When the 2007 NBA Playoffs began, bobcatsbasketball.com checked in with then Bobcats Radio Play-By-Play Announcer Steve Martin to get his take and some predictions on the first round, second round and Conference Finals matchups in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Since that time, Martin has been moved into his new role with the Bobcats as the television play-by-play announcer on team telecasts in 2007-08.

With more than 35 years experience in sports broadcasting, we figured Martin was an ideal choice when we were looking for an expert opinion, and boy were we right.

Martin nailed the first round in the East, calling Detroit and Cleveland sweeps, as well as New Jersey taking its first round matchup in six games. He also predicted the Bulls would knock out the defending champs in the first round.

He predictions in the West were almost equally impressive. Sure, he didn't pick the Warriors to knock of the Mavs - but seriously, how many people out there really did - but he knew it would be close, expecting the series to go seven games. He also called the Suns knocking off the Lakers in five and hit right on the Spurs series win over the Nuggets.

Unfortunately, he went 0-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, missing the Pistons series win over the Bulls and the Cavs handling of the Nets. He did however predict the Western Conference Finals correctly, with San Antonio and Utah advancing.

"Go figure - I see the Eastern Conference teams twice as much as I see the Western Conference teams, but I get the West on the money and entirely miss the boat with my calls for the East in the second round," Martin laughed. "It’s time to make a comeback with my Conference Final picks."

Martin then correctly predicted the Spurs would advance to the 2007 NBA Finals, but not even he expected LeBron James to almost single-handedly eliminate the Pistons on the Cavs way to their first NBA Finals appearance. So who is going to win it all - chances are good Martin knows.

Just for kicks, bobcatsbasketball.com will continue to throw in its prediction for each series - with no explanation necessary of course. After picking just 50 percent of the opening round correctly, we stayed on track, picking the Pistons and Jazz correctly in Round 2 before throwing up an "0fer" in the Conference Finals.

NBA FINALS
NO. 2 (EAST) CLEVELAND vs. NO. 3 (WEST) SAN ANTONIO
It’s no accident that the Cleveland Cavaliers are playing on the NBA’s biggest stage right now. LeBron James has willed his team here and has shown once and for all that he has the ingredient in his makeup that very few have – the ability to make others better and more than mere admirers of his own excellence. In the San Antonio Spurs, the Cavs have the opponent they likely hoped for in this defining moment.

The Cavs are playing a team they beat twice during the regular season. Both games were played below 90 points, and both teams seem happy at that pace. The Spurs have an excellent defensive pedigree, yet the Cavaliers held them to 40 percent shooting in the two low-scoring affairs. Larry Hughes and Damon Jones were both strong in offensive support in the January 2 meeting in Cleveland. Hughes didn’t break double figures in the Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit, and Jones now finds himself out of the rotation completely.

The Cavs have been outstanding with their playoff defense – holding opponents to 42.0 percent shooting. The Spurs have been scoring at a 46.0 percent clip, but they’ve allowed opponents to score at a rapid pace as well, watching opponents shoot 45.0 percent from the field.

That having been said, the Spurs have plenty of experience playing in June, while the Cavs post-May experience is limited to the NBA Predraft Camp. The Spurs have the definite advantage at three of the five starting spots, especially at the point with Tony Parker. Tim Duncan has a huge advantage at power forward. The Cavs win in a trot with James at small forward, and their combination of frontline players gives them an edge at center when Zyydrunas Illgauskas is shooting well.

This series will hinge on how the whistleblowers call the game. Cleveland’s free throw attempts dwarf their opponents in the playoffs from 446 to 387. However, a full 37 percent of the Cavs charity tosses have been attempted by LeBron James. This may be the only playoff series where four is better than five (meaning James and the three guys in gray vs. the five Spurs on the court). It may come down to how many Spurs can afford to stand in against James and take a charge – something the Pistons forgot how to do (especially in Game 5). The constant sight of James on the foul line is not good for San Antonio. If the series is called tight, both ways or loose all around, then the Spurs have the bench to wear down Cleveland. This will be a chain-it-down-if-you-don’t-want-it-grabbed series that I think the Spurs will win.

PREDICTIONS:
MARTIN: San Antonio in six
bobcatsbasketball.com: We couldn't possibly pick the Cavs could we? Why not? We've been wrong so often thus far - why not keep it going? There's something to be said for consistency - Cleveland in seven.