USA - Cavs play down significance of previous wins over Spurs

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the San Antonio Spurs twice this season, but that doesn't mean anything to Cavs coach Mike Brown.

As both teams prepare for the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers aren't putting much stock in their two wins during the regular season.

"It doesn't matter who won those games in the regular season because it's a new ballgame when it comes to tip-off time," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said.

The Spurs do not seem to agree, however.

"The two times we played them, they not only beat us, they kind of controlled us," said Spurs guard Manu Ginobili of Argentina.

In its two wins, Cleveland limited San Antonio to 81 and 78 points. The Spurs shot a combined 40 percent (57-of-142) from the field in those games and did not score more than 21 points in six of the eight quarters.

"They're one of the better defensive teams in the league, and nobody's figured that out," said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team led the NBA in defense. "Their rotations are good. Their individual defense is filled with effort. They communicate, they try to cover for each other. And that's one of the things they do well. It's not just the LeBron (James) show."

The Cavaliers were fifth in the NBA in defense this season, allowing an average of 92.9 points per game. They were the best in opponents' 3-point percentage, allowing just 32.9 percent.

Cleveland does not have an imposing front line that intimidates foes. Even 7-3 Lithuanian center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is not considered a shot-blocker. But its big men do other things to make the defense effective.

Ilgauskas and forwards Drew Gooden and Brazilian international Anderson Varejao all are solid post defenders and rebounders and Varejao led the NBA by taking 78 charges. That willingness to give up his body can be as much of a deterrent to drive to the basket as a shot-blocker.

"They are good. I think people often underestimate them," said Ginobili, who has been known to make a reckless drive or two into the paint. "They are a tough defensive group. They rotate well. They're always in the paint taking charges and making things complicated. I really respect them."

Guard Eric Snow is a very strong man-to-man defender who helped choke off Chauncey Billups in the Eastern Conference finals. Guard Larry Hughes has won a steals title, and James is very dangerous in the passing lanes as well.

In Game One on Thursday, the Cavaliers don't expect to see the same Spurs team they saw on November 3 and January 2. Popovich has always had his team peaking at the right time, and this season is no exception.

Brown, who was an assistant under Popovich from 2000-03, sees some new wrinkles in the offensive sets of the Spurs.

"Oh yeah, they are doing a lot of different stuff from what they did earlier in the year offensively," he said. "A lot of this we did know, but from watching their play sets and stuff like that, they have done some new stuff since the last time we've seen them."

That is why Brown is reluctant to have his team rest on its regular-season laurels.

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