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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 6:23 p.m., Thursday, June 14, 2007

NBA Finals, by the numbers

By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service

CLEVELAND — The NBA Finals, which came this year in the handy petite size, by the numbers:

8 — Sweeps in the NBA Finals, out of 61 years.

7 — Years in a row the team with the best season record did not win the championship.

5 — Coaches with at least four titles, Gregg Popovich joining Red Auerbach, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley and John Kundla.

7 — NBA Finals won by the Western Conference, in the past nine years.

2 — Babies born to players during the Finals; one for Bruce Bowen and one for LeBron James.

14 — Lead changes in the four games.

8 — Biggest Cleveland lead in any of the four games.

32 — LeBron James field goals in the NBA Finals.

23 — LeBron James turnovers.

5 — Finals MVP award in the past 17 years not won by Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal or Tim Duncan. Tony Parker made it five Thursday night.

12:51 a.m. — Time of birth Thursday of Bryce Maximus James, LeBron's new small forward.

38 — Highest score at halftime for the Cavaliers in any of the four Finals games.

0-for-5 — Tim Duncan at halftime Thursday, with three turnovers. San Antonio still led 39-34.

9-for-31 — The shooting of San Antonio's starting lineup, besides Parker, in Game 4.

12-for-25 — San Antonio's free throw shooting through the first 45 1/2 minutes of Game 4.

8-for-9 — San Antonio's free throw shooting the final 2 1/2 minutes.

14-1 — San Antonio's record in the playoffs when leading after the third period.

7 — Championships won by Robert Horry with Houston, the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio

4 — Games in the four-game sweep that the Spurs had a double-digit lead in the second half.

10-for-41 — Cleveland's 3-point shooting the final two games.

19-for-53 — LeBron James from the floor the final two games.

115.5 — Average score in NBA Finals victories by the five Lakers champions of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson.

99.4 — Average score in Finals victories by the six Bulls champions of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

106.4 — Average score in Finals victories by the three Lakers champions of O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.

89.4 — Average score in Finals victories by the four Spurs champions.