Dribbles: Numbers support idea that NBA Finals will be fun

By foxsports
Published

2. In this year's playoffs, James is averaging 27.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 8.7 assists. That makes him the first player in NBA history to enter the Finals with averages of at least 27, 10 and eight, respectively.

3. LeBron has been to the Finals five times (once with the Cavs and four times with the Heat). But he says this may be his best playoff run yet. "If you put everything together as far as my mind, my body, my game -- if you put everything in one bottle, this is probably the best I've been," he said.

4. Meanwhile, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is the Cavs' all-time leader in 3-point field-goal percentage. So that means Kerr is the eighth coach to go against a former team in the Finals. So far, those coaches are 1-6. The lone winner was (who else?) Phil Jackson, whose Lakers beat the Nets in 2002.

5. The Warriors are the 10th team to win 67 regular-season games and make it to the Finals. So far, those teams are 7-2. But the Warriors have no players with Finals experience. That makes them the first such team to make it this far since Michael Jordan and the 1990-91 Bulls.

6. The Bulls had home-court advantage against the Magic Johnson-led Lakers in that series. The Lakers won Game 1 on the road, a late banked-in three by Sam Perkins being the game's biggest shot. But MJ and the Bulls bounced back to win four straight.

7. That's when Jordan took over for Magic and Bird as the NBA's resident star. Cavs fans are hoping Warriors guard and league MVP Steph Curry doesn't have a similar breakout performance vs. LeBron.

8. The Warriors are an amazing 46-3 at home, including the playoffs. The Cavs have won 26 of their previous 28 at home. But I have a feeling whoever wins the championship will have to win atleast one road game. That's definitely the case for the Cavs, of course. But I think the Warriors will have to win one on the road, too.

9. Interesting tidbit straight from the NBA: "Since 1976, only five No. 1 overall draft picks have gone on to win the NBA championship with the team that drafted them: Magic Johnson (Lakers, 1979), James Worthy (Lakers, 1982), Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets, 1984), David Robinson (Spurs, 1987) and Tim Duncan (1997). LeBron James (Cavaliers, 2003) and Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers, 2011) can join the list, though James hasn't been with Cleveland exclusively since being drafted."

10. Speaking of the draft, another tidbit from the NBA: "Four of the top 17 picks from the 2011 NBA Draft will start in The Finals: Cleveland's Kyrie Irving (No. 1 pick), Tristan Thompson (No. 4) and Iman Shumpert (No. 17), and Golden State's Klay Thompson (No. 11)."

11. Now for some opinion: This is a series between two very likeable teams. With the dreaded Heat making it each of the previous four seasons, that's a nice change. Or maybe it's a bad change -- as nobody really has anyone to hate. There are no villains.