When this run is all said and done, it might not even register along with the countless memorable moments. Hughes sprained his left foot late in Game 3 and was listed as doubtful. But the man who fought through a much tougher pain to join his team for Game 7 in Detroit last season, joined them on the floor in Game 4.

He was listed as Doubtful until just hours before the game, but his start gave the club an emotional lift that led to the series-altering win.

"What he's going through right now was an inspiration for us because we know he could have easily sat out,” LeBron James said afterward. “But him being on the court and saying, ‘Who cares about my injury. It's about this team.’ And it don't get any bigger than that."

He never got back to full strength despite a pair of strong early performances in Games 5 and 6. But Hughes is getting healthier by the day, and if any player had a strong two-game run against the San Antonio Spurs this year, it was the lithe combo guard from St. Louis.

Hughes netted 18 points in each contest, and scored 13 of his 18 in the fourth quarter of an 82-78 slugfest at The Q. The eight-year vet dropped nine in the fourth quarter in the Cavaliers’ 88-81 win in San Antonio – Cleveland’s first in the Spurs’ gym since 1988.

Hughes has been following his rehab regiment and plans to be ready to roll when the Wine and Gold’s first Finals appearance tips off on Thursday night.

“We’ll rest today – one more day – and get ready to play tomorrow,” said Hughes. ”I won’t have any excuses and I’m going to give it my best shot.”

Hughes started 70 games one year after a finger injury cost him half that many starts in 2005-06. In his two-year stint with the Cavaliers his roles have changed and he was moved to the point in early March. Cleveland won its next eight straight and Hughes’ playmaking were the root of the run.

The Cavaliers have always been at their best when Hughes is facilitating the action and getting in on it himself. Cleveland is 37-7 in games in which he’s notched five or more assists.

He’s one of the Cavaliers who can combine Western Conference offense and Eastern Conference defense. And that’s an indispensable skill against the Spurs – who can play any style.

“I think we have to continue to be aggressive,” he said. “We respect this team, but we can’t fear this team. We can’t fear what they’ve done in the past.”

Hughes’ size comes in handy in the post against Tony Parker and on the perimeter against Manu Ginobili. He notched double-figures in the Cavaliers’ first eight Playoff games and has begun splitting time with a red-hot Daniel Gibson.

It’ll take both point men – plus Eric Snow – to slow down San Antonio’s versatile backcourt. Hughes feels like they’re up to the task. And the underdog tag doesn’t bother him at all.

“That doesn’t matter at this time,” smiled Hughes. “Someone has to be the underdog and somebody has to be the favorite. We’ll take that role, knowing that we have a chance to win. And we know we have a chance to win.”

Hughes suffered a personal tragedy that affected the entire organization last year when his younger brother, Justin, passed away suddenly due to complications from a heart transplant. He returned for Game 7 in Detroit, but the Cavaliers dropped a tough decision to the Pistons. This year, Hughes was not going to be denied his first trip to the Finals.

“I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to be here and to experience it, because there’s not a lot of guys that get this opportunity. I’m definitely honored to be in this situation.”

The Wine and Gold’s crafty point guard will get his shot to make the most of this golden opportunity when the Finals tip off on Thursday night. And if he’s able to perform against San Antonio the way he did during the regular season, the Cavaliers might just prove some pundits wrong.