June 19th, 2013 at 8:28 AM
By Ira Luke Simply put, the
Miami Heat had no choice but to win this game.
The Miami Heat were on the brink of the elimination heading into Game 6 and needed overtime to defeat the San Antonio Spurs to play a "winner takes all" Game 7 in the NBA Finals. Miami was down six points with under a minute left and were able to pull off a miracle by getting clutch 3-pointers from LeBron James and Ray Allen to tie the game at the end of regulation.
Tim Duncan's big game was wasted and the Spurs were denied a chance to celebrate on the home floor of the Heat. James put the team on his shoulders in the final quarter and overtime doing everything he could to extend the season.
The MVP showed up in the fourth quarter and overtime, collecting his fourth triple-double in the NBA Finals. He ended with 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds. Mario Chalmers scored 20 points. Dwyane Wade managed just 14 points and Chris Bosh got 10 points and 11 rebounds in a double-double effort.
Read more... Join the Conversation... June 18th, 2013 at 7:33 AM
By Ira Luke Just two wins stand between the
Miami Heat and another NBA Championship.
Miami left Texas with only one victory and will have find a way out of the hole they are in. The San Antonio Spurs took Game 5 decisively with a 114-101 win in their final home game if the season. Manu Ginobili had his turn in Game 5, much like Dwyane Wade in the previous two games, to show that he still has some big games left in the arsenal. Though both ended with double-doubles, Ginobili's made more of an impact in helping his team take a 3-2 lead. Miami will come out and lay it on the line on Tuesday night in Game 6 at AmericanAirlines Arena.
LeBron James could not lead his team to a win in a crucial swing game and will now have help his team get two straight wins to become back-to-back champions. It was another tough shooting night for James.going 8 for 22 in Game 5. He also handed out eight assists meaning that he was able to get his teammates involved. The lack of scoring from players not named James, Wade, Chris Bosh and Ray Allen was virtually nonexistent and that was a hindered the game plan. James tried willing his team back but his effort was not contagious in such an important game.
Read more... Join the Conversation... June 17th, 2013 at 7:48 AM
By Ira Luke The
Miami Heat came into Game 5 looking to win consecutive games for the first time since winning Games 3 and 4 against the Bulls in Eastern Conference Semifinals. That would not be the case on Sunday night as the Spurs countered with their own "small ball" lineup getting a 114-101 victory to gain a 3-2 series lead in the NBA Finals.The stars of the Heat could not provide enough a spark and now need two wins to win back-to-back championships.
Manu Ginobili had his best game of the playoffs after being inserted into the starting lineup.
Ginobili started his first game for the Spurs in Game 5 after struggling mightily in the playoffs. He had more lanes to operate, with the Heat having to focus on the other members of the starting unit. San Antonio coach Gregg Popopvich made a brilliant counter move to Heat wanting to play a smaller lineup and developed a strategy to get his team prepared to play in a faster paced game.
San Antonio played like a well-oiled unit as every starter reached in double figures scoring 16 or more points. Also, they managed to shoot over 60 percent from the field.
Read more... Join the Conversation... June 16th, 2013 at 12:30 PM
By Ira Luke The
Miami Heat's "Big Three" will need to dig up another dominating performance in Game 5 to get Miami its first series lead in the NBA Finals.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh combined for 85 points in the 109-93 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4. It was the first time a Miami Heat player reached 20 or more points in the series. James led the team with 33 points, Wade had a rare scoring outbreak in scoring 32 points and Bosh added 20 of his own. Miami went to a smaller lineup to try to speed the game up and it worked to perfection. This was the type of game the Heat needed to silence the critics and prove that they are the dominant force that has made them the favorites heading into the playoffs. "The Big Three" can get one step closer to helping the Heat repeat as champions by winning Game 5 in San Antonio on Sunday night at 8 ET.
Read more... Join the Conversation... June 14th, 2013 at 12:55 AM
By Ira Luke LeBron James said he had to be more aggressive and in attack mode in Game 4. But he didn't say that he spread the message to the other members of "The Big Three."
The Miami Heat bounced back after a blowout loss to win Game 4 to even the NBA Finals at two games apiece with the San Antonio Spurs. James along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were the first 20-point scorers for the Heat in the series, leading the team to a 109-93 win. Wade looked lively in putting on a spectacular performance and Bosh was much more active in the paint, which gave Miami a much needed boost in the front court. The Spurs were not as efficient in Game 4 and did not defend as well as they had in the previous games giving up 20 plus points to three players.
Miami's combination of James, Wade and Bosh totaled 85 points in Game 4, which is their biggest scoring output in this year's NBA Finals.
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