NBA Finals: Things to Know After Game 1

By Michael Schneid

The Spurs took a 1-0 series lead in the NBA Finals defeating the Heat 92-88 in Game 1.

Lebron has a shot at revenge against the Spurs, who swept his Cavs in the Finals in 2007.

How does this Heat team measure up to the Spurs? Game 1 is always the most important one and the Spurs previous four championships have come after winning Game 1, so this will be a pretty intense game!

• In Game 1, Lebron had 18 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists. He accounted for 40% of his team's overall rebounds and 50% of the Heat's assists.
  
  
• 6'11 center, Chris Bosh shot 0-4 from three. Let that sink in for a minute..

• When a player hits a three-pointer nowadays, they all do something different. Whether its the famous three goggles, three to the side of the head, the belt, or whatever. Mike Miller, who went 1-2 from downtown in Game 1, shoots, cringes, collapses, and crawls back to the bench. The former Florida Gator can barely move out there and is still contributing for the Heat

• The Kawhi Leonard for George Hill trade has worked out far better than anyone could have imagined, for both teams. Hill started and helped guide the Pacers to within one game of the NBA Finals. While Leonard is starting for the Western conference champs. In game 1, Leonard recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds, his third double-double of the postseason.

• Tony Parker had 21 points, including an amazing drop, pop, and shot on Lebron late in the game. Parker is averaging 23.8 ppg and 8 apg over the Spurs last 5 games. It's amazing that in the conversation of "best point guard in the league" his name just isn't mentioned. While, Parker may not be better than Rajon Rondo or perhaps Kyrie Irving, his name should at least be mentioned, before being instantly dismissed.

• Tim Duncan scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as he continued his terrific postseason play.

• It's amazing when you think about How This Spurs team was Constructed

• For the Heat, Ray Allen hit 3 threes and Dwayne Wade scored 17 points, but Miami must get more production from role players. Chalmers scored 8 and had only 2 assists. Udonis Haslem scored 2 points. Shane Battier didn't contribute much in just 6 minutes.

• Manu Ginobili, 13 points, will be the most important player for the Spurs in this series. He'll come off the bench and with Miami's role players struggling the last few games, Manu has a chance to take over the game and shift momentum if needed.

• Lebron James and Dwayne Wade are both playing in their 4th NBA Finals. Lebron played in 2007 and lost to Spurs while Wade won with the Heat in 2006.

• Overall it is the Heat's 4th NBA Finals appearance and third straight

• Spurs 5th finals overall and first since 2007

• Fun Fact: When Danny Green was LeBron's Cleveland teammate in 2009-10, he had 40 points all season. LeBron that season had 40 or more in 10 games.