04/23/24
June 21, 2013
Hello, Larry: Heat Repeat as NBA Champs: Powered by LeBron James' 37 points, 12 rebounds and five three pointers, the Miami Heat repeated as NBA champions with a 95-88 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the Finals Thursday night. Dwyane Wade added 23 points and 10 rebounds and Shane Battier scored 18 points on 6-for-8 shooting from 3-point range. Tim Duncan had 24 points and 12 rebound for the Spurs but was denied his fifth chance to hoist the Larry O'Brien as NBA champ.
posted by rcade to basketball at 12:05 AM - 14 comments
That first three LeBron James took was one of the more tentative shots I've seen. He went into that ten second long size-up dribble he's been using this series and finally decided to take the three... and it went in! I thought that was pretty huge for a guy who hasn't looked comfortable with his jumper all series. He hit that second wide open three and he just didn't hesitate after that.
For the Spurs, whose entire defense was predicated on the idea of LeBron being uncomfortable shooting jumpers, that probably should've been the ball game. Instead the Spurs hang around all game and had a chance to tie it in the last minute and get a shot Timmy makes probably 80% of the time and it hits back iron. Neither team deserved to lose this series.
I feel bad for Danny Green. If this series ended in 6 he'd have been the hero.
If the Spurs won last night, Kawhi Leonard should have been the series MVP. He was the Spurs best player in game 7 and was the only guy who showed up every game. Amazing series for a 21 year old.
posted by tron7 at 10:18 AM on June 21, 2013
It felt to me like the Heat were in control through the fourth, as close as the score was. They were getting better looks, while the Spurs were scrambling around madly like five Manu Ginobilis. When LeBron is hitting his shots and driving the lane to draw fouls, it puts enormous pressure on an opponent.
Is today's LeBron a big upgrade from the one who lost to the Mavs two years ago? His jumper looked like it, and he didn't shrink from the moment the way he's done in the past.
posted by rcade at 10:48 AM on June 21, 2013
It felt to me like the Heat were in control through the fourth, as close as the score was.
Yeah, I watched the last 5 minutes of game 6 and the last quarter of last nights game (plus highlights), so I'm in no position to judge the series. But the Heat looked in control. Maybe no team deserved to lose, but I don't think the Spurs deserved to win. Miami came up big.
posted by justgary at 11:05 AM on June 21, 2013
Maybe no team deserved to lose, but I don't think the Spurs deserved to win.
Can't argue with that. I was really impressed with the Spurs, though. When the Heat get rolling, 28 of the 29 teams would get blown off the court but the Spurs were within two with under a minute left and it's not like they were getting some crazy luck on three pointers. They weren't the better team but I thought it was an impressive effort.
posted by tron7 at 11:17 AM on June 21, 2013
and he didn't shrink from the moment
A big part of that is hitting that first "we dare ya" 3. The Spurs basically played flawless defense in that game taking away anything inside the key except put backs. They forced quicker, more athletic players to be jump shooters.
Battier hit some huge shots, I'd be willing to bet he's never hit 6 3's in his life in a single game and never will again.
Offensively the Spurs were brutal. Credit LeBron with playing great defense on Parker. Green and Ginobli had matchup advantages offensively but really sucked bag. Duncan missed a big shot towards the end but otherwise dominated anyone the Heat threw at him. And Leonard was consistently the best all around player on the court every game.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:20 AM on June 21, 2013
Battier hit some huge shots, I'd be willing to bet he's never hit 6 3's in his life in a single game
Battier filled Mike Miller's role from last year as the player who can't find the net all series and then can't miss in the deciding game.
posted by tron7 at 11:37 AM on June 21, 2013
I'd be willing to bet he's never hit 6 3's in his life in a single game and never will again
It's Battier's fifth game with six made three pointers.
Last night was actually his second worst six-threes game, as he has two six-of-six and one six-of-seven.
I decided to look this up, not to be a jerk, but because I could. Although I am a jerk. Sorry.
:Shakes fist at Tron:
posted by Mr Bismarck at 11:42 AM on June 21, 2013
It's Battier's fifth game with six made three pointers.
That's a revelation here. I obviously don't follow Battier but he's always seemed like a hustle guy inserted to rough up an offensively hot opponent. Guess he's either a scorching hot shooter or a non-factor.
posted by cixelsyd at 11:59 AM on June 21, 2013
His offense mostly consists of standing behind the three point line and shooting threes if he's open.
His championship celebrations consist of... Denny's?
posted by tron7 at 12:06 PM on June 21, 2013
His championship celebrations consist of... Denny's?
While D-Wade and LeBron go Bosh-less and celebrate with Drake
posted by BornIcon at 12:27 PM on June 21, 2013
I was really impressed with the Spurs, though.
Yeah, I think you have to be. They pushed Miami to the brink, and put themselves in a perfect position to win it all. They had game 6 in hand and just couldn't finish. They were a play or two away in game 7 from taking control. And yet, no one really stepped up.
Miami on the other hand...
posted by justgary at 04:07 PM on June 22, 2013
posted by rcade at 04:55 PM on June 22, 2013
Condolences to Spurs fans from the Sox Lifetime Game 6 Devastation Support Group
posted by beaverboard at 07:41 PM on June 22, 2013
Minor thing:
sealing the victory as the fans chanted along to the White Stripes' ''Seven Nation Army,'' a trademark celebration at American Airlines Arena.
Wut?
Football stadiums (both American and European) use that song all the time.
Replace "trademark" with "popular", and the sentence is okay.