Best Storylines to Follow in the NBA Finals

Will the Spurs and Heat deliver another classic?

NBA Finals Best Storylines - For the first time since 1998, when Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls bested Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz for the title for the second year straight, the NBA Finals is a rematch. LeBron James and the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat will look for the three-peat against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of last year's Finals, beginning with Game 1 on Thursday night. Last year’s NBA Finals went seven thrilling games. How many games will this year’s series go? Here, BET.com takes a look at the story lines to follow. This is it! (Photos from Left: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images, Chris Covatta/Getty Images)

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NBA Finals Best Storylines - For the first time since 1998, when Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls bested Karl Malone and the Utah Jazz for the title for the second year straight, the NBA Finals is a rematch. LeBron James and the two-time defending NBA champion Miami Heat will look for the three-peat against Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs in a rematch of last year's Finals, beginning with Game 1 on Thursday night. Last year’s NBA Finals went seven thrilling games. How many games will this year’s series go? Here, BET.com takes a look at the story lines to follow. This is it! (Photos from Left: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images, Chris Covatta/Getty Images)

Tony Parker's Health - There’s no doubting that Tony Parker is the motor in the San Antonio Spurs’ well oiled engine. As the veteran point guard goes, the Spurs go. During the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Parker was slowed by a hamstring strain, as his average dipped to 13.2 points per game in the series down from the 16.7 he put up during the regular season. Parker also played an average of 27.8 minutes per game. Entering this NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, there are already reports that Parker is suffering from a sprained ankle. If the Spurs are going to avenge their loss to the Heat, chances are they’re going to need more minutes and overall production from Parker. His health is vital to their chances of being crowned kings once again. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Tony Parker's Health - There’s no doubting that Tony Parker is the motor in the San Antonio Spurs’ well oiled engine. As the veteran point guard goes, the Spurs go. During the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Parker was slowed by a hamstring strain, as his average dipped to 13.2 points per game in the series down from the 16.7 he put up during the regular season. Parker also played an average of 27.8 minutes per game. Entering this NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, there are already reports that Parker is suffering from a sprained ankle. If the Spurs are going to avenge their loss to the Heat, chances are they’re going to need more minutes and overall production from Parker. His health is vital to their chances of being crowned kings once again. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Pop's Adjustments - Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won his third career NBA Coach of the Year trophy this past April, and if there are adjustments to be made during this series, Pop will make them. Not taking anything away from Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and the success he’s had in Miami, but we’re going to give the sideline edge to Pop here. More experience, and if one coach is going to navigate the Spurs to victory, it’s him. (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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Pop's Adjustments - Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won his third career NBA Coach of the Year trophy this past April, and if there are adjustments to be made during this series, Pop will make them. Not taking anything away from Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and the success he’s had in Miami, but we’re going to give the sideline edge to Pop here. More experience, and if one coach is going to navigate the Spurs to victory, it’s him. (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Tim Duncan's Will - The window of opportunity on Tim Duncan’s chance to haul in a fifth NBA championship is slowly closing. The Spurs will need their anchor to average every bit of the 15 points and nearly 10 boards he posted through this season and then some if they’re going to beat LeBron James in his prime. The Big Fundamental’s pride and fire will be tested. We expect him to do what he does, and his ability to will the Spurs to victory will be major this Finals.(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Tim Duncan's Will - The window of opportunity on Tim Duncan’s chance to haul in a fifth NBA championship is slowly closing. The Spurs will need their anchor to average every bit of the 15 points and nearly 10 boards he posted through this season and then some if they’re going to beat LeBron James in his prime. The Big Fundamental’s pride and fire will be tested. We expect him to do what he does, and his ability to will the Spurs to victory will be major this Finals.(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

King James Shouldering Load - The great ones love moments like this and LeBron James has shown to be no different. This is the time where King James puts the team on his back and drives the championship home. His hunger should be simple — pull off a three-peat like MJ and Kobe and Shaq. Simple, isn’t it? But getting it done against a thoroughbred of an NBA team like the Spurs, who are probably more well rounded, like the Heat, is another story. James will need maximum effort to pull this off, and we think he’s up for the challenge. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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King James Shouldering Load - The great ones love moments like this and LeBron James has shown to be no different. This is the time where King James puts the team on his back and drives the championship home. His hunger should be simple — pull off a three-peat like MJ and Kobe and Shaq. Simple, isn’t it? But getting it done against a thoroughbred of an NBA team like the Spurs, who are probably more well rounded, like the Heat, is another story. James will need maximum effort to pull this off, and we think he’s up for the challenge. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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Mr. Big Shot – Ray Allen or Danny Green? - Will this year’s NBA Finals see an official passing of the torch for league’s purest shooter from Hall of Fame-bound Ray Allen to Danny Green of the Spurs? Hey, it’s possible. The Spurs are still haunted by Allen’s miracle three-pointer with 5.2 ticks left in regulation in the Heat’s 103-100 Game 6 overtime win of last year’s Finals. Still, Green showed plenty of long distance brilliance himself in last year’s Finals. If the younger shooting guard can put together a more consistent effort, he may literally shoot the Spurs to an NBA title win and coronate himself as the league’s undisputed purest shooter. (Photos from Left: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Mr. Big Shot – Ray Allen or Danny Green? - Will this year’s NBA Finals see an official passing of the torch for league’s purest shooter from Hall of Fame-bound Ray Allen to Danny Green of the Spurs? Hey, it’s possible. The Spurs are still haunted by Allen’s miracle three-pointer with 5.2 ticks left in regulation in the Heat’s 103-100 Game 6 overtime win of last year’s Finals. Still, Green showed plenty of long distance brilliance himself in last year’s Finals. If the younger shooting guard can put together a more consistent effort, he may literally shoot the Spurs to an NBA title win and coronate himself as the league’s undisputed purest shooter. (Photos from Left: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Spurs' Frontline Punishing Heat - In the fourth consecutive year that the Heat have made the NBA Finals, one weakness has remained — power in the paint. The Heat are small inside, and the entire league knows it. The power and passing ability of Spurs’ big men like Duncan, Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw must be used to punish Miami in the paint and cool the Heat’s chances of pulling off a three-peat. It can be done. Oh yeah, laying some hard fouls on King James in the lane would be a good idea too. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Spurs' Frontline Punishing Heat - In the fourth consecutive year that the Heat have made the NBA Finals, one weakness has remained — power in the paint. The Heat are small inside, and the entire league knows it. The power and passing ability of Spurs’ big men like Duncan, Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw must be used to punish Miami in the paint and cool the Heat’s chances of pulling off a three-peat. It can be done. Oh yeah, laying some hard fouls on King James in the lane would be a good idea too. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Are the Heat Still Seconds Better Than the Spurs? - The Heat pulled out an NBA title, edging the Spurs in a matter of seconds last year. Still, many thought the Spurs were still the better team and just let one go — especially in their heartbreaking Game 6 loss. Can the Heat pull off the same kind of victory by the skin of their teeth or will the Spurs avenge the loss and not need seven games to do it? We will soon find out!(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Are the Heat Still Seconds Better Than the Spurs? - The Heat pulled out an NBA title, edging the Spurs in a matter of seconds last year. Still, many thought the Spurs were still the better team and just let one go — especially in their heartbreaking Game 6 loss. Can the Heat pull off the same kind of victory by the skin of their teeth or will the Spurs avenge the loss and not need seven games to do it? We will soon find out!(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Anything Out of Greg Oden? - We saw Greg Oden log in a few minutes — five to be exact — in garbage time of Miami’s closing Game 6 win over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals this past Friday. Don’t laugh, but we wonder if the often-injured seven-footer can give the Heat anything more substantial if called upon in the Finals against Duncan and Splitter. Any significant contributions that Oden can deliver would be a bonus for the Heat at this point. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

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Anything Out of Greg Oden? - We saw Greg Oden log in a few minutes — five to be exact — in garbage time of Miami’s closing Game 6 win over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals this past Friday. Don’t laugh, but we wonder if the often-injured seven-footer can give the Heat anything more substantial if called upon in the Finals against Duncan and Splitter. Any significant contributions that Oden can deliver would be a bonus for the Heat at this point. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Dwyane Wade - "Commissioner Silver....STRONG...way to take charge and protect our great league." (Photo:  Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/ Getty Images)

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D. Wade – Robin to LeBron's Batman? - Dwyane Wade has really labored through the last few post seasons, but has always found a way to serve as Robin to King James’s Batman in the NBA Finals. Will he once again be able to do the same? The Heat are definitely counting on him. Coach Spoelstra wisely played D. Wade 54 of the 82 regular season games this season, allowing his body to be war ready at this juncture. It showed during the Eastern Conference Finals, when Wade averaged 18.4 points, five rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. But the Spurs are not the Pacers, and San Antonio will likely challenge Wade with so many looks defensively, forcing him to improvise. The great ones do and Wade’s ability to throw the superhero cape on will be tested greatly. (Photo: Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/ Getty Images)

Photo By Photo:  Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/ Getty Images

Which Team Has Better Supporting Cast? - Let’s say LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker all do their part and each average a gang of points through these NBA Finals. The push will come down to the supporting casts. We will find out whether the Heat’s Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Rashard Lewis are up to the challenge against the Spurs’ Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw. The supporting cast that gets the edge may nudge their team to the title. Get ready for the NBA Finals! (Photos from Left: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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Which Team Has Better Supporting Cast? - Let’s say LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker all do their part and each average a gang of points through these NBA Finals. The push will come down to the supporting casts. We will find out whether the Heat’s Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and Rashard Lewis are up to the challenge against the Spurs’ Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Tiago Splitter and Boris Diaw. The supporting cast that gets the edge may nudge their team to the title. Get ready for the NBA Finals! (Photos from Left: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images, Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)