(Sports Network) - Two of the NBAs most successful franchises, not just during this regular season, but over the past 15 years, will square off in the NBA Finals, starting Thursday night. The Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, who also double as the defending NBA champion, will have home-court advantage over the Western Conference winners, the San Antonio Spurs. The Heat finished with the NBAs best regular-season mark, a staggering 66-16, which featured a 27-game winning streak, the second-longest in the history of the league. The Spurs had the third-best record in the NBA at 58-24. If not for a Tony Parker ankle injury late in the season, San Antonio might have well earned the next-best record behind the Heat. But one season hardly makes for a successful franchise. The measure of greatness in professional basketball can be counted by the number of Larry OBrien Trophies in team headquarters. Since 1997, the Spurs have the best postseason winning percentage in the league. The Heat are third. The Heat won last seasons title and lost in the Finals the previous year. The Spurs have four championships since 1999, with the last coming in 2007. That year, San Antonio knocked off a young Cleveland Cavaliers team led by LeBron James. Fast-forward to June of 2013 and James is already staking claim to the title of one of the best players in NBA history. Hes won four MVPs, including the last two, and is a much more-seasoned force. "My Cleveland team, we were very young, and we went up against a very experienced team, well-coached team. And they took advantage of everything that we did," James said after the Heats Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Mondays Eastern Conference Finals. "I think for this team, this is our third year advancing to The Finals. So were very experienced as well. Were not young, were not inexperienced. We understand the opportunity that we have. "And Im a much better player. Im 20, 40, 50 times better than I was in the 07 Finals." James had to be that much better a player to get by the Pacers. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the other members of Miamis Big Three, which is slowly becoming the Big One, had dreadful series against Indiana. Wade came alive in Game 7 with 21 points, but hes battling a balky knee. The Spurs have been sitting home since a week ago Monday. They swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games in the Western Conference Finals. The rest is a good thing for an older Spurs squad, led by their own Big Three. Tim Duncan, a three-time Finals MVP, enjoyed a career Renaissance this season. After shedding 25 pounds in the offseason, Duncan averaged 17.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg and 2.7 bpg. He returned to the All-NBA First Team for the first time since the 2006-07 season and was Second-Team All-Defensive. Parker emerged as an MVP candidate until an ankle injury sidelined him during the second half. And Manu Ginobili, while struggling with his shot during the postseason, is still a huge piece. When it comes to sizing up Big Threes, San Antonios is historic. Duncan, Parker and Ginobili have combined for 98 playoff victories. That total is second all-time to the Los Angeles Lakers trio of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabar and Michael Cooper. Duncan, Parker and Ginobili have played 150 playoff games together. That is 72 more than the next highest trio of active players - Bostons Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo. (Wade, Udonis Haslem and Mario Chalmers are third with 69.) And while James at times took games over, hell need Wade, Bosh and everyone in a Heat uniform to play at a high level. "Obviously were a much better team when we have everyone clicking at the same time. Thats obvious," James said after the Game 7 win. "And weve had more games where everyone was clicking than not so. It just happened that this series guys were just not in the rhythm, not feeling like themselves." These teams are both so strong and sadly, the head-to-head regular-season matchups offer little insight. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, who can join Pat Riley and John Kundla in third place in NBA titles as a coach, famously sent Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and Danny Green home the day of the first regular-season matchup in Miami. The NBA fined the Spurs $250,000 for the action, but the Heat barely squeaked out the victory In the second regular-season meeting, this time in Alamo City, the Heat clinched the best record in the league and sat James and Wade. Miami still prevailed. "Theyre still the defending champs. Theyre still the best in the regular season," Duncan said. And the respect goes both ways. "Theyve got a bunch of Hall-of-Famers, so I look forward to the challenge," James said.Cheap Boston Bruins Jerseys China . SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. Cheap Calgary Flames Jerseys China . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. http://www.cheaphockeychina.com/ .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Cheap Anaheim Ducks Jerseys China . Despite the cost, effort and an improved steroid test, its possible that very few -- if any -- positives will be detected, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press in an interview. "We just dont know what the results from Torino will be," Budgett said. Wholesale Hockey Jerseys .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.BASEBALLNEW YORK -- Ready or not, Alex Rodriguez will play his final game in pinstripes this week.One of the most prolific hitters and polarizing figures in baseball history, the slumping slugger plans to take his final turn at-bat with the New York Yankees on Friday night and then become a special adviser and instructor with the team next year.A-Rod and the club made the announcement before Sundays 3-2 victory over Cleveland.This is a tough day. I love this game and I love this team, he said, often choking up. And today Im saying goodbye to both.The 41-year-old Rodriguez, who sat out the 2014 season while serving a performance-enhancing drug suspension, will play against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium and then be released following Fridays game. New York will pay him the remainder of the approximately $27 million hes owed as part of his $275 million, 10-year contract.DENVER -- Ichiro Suzuki tripled off the wall for his 3,000th career hit in the major leagues, becoming the 30th player to reach the milestone.The 42-year-old Marlins outfielder did it in the seventh inning against Colorado at Coors Field on Sunday. He joined Paul Molitor as the only players whose 3,000th hit was a triple.Miami players came out of the dugout to congratulate Suzuki, and he waved his helmet to acknowledge the cheers.Hitting coach Barry Bonds gave him a hug as the celebration at third base ended, and Suzuki got another round of applause when he scored on Jeff Mathis single, as well as a hug from manager Don Mattingly.Suzuki gave the crowd a wave as he went into the dugout. He batted again in the ninth and drew a walk.Suzuki was hitless in his first three at-bats of the game before the big hit against Chris Rusin.OLYMPICSRIO DE JANEIRO -- After escaping a blanket ban from the Olympics, Russia was kicked out of the upcoming Paralympics as the ultimate punishment for the state running a doping operation that polluted sports by prioritizing medals over morals.Paralympic leaders expelled one of its most significant members as the IOC announced that 278 Russians have been given clearance to compete at the Olympics after their eligibility in Rio de Janeiro was left to individual sports.Russias years of doping deception, including tampering with samples at the 2014 Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi, were outlined last month by World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren.In contrast to IOC President Thomas Bach, who opposed the nuclear option of banning Russia ahead of Fridays Olympic opening ceremony, Craven directly condemned the Russian states involvement in doping but stopped short of blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin.RIO DE JANEIRO -- Olympic athletes have been competing in near empty venues and before thin crowds in other locations during the opening days of the Rio Games -- a problem that can be traced to long security lines, traffic and a lack of familiarity in some sports.RRugby and equestrian venues have been devoid of fans, and a Brazil volleyball match on famed Copacabana Beach had lots of empty seats.dddddddddddd Scattered seats were open early during the basketball game Saturday night between China and star-studded Team USA, usually one of the biggest draws of the Olympics.Rio organizers said long lines at airport-style security checkpoints prevented fans from getting into events. The line for the beach volleyball venue stretched down the Copacabana promenade to the Olympic rings display several blocks away, though the venue has not been full for any of the matches.Organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada said the problem was being addressed, and hes hopeful that lines would move quicker as the Summer Games entered its first full week.PRO FOOTBALLCANTON, Ohio -- An emotional and invigorating Hall of Fame weekend came to a grinding halt Sunday night when the Packers-Colts game was canceled because of poor field conditions.One day after Brett Favre led the eight-member class of 2016 into the hall, its president, David Baker announced the cancellation after discussing problems with the turf with both teams. He said it was a safety issue and that all fans would be fully refunded for ticket purchases, which will cost the hall several million dollars.Baker noted that the field was new and had been approved when inspected after its first installation. But paint congealed at midfield and in the end zone, hardening those areas. Workers used a variety of equipment to smooth the artificial surface. Rubber pellets used in the turf came loose and were scattered in several spots and needed to be removed, as well.Joining Favre in the class of 2016 were Tony Dungy, a trail-blazing coach and Super Bowl winner; one of his stars, Marvin Harrison; Kevin Greene; Orlando Pace; Ken Stabler; Dick Stanfel; and Ed DeBartolo Jr.AUTO RACINGSprint Car driver Bryan Clauson remained hospitalized Sunday in critical condition following a harrowing accident in the Belleville (Kansas) Midget Nationals USAC midget race.Clauson was airlifted to a hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska, following the Saturday night crash. His family offered no details regarding his injuries in a statement provided by Bryan Clausen Racing.Clauson is considered the nations top short-track dirt-car driver. He has won four USAC national championships and was participating in his 116th race of the season on Saturday night.His schedule this year was on pace for 200 starts, and that included a 23rd-place finish in the Indianapolis 500.Clauson was a three-time winner and the defending champion at Belleville. He flipped off the guard rail between turns 3 and 4 while leading. His car rolled several times and was hit by another car.It was his second wreck of the weekend. ' ' '