No one outside Cleveland and San Antonio is watching the NBA Finals.

Nearly everyone outside of Cleveland that is watching is saying the Cavaliers are the worst team to ever make the NBA Finals.

LeBron James hasn't played anywhere near a good game, let alone a great one.

It has taken four days for nearly all of the good feelings about this season to get wiped away.

Where is this leading?

The Cavs have to win one game in this series. They need something to build on this offseason, something to build on for next season, something to think about in the playoffs next year.

Brian Windhorst, the Beacon Journal's Cavs beat writer, started this postseason with a column about the intermediate steps that teams have taken on their path to eventually winning a title. And he is right.

But the Cavs can't afford to trip over their feet at home this week.

So much for LeBron James having the drawing power to lift the NBA.

According to publish reports, Game 1 of the NBA Finals drew the lowest rating for an opening-game in prime time, dropping 19 percent from last year.

The San Antonio Spurs' 85-76 victory over the Cavaliers on Thursday night earned a 6.3 rating and 11 share on ABC. The previous low was a 6.4/11 in 2003.

Last year's Game 1 between Miami and Dallas earned a 7.8 rating and 14 share.

The baseball draft on TV was conducted very poorly. Instead of following the lead of the NHL or NFL, baseball had few if any of the players at the draft. Without the photos of the players holding the jerseys with the GM, what do you have? Nothing.
The Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sweepstakes will be heating up the next two weeks. I still like Ginn Racing in a surprise. … By the way, Visa denies that it is entering NASCAR, but that probably would be the only way for Junior to end up with Joe Gibbs Racing.
The Cavs need to be active in the offseason to get some more weapons for LeBron James and Mike Brown.
C.C. Sabathia is starting to look more and more like a Cy Young winner and like a very rich man. The Indians need to ride his arm this season to playoff success.
Is anyone watching the French Open?
Or the Belmont Stakes?
We already know few watched the Stanley Cup Finals.
I think I like Danica Patrick's chances in a fight with Dan Wheldon.
Has anyone seen Barry Bonds, I think he is missing.
Speaking of Bonds, it is time for Hank Aaron to stop commenting on the home run chase. He said last week that he wasn't sure how to spell Bonds' name. Now Hank, don't be stupid. Stay above this fray of steroids talk.
The U.S. Open is looking like it might have a winner near double figures over par, if the players are telling the truth after practice rounds at Oakmont C.C. in Pittsburgh. Watching Tiger Woods and the rest of his golfing mates struggle should make great TV.

Now, that we have had time to digest Game 1, do the Cavaliers have any chance to win this series?

I don't think so.

There are too many weapons on the Spurs and a lack of weapons on the Cavs. I do think the Cavs can win 1 or 2 games but the defense has to be outstanding and LeBron James has to be much more aggressive.

It is too bad that Larry Hughes never has lived up to his potential with the Cavs. He came billed as a slasher but he has turned into a jump shooter who can't shoot. And now he is hurt again. There is no questioning his toughness but at some point Mike Brown has to put him on the bench.

Daniel Gibson and Drew Gooden played well on the offensive end but neither was a factor on the defensive end.

Basically the Cavs either have to take away Tim Duncan or Parker. If they both score in the 20s this series is over in 4.

I think they need to play faster on the offensive end and rebound better on the defensive end to have a chance to win … a game.

The Cavaliers might follow the blueprint that the Spurs and Gregg Popovich developed, but the Spurs showed in Game 1 that they are the leaders.

They dominated in every way possible and unless the Cavs' defense gets better it won't matter if LeBron scores 35 points.

Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and company manhandled and outsmarted a defense that was running around all game.

It is time for Mike Brown to earn his money or should I say his contract extension.

LeBron James didn't start his Finals career very well, scoring just 4 points with no field goals, but being down by just five isn't the worst thing that could have happened in the first half.

Actually the defense on Tony Parker is more worrisome. If that doesn't get fixed this will be a very short series.

Since Sunday, the predictions that I have seen on TV have gone from being all in the Spurs favor to much more balance.

I guess we start to see what is going to happen in about 1.5 hours.

Here again is the accolades coming LeBron's way:

William C. Rhoden of the New York Times talks about this generation of players.

Marty Burns of SI.com looks to the future.

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! sees relief in Cleveland fans.

Buck Harvey, a San Antonio columnist, saw this series back at the beginning of the season.

The theme throughout all of this is to enjoy the next week or two. These moments don't happen often.

Dick Vitale who said last season that LeBron would someday be considered the equal of Michael Jordan said this morning that the Cavs will win in 7. He said LeBron would be like a young Magic and not allow his team to lose.

I am having a hard time seeing the Cavs beating the Spurs except for the fact that the Cavs won both meetings this season and split last season.

But looking at the rosters, I think Duncan and LeBron will equal each other's production and maybe Gibson can keep up with Ginobili but who is going to stop Tony Parker and what about Robert Horry and Michael Finley coming off the bench.

Saying all this, I do buy into some of what Vitale said but not all of it.

So, I go with Spurs in 6.

Here are some views of LeBron's showing in Game 5. Let's just say the king has been crowned, according to these reporters and analysts.

Chris Sheridan of ESPN.

Brian Windhorst in a piece for ESPN.

Michael Lee in the Washington Post.

Liz Robbins in the New York Times.

Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press.

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo!

Paul Forrester of SI.com

Gregg Doyel of Sportsline.com