Oakland’s Lake Merritt getting clean up as NBA finals start Thursday

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Oakland is dolling itself up to host the NBA championship, and nowhere is that more evident than at Lake Merritt — where weeds are being pulled, the homeless are being cleared out and the Warriors are planning to host a big pre-series party Wednesday night at the Lake Chalet restaurant.

Even ESPN is getting into the act, setting up at the Lake Chalet for a series of live TV shows starting Thursday morning. The Golden State Warriors will face the Cleveland Cavaliers that evening in game one of the seven-game series.

“They’re trying to clean up everywhere — mostly where the homeless are,” said one city worker pulling weeds near Lakeside Drive on the lake’s eastern side.

In fact, one homeless camper, Manual Sanchez, 40, who said he was among the dozens displaced from a San Pablo halfway house where four people died in a suspicious fire last year, said the police gave him until Wednesday to move out of the space he has occupied on the lake’s edge for the past six months.

“It’s been a blessing — prime real estate,” Sanchez said, sitting amid a clutter of personal belongings. “Everyday, I wake up from this (scenic) angle.”

Sanchez isn’t sure where he’ll go during NBA hullabaloo, but has his eye on a “back trail” on the other side of the park.

City prepares to discard homeless belongings on edge of Lake Merritt 9n Wednesday,� as part of a clean up in advance of Oakland hosting the NBA finals. City prepares to discard homeless belongings on edge of Lake Merritt 9n Wednesday,� as part of a clean up in advance of Oakland hosting the NBA finals. Photo: Matier&Ross / Andy Ross/SF Chronicle Photo: Matier&Ross / Andy Ross/SF Chronicle Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Oakland’s Lake Merritt getting clean up as NBA finals start Thursday 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Meanwhile, stacks of unattended homeless belongings still littered the lakeside Wednesday morning. City workers tell us the owners had been warned to clear everything by Wednesday’s deadline or it will be hauled off and dumped.

As for ESPN, a company rep on site told us the sports network plans to go live from the Lake Chalet on Thursday, Friday and Monday mornings, with two shows — “First Take” and “The Jump.” Coverage may continue later next week, depending how many games the series goes.

And while nobody wants to jinx the championship by talking about it, if the home team wins there’s little doubt Lake Merritt would once again take center stage as the site of another Warriors victory celebration presided over by Mayor Libby Schaaf.

“We’re just excited the spotlight is on Oakland, and can’t wait to show off our city,” mayoral spokesman Justin Berton said.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@ sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross