10 crucial elements

1. THE KING JAMES VERSION: Lebron James is the biggest star still playing, and all eyes and cameras will be on him in his first NBA Finals appearance. San Antonio's defense will be geared to stop him. The Spurs will try to confuse him with different looks and put him in positions where he will have to make split-second decisions. He has stepped up in every test, and there is no reason to think he isn't up for this challenge. Besides Bruce Bowen, Manu Ginobili, Michael Finley, Brent Barry and Robert Horry will probably get a chance to guard James.

2. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: This is the Spurs' third trip to the Finals in five seasons, and they won it all in 1999, 2003 and 2005. They do not get rattled by much and have a knack for making critical adjustments. This is the first NBA Finals appearance for Cleveland, and reserve Eric Snow is the only Cavaliers player who has been to the Finals, losing as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2001. The Spurs, meanwhile, still have seven players from their 2005 championship.

3. TEMPO: The Spurs are lethal at any tempo but prefer to run and will try to force things, while the Cavaliers are more comfortable in the halfcourt. That doesn't mean they won't take off when the opportunity arises, however. Expect the scores to be in the mid-90s most games.

4. DEALING WITH DUNCAN: Tim Duncan is as consistent and predictable as superstars come, but he is so good and so efficient that his imprint will be all over the game. Where James is spectacular, Duncan is solid, but everything the Spurs do at both ends of the floor they do because of his presence. He's the one who makes everything work. He moves the ball out of the double-team as well as anyone in the league, and if he is single-covered, it's clinic time with his classic low-post moves.

5. FLOPPING: Two of the best players in the league at drawing charges are San Antonio's Ginobili and Cleveland's Anderson Varejao. It's a thin line between a charge and a flop, and these two players will make it an even tougher call for the officials.