SCOREBOARD
Thursday, June 7
Cleveland at San Antonio (9 p.m. EDT). The NBA Finals open with the Spurs looking for their third title in five years.
GREENHORNS
The Cavaliers are at a huge disadvantage when it comes to NBA finals experience, with only reserve guard Eric Snow having played for the title. But Cleveland coach Mike Brown spent three years as an assistant on Gregg Popovich’s staff in San Antonio and was there in 2003 when the Spurs won the second of their three titles.
OLD HANDS
For the Spurs, trips to the NBA Finals are becoming old hat. They won in 1999, 2003 and 2005. San Antonio’s nucleus of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have been together for the last two title runs.
EARLIER
In the regular season, Cleveland limited San Antonio to 79.5 points per game in two meetings. The Spurs were held to a season-low 28 field goals in one of their losses, so they know how tough the Cavs can make things for them.
SPEAKING
“Throughout the season we tried to use this team as a measuring stick. I think now this is the ultimate measuring stick, is playing this team in the finals.” – Cleveland’s Drew Gooden on the Spurs.