Spurs have been to mountaintop; Cavs stuck at base camp

[td4mvp3]

this is what caught the mavs last year, i think, just the complete lack of experience catching up to them. the heat had the same issue except shaq had won and riley as well to lend some experience and keep folks grounded, plus other players had made it to the finals but just not won it (payton, though he's the only one to come to mind). i think we saw last year how important that experience is.


Spurs have been to mountaintop; Cavs stuck at base camp


June 8, 2007
By Tony Mejia
CBS SportsLine.com Staff Writer
Tell Tony your opinion!


SAN ANTONIO -- Cleveland, everyone tried to tell you.

The Finals are a different animal. Getting here is like climbing a mountain, but you have to watch your step. If you stop to raise your arms, the ground might just slip right out from under you.


LeBron James and the Cavs have skill but they lack what the Spurs have in Finals experience. (AP)
In Game 1, that's exactly what happened to the Cavaliers, who hung around for a half before being swallowed by the whole experience and a team that has been there before.

Add experience to the laundry list of reasons why San Antonio has enormous advantages over the Eastern Conference champions.

"It definitely played a lot, us never being a part of it, but that's not an excuse for us, because we've been in games in the Eastern Conference finals we've never been apart of and we didn't make an excuse," said LeBron James. "It's something we've been able to adjust throughout the course of a series. That's going to be the biggest thing to try to, adjust to Game 2 from Game 1 and get better."

Now that Thursday night's 85-76 loss is in the books, the Cavs are ready to admit what they wouldn't just a few days ago.

"This is the best team we've faced, and we know that," Cleveland's Drew Gooden said. "We kind of use them as a measuring stick to see where we're at. I think we are comfortable running our offense against them and our defensive principles, but at the same time, their experience I think kind of overcame us in this first game.

"You walk in here and see all the banners, the Western Conference championship banners, and you get a feeling that this team, these fans, this coaching staff has been here before. This is new to us, especially starting on the road is tough. We knew that would come into play."

Eric Snow tried to warn his teammates. He's the only one of them ever to play in an NBA Finals, and Gooden calls him the team's "guiding light" during this time of year.

Whenever Snow opens his mouth to lend some sage advice, his teammates are all ears.

That said, hearing about it is one thing. Actually experiencing is another.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas compared it to an All-Star Game, but bigger. He mentioned the police escorts and the pregame festivities that seemed to go on forever. He's taking it all in, and hopes to make better use of his opportunity on Sunday than the 1-for-8 shooting effort that spoiled his initial Finals endeavor.

It's strange that in terms of experience at this level, a 32-year-old former All-Star with loads of international and pro experience feels the same way as his rookie teammate, 21-year-old Daniel Gibson. But Gibson, like the kid who really doesn't understand the magnitude of where he is, shrugged off the added pressure, knocking down 7-of-9 shots to lead the Cavs with 16 points.

"We're just so captured by the moment, and we still have a guy like LeBron on our team. I think that even though it's our first time, we understand that it's the NBA Finals, and that you really don't get this opportunity too many times," said Gibson, who a year ago was watching this event on television. "We know we have to give it everything we got and try to take advantage of this one opportunity that we have.

"Those guys do understand what this is all about, but we're still capable of doing some of the things that they've been doing. We just have to learn from our mistakes. The breakdowns and turnovers that we had, hopefully we can turn that around and change the outcome of the next game."

While the Cavs should be more effective with the opening jitters out of the way, they should know that they weren't the only team harboring nerves. Two San Antonio starters, Michael Finley and Fabricio Oberto, were making their Finals debuts and definitely needed time to get used to it.

Oberto, who has played in an Olympic gold medal game and championships over in Europe, was still shocked by all the media, cameras and the crowd. He felt like all eyes were on this event. The hoopla reminded Finley of his first All-Star Game, but he had the benefit of veteran teammates to help ease the pressure.

"It's very calming to see the guys not get too over-excited about this situation," said Finley, who struggled to a 1-for-7 effort, but ultimately was just pleased with the win. "I can imagine going into locker room where every one it's pretty much their first time, and everybody is giddy and excited. Our locker room is calm. If you walk in our locker room you would never think we're in the NBA Finals -- well, until Coach walked in.

"I would wish I had experienced it in my second or third year, so at this point I could be a wily veteran when it comes to this, but I'm enjoying the moment just as much as they (the Cavs) are. When it comes to the Finals experience, I'm like a rookie player."

Come Sunday, there won't be any rookies remaining, not even Gibson. Cleveland has to hope that one game is enough of an adjustment period to find its footing, but it has to know how heavily stacked the odds are against them. Led by Robert Horry with his six rings, the Spurs have 20 rings on their active roster. The Cavs have none.

"I don't know what's going through their minds sitting in their locker room; I haven't been in their locker room. But for us, there's just a calmness," said Horry, whose first finals came in 1994, when James was only 9 years old. "A lot of guys have been in this situation. We've been in so many situations, been through so many battles. I know they've been through a lot of battles also, but not as many playoff battles.

"In the front of your mind, you're saying it's (just) a basketball game, but in the back of your mind you know it's not. It's a totally different ballgame. When you see those yellow signs that say 'Finals' on them, you know it's a different deal."

The Cleveland Cavaliers might have had no idea what Horry is talking about prior to Thursday night, but they definitely know now.

[boutons_]

"their experience"

I picked up on their take of the Spurs' experience being the Spurs main advantage in the Cavs' post-game, to the back-handed exclusion of the Spurs' superior personnel and coaching.

But who really gives a about what the Cavs say as excuses? We only care about how they play.