Notebook | Thanks to Sopranos, NBA Finals ratings take a hit

Game 2 of the NBA finals lost nearly one-third of its television audience from last year.

The San Antonio Spurs' lopsided victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, pitted against the series finale of "The Sopranos," drew a 5.6 national rating and a 10 share on ABC on Sunday night. That's down 30 percent from the 8.0/14 received by the Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat in 2006.

"The Sopranos" finale was watched by an estimated 11.9 million people on HBO, which is available in about 30 million homes. Game 2 was watched by approximately 8.6 million viewers on ABC, which is available in about 111 million households.

The rating is the percentage watching a telecast among all homes with televisions, and the share is the percentage tuned in to a broadcast among those households with televisions on at the time. A ratings point represents 1,114,000 households.

The ratings for Game 1 fell 19 percent from last year.

Ratings increased from Game 1 to Game 2 in 2006, but they declined this season.

Hughes out of action

Cavaliers point guard Larry Hughes was inactive for Game 3 with a sore left foot. Hughes, who has plantar fasciitis and a tear in his foot, was replaced by rookie Daniel Gibson, who averaged 15.5 points in the first two games.

It was a mild surprise that Hughes didn't dress. During his pregame news conference, Cleveland coach Mike Brown guessed that the 6-foot-5 Hughes would start and likely play limited minutes.

Hughes, whose career has been slowed by injuries, has had the condition in his foot for weeks, but until now had not missed a game. During the Eastern Conference finals against Detroit, the 28-year-old received injections of cortisone in his foot to relieve the pain, but he chose not to get the shots before Games 1 or 2.

Hughes went a combined 1-for-10 in 44 minutes in the first two games, but his inability to move quickly has allowed Spurs guard Tony Parker to shred Cleveland's defense and average 20.8 points.

Cavs fans relish first

For Cavaliers fans, the wait has ended.

After 37 years — including some very long, losing ones, the NBA finals finally pulled into town.

There are some Cleveland fans who haven't had to endure nearly four decades of suffering. After all, LeBron James has attracted more than a few latecomers to the party over the last four seasons.

But for those who remember players like Bingo Smith, Jim Chones, Jim Cleamons and Craig Ehlo, the city's first NBA finals game on Tuesday night will be something to savor.

"It's magical," said Kip Horsburgh of Gates Mills. "It's a bonus. I don't think anyone thought we would make the finals. I would rank it up there with watching the Indians first World Series game in '95."

The 59-year-old Horsburgh has been a season-ticket holder since 1981 and hasn't missed a playoff game this season. He and his wife and two sons have certainly paid their dues, attending games even during the lean years, like the 17-win season in 2002-03 that was followed by the Cavs winning the NBA draft lottery and getting to pick James.

"We would see seven to eight games a year in the bad years. And they were pretty bad," he said.

Note

• As the MVP three years in a row at Canton (Ohio) McKinley High — 57 miles south of Cleveland — Eric Snow grew up rooting for the Cavaliers, which makes his third trip to the NBA Finals more special.

The 6-3 guard, in his 12th season out of Michigan State, is the only member of the Cavaliers roster with prior Finals experience, having played for the league title with Seattle as a rookie in 1996 and with Philadelphia in 2001.