THREE THINGS TO DO ON OFFENSE
1: Feed Tim Duncan The Rock
This one is kind of obvious since Duncan is basically the glue that holds this team together, but it bears stating anyway. He is simply the best low-post player in the game today with great touch around the basket and the Cavaliers don't have anyone that can realistically hang with him. Of course, you can say that about a lot of teams, but currently, it's the Cavs problem to deal with. If Duncan can get Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden in foul trouble, all the better since those two are the Cavs main men down in the block for boards and any sort of offense in the post.
2: Make LeBron James Work
Whomever James is guarding in man-to-man defensive sets, said player needs to get James sweating on defense and tire James out to bring LBJ's offensive game down a notch. That duty will probably fall on Michael Finley, Bruce Bowen, and Manu Ginobili. And I'm not talking scoring a bunch of points, no, that's not neccessarily going to do it. I'm talking about running James through multiple screens, making him chase said player from the top of the key to the baseline and sideline-to-sideline. The Cavs will probably put James on Bowen since Bowen is basically a spot-up shooter and LeBron can rest. Well, run around, Bowen, run!
3: Control The Pace Of The Game
The Spurs are lucky enough to have the ability and athletes such Ginobili and Parker to run up and down the court with any team AND have Duncan down low. Against the Cavs, it would be best to slow the game down relying on The Big Fundamental in the box and their excellent perimeter shooters from the outside. This will theoretically give LeBron less chances to score since the Spurs will use more time during their half-court possessions. In this case, a good steady offense makes for a good defense. Add the fact that the Cavs have been wasting time during their offensive posssessions and then settling on jumpers, efficiency on the Spurs' side should rule in the end.
THREE THINGS TO DO ON DEFENSE
1: Deny James The Ball
This is easier said than done, but if James' defender can overplay and deny James the rock, James can't do damage. I would even put pressure in the backcourt if the ball is inbounded to him. Maybe even trap to get the ball out of James' hands. Bowen, Ginobili, Parker are more than capable of putting pressure on LBJ and then recovering when the ball gets over the halfcourt line.
2: Don't Forget The No-Layup Rule!
This rule is something that the Pistons forgot about at the end of Game Six when James drove in for a scoop shot in the second overtime to put the Cavs ahead for good. Of course, it seemed that James was hitting everything that night, but historically, James isn't a spectacular free-throw shooter. The Spurs will need the Cavs end it at the end, particular if James looks like he's starting to weave a spell through the lane with no one able to dispel the magic without fouling.
3: Don’t Make Daniel Gibson Anymore Famous Than He Already Is
Actually, this would go for any role player on the Cavs, but particularly Daniel Gibson who has gone absolute bonkers of late. It's tough to defend James and double and even triple-teams will be needed at different times during a game, so help-defending will be important for the Spurs. While the Spurs have no other choice but to concentrate on James, they can't let a perimeter shooter such as Gibson or say [b[Donyell Marshall to start burning them, leaving some doubt as to collapsing on James because then James will start doing his thing of late. And that wouldn't be good for the Spurs.
PREDICTION:
Well, I did predict the Spurs beating the Cavs before the season and I'm going to stick to it. Normally, I would think that the Spurs have too much depth and experience for the Cavs and that the Spurs could even possibly sweep them. However, LeBron James is doing what Dwyane Wade did last season with the NBA champion Miami Heat - carrying and willing his team to win. So, I'll give the Cavs two games and say that the Spurs win the whole enchilada in six games.