick. The Finals will actually get decent ratings now and people will actually care. And the Spurs will win in 5 or sweep. :ranting:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Jun 2 2007, 11:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This makes me sick. The Finals will actually get decent ratings now and people will actually care. And the Spurs will win in 5 or sweep. :ranting:</div>why does it make you sick? Because it means the spurs probably won't lose?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kobebryant_24OWNEDME @ Jun 3 2007, 11:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>why does it make you sick? Because it means the spurs probably won't lose?</div>No, because the Spurs will win but the NBA will still get decent ratings and it's painful to see the road to the championship get easier and easier as time goes by. The Spurs would've won no matter what team came out of the East.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Jun 3 2007, 01:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>This makes me sick. The Finals will actually get decent ratings now and people will actually care. And the Spurs will win in 5 or sweep. :ranting:</div>I disagree with the thought that they will sweep the Cavaliers. While I don't believe the Cavaliers will win, I think they have the ability to win this series, and I think the Cavaliers will be able to pull it to a six or seven game series against the Spurs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mobruler @ Jun 4 2007, 05:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Spurs in 3.I almost hate Lebron as much as I hated Jordan... already.</div>Dude why you mad hating on Bron ?Also you can't beat someone in 3 games. It's best out of 7.
For some reason Lebron and Larry Hughes are beginning to remind me of Jordan and Pippen. I hope they get it or atleast that the Spurs to 7.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dagameplayer @ Jun 4 2007, 09:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>For some reason Lebron and Larry Hughes are beginning to remind me of Jordan and Pippen. I hope they get it or atleast that the Spurs to 7.</div>Word. I was actually going to say Bron and Gibson but not yet anyway.
You guys are WAY overrating the Cavs right now. Sure they are playing well and made it to the Finals, but to be saying that Lebron James and Larry Hughes are starting to remind of Pippen and MJ, with Gibson being thrown into the mix to is a little ridiculous. First off Pippen and MJ was completely different because Jordan was the scorer and Pippen was the playmaker/facilitator in those days. With James and Hughes, Lebron is playing as both the playmaker and scorer. Also these guys are not playing at near the level that Jordan and Pippen played at through their six championships. Don't get me wrong, James and Hughes are playing well, but they aren't playing anything like Jordan and Pippen did, especially Larry Hughes.
No! lol thats not what I meant valo. When I said they remind me of them I didn't mean the way they play just that they remind me of them. Meaning Lebron is the leader and Hughes is there to back him up and take over the game whenever Lebron is in trouble. Yes I know there notas good as Jordan and Pippen and I dont think they ever will but they do kind of remind me of them. Just the way they work together.
Hughes has not been reliable at all in the playoffs. I don't remember him playing in the 4th quarter in any of the last 4 wins we had on the Pistons, Boobie was getting all the PT in crunchtime, because Hughes has been a massive disappointment.
