Finals prove long shots have chance of ultimate victory

By Julia Love and Rory Carroll OAKLAND - The NBA Finals have often been decided by the winners of key battles in areas where both teams excel and with three-pointers proving to be the weapon of choice for this year's protagonists, fans are braced for a battery of long-range bombs. Cleveland and Golden State plotted their way to the title showdown from downtown, with the Cavaliers setting the record for most shots made from beyond the arc during the playoffs and the defending NBA champion Warriors ranking second behind them. The high-risk strategy underscores a belief that the three-pointer, long regarded as a gimmick, has become an NBA staple, a shift driven in part by the lithe Warriors, who use the shot to open up the floor and speed up the pace of the game.