Drops of NBA Knowledge

- This will be the first NBA Finals since 1998 that didn't include Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, or Tim Duncan.

- From 1991-2010 only 3 NBA Finals were played without Phil Jackson or Gregg Popovich coaching one of the teams.

- Since Jerry Buss took over the Lakers in 1979, they have gone to 17 out of a possible 32 NBA Finals (including this year), better than every other year on average.

- Under Buss' ownership, the Lakers have won the NBA championship 11 times out of 32 chances, or once every 3rd year on average.

- Mark Slattery

ChatSports.com Senior Writer