Open Thread: Game 1 of the NBA Finals Begin between the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat; Phoenix and Minnesota face off in the W all starting at 8:00 PM ET

Phoenix Mercury (0-2) at Minnesota Lynx (1-0), 8 PM ET

This game should provide a good test for both of the teams in this matchup. For the Mercury, this game is a test to see how they fare against the two time defending Western Conference champs. While it seems that the public believes that Phoenix will win it all this year, the only way to confirm that this team is for real is to beat the Lynx on their homecourt.

For the Lynx, the last couple weeks have basically made them seem irrelevant in the national league scene. Last weekend's supernova of the Connecticut Sun sent a message to the league that they Lynx aren't done yet by any means.

San Antonio Spurs at Miami Heat, 9 PM ET in Game 1 of the NBA Finals

This year's NBA Finals matches up two teams, both with significant veteran experience at its cores as they look to win this year's league title. The Heat is the reigning champion, having won it last year against the Oklahoma City Thunder and most assume that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Head Coach Erik Spoelstra and company will hold the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the second year in a row.

However, the San Antonio Spurs are more than a formidable opponent for the Heat. They have a strong veteran trio led by Tim Duncan, along with Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. The Spurs have long been considered a model NBA franchise given that they have consistently been able to find the right talent, including younger players to fit around their system and they play well together at least while in San Antonio. And not to mention, this Spurs "Big Three" has won three NBA championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007, and Duncan also has a fourth title in 1999 along with Head Coach Gregg Popovich.

I believe this will be a seven game series full of entertaining basketball, and I will say that the Spurs will win it because I am not an objective fan.

For plenty more on the Finals, check out SB Nation's NBA Finals section. If you want to read more from team fan perspectives, check out our Spurs site, Pounding the Rock, or Hot Hot Hoops, our Heat site.

The "Random" SB Nation Jukebox Song of the Day

If there is a sports theme that transcends time besides the Monday Night Football country song, or a song that is as big as this hit in the '90's (and no it's not my favorite song from Mariah Carey, let alone in Daydream, her best ever album):

it's this one. It's a crime that ESPN or NBA TV can't be playing this song every time a basketball game is on.

If you don't know who didn't make the NBA on NBC song, it's new age pianist John Tesh. Here's a live rendition of the best sports theme of all time, let alone the '90's.

So that's all from me. Enjoy the games that are on tonight!