As is the case every time a new CBA is hammered out in any of the four major professional sports leagues, inquiring minds want to know which side ultimately came out victorious.  Did the league ? as usual ? give the players the shaft, or did the union find a way to come up with an upset win in negotiations?

 Well, first off, there were winners, alright ? NBA fans.  

 Fans, for the most part, don?t really care about squabbles between millionaire players and billionaire owners; they want to see basketball played in NBA arenas.  And with the league and union coming to terms in principle on a new deal Tuesday, fans will be ensured of labor-free hassle NBA basketball for the next six seasons.  

 In addition to the paying customer, you would have to put NBA Commissioner David Stern?s name right up there on the list of winners.  

 While both sides compromised in order for a deal to be put in place (Stern and the league managed to reduce guaranteed contracts by a year, however union director Billy Hunter and Co. negotiated a raise in the salary cap by roughly $6 million.  The league, although wanting a 20-year-old draft age minimum, will settle for a 19-year-old limit, which still satisfies Stern?s wish to keep NBA scouts and general managers away from high schools), just the simple fact that there will be no lockout on July 1 only enhances Stern?s image.  

 Labor negotiations are as much about image perceptions as they are about dollars and cents.  The NBA and its players want to look out for themselves financially, obviously, but how they are perceived publicly during negotiations is also very important.  

 If fan perception was not important, you would not have seen The Commish hold press conferences outlining the need for the league to not follow in the NHL?s footsteps, and how the union would ?have made a mistake of epic proportions? if a lockout were to have taken place next month.  

 Whether you are a Stern fan or not, it was critical for him to have a deal in place because his image and reputation was on the line.  

 As candid as he was regarding the bleak NHL situation (which is heading to a resolution shortly, as the NHLPA appears to have caved in to the league?s request of adopting a ?cost certainty? system which would see a link between league revenues and player salaries) and the scare tactics he seemingly employed during contract talks, Stern would have had egg all over his face had there been a lockout.

 Instead, Stern comes off smelling like a rose.  He followed through on his promises, and unlike his counterparts in the NHL, who are going to receive quite the rude awakening when hockey returns in the fall (the NHL will find out very soon that fans aren?t so forgiving), the NBA can continue to build on what was overall a breakthrough season.  

 The Association has a nucleus of bright, young stars that it will be able to showcase for years to come, from King James to Dwyane Wade to Amare Stoudemire.  The league appears to be more competitively balanced, with up-and-coming teams such as the Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns ready to establish themselves as forces.  The fast break is once again en vogue, as more and more teams are emphasizing a high-octane style of game.  And perhaps most importantly, the NBA game is gaining worldwide appeal unlike never before.

 Only helping matters, of course, for Stern and the league is the fact that this year?s Finals are not only heading for a Game 7, but are beginning to evolve into one of the greatest Finals in recent memory.  Surprising, considering the first four games of the series were complete yawners thanks to their lack of competitiveness.  

 Win or lose, the Pistons and Spurs have proven to be, by far, the two best teams in the NBA this season.  Every time a team seems to gain momentum in the series, it is taken away the very next game.  

 San Antonio had the upper hand after the first two games.  Detroit seemed to be the team to beat after Game 4.  The Spurs regained momentum after Game 5, and soon thereafter the championship parade routes in San Antonio were already planned out.  Now, as Game 7 looms Thursday night, the Larry O?Brien trophy remains very much up for grabs.  

 We still like the Spurs ? we don?t see San Antonio losing back-to-back games in front of their home fans ? but for them to be crowned champion, their best players (Tim Duncan) have to be at their best.

 Count us as one of the few who didn?t classify Duncan?s performance in Game 5 as a complete choke job.  We were less than impressed, however, with his effort in Game 6.  Sure, the numbers were there, as they always are (21 points, 15 rebounds on 8-of-14 shooting), but Duncan was nowhere near assertive enough, particularly on the offensive end.  

 Duncan has enough talent and clutch performers surrounding him to not have to carry the team entirely on his shoulders, but he clearly needs to command the ball more from the get-go.   And while the Spurs are a team that relies on great ball movement and involving everyone on the floor, expect Duncan to receive more touches in Game 7 and certainly more attempts from the field than the 14 he had in Game 6.

 If Duncan plays like the best player in this series - which he is - the Spurs will win their third title in seven years.  If he doesn?t, the Pistons will be your back-to-back NBA Champions.

 At this point, you can throw out all the X?s and O?s.  It comes down to which team truly has the desire to be a champion.  

 Who wants it more? We?ll soon find out.

 Kostas.Bolos@realgm.com