Until about
3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the San Antonio Spurs looked
resilient enough to pull out two victories in Miami and put the Heat in a 0-2
hole. LeBron saw that same resiliency and used it as fuel to propel his team on
a 30-5 run and give the Heat complete control of this game. The Miami Heat took
a closely contested NBA finals game into an unbelievable blowout victory for
the South Beach boys.
The San
Antonio Spurs continued to fight in this one, and got tons of support from role
players Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard. Green started the game knocking down
three straight 3s and finished with 17 points, shooting 5-5 from downtown and
6-6 overall. Leonard grabbed 6 rebounds in the 1st quarter and
finished the game with 14 rebounds, 8 offensive. But the poor performance was
the fault of the Spurs overall. Other than DG and Kawhi, they were pitiful. I’m
gonna give a little more stat info, just so I fully explain my point.
Tony
Parker: 5-14, 13 pts, 5 ast, and 5 turnovers
Tim Duncan:
3-13, 9 pts, 11 rebs, and 1 turnover
Manu
Ginobili: 2-6, 5 pts, 2 rebs, 1 ast, and 3 turnovers
The Spurs “big
three” played like a bunch of old dogs who can’t keep up with LeBron’s new
tricks. The nearly triple-double machine played the best basketball of his
life. Although it might not say on the stat sheet, but LeBron’s intensity for
41 minutes was incomparable. The Spurs were not ready. They didn’t come
prepared to play 48 minutes of complete basketball. They broke down in the
second half, and couldn’t bounce back. Popovich tried to bring some life back
into his team by just allowing them play through what turned out to be a 30-5
run in an 8-minute span. His team however failed him, and tonight it was made
clear who the stronger team is.
Now, game 3
is in San Antonio, and I am positive that the Spurs will come out and bring
their best performance of the playoffs Tuesday night. Tony Parker will make
sure to contain the basketball. The Heat brought more energy in the second
half. They continued to fight the entire game, and shot the lights out the
arena.
The MVP of
tonight who’s name is not LeBron James is Mario Chalmers. Mario played the
second most minutes out of anyone on the court, and was tonight’s leading
scorer: 19 pts, 4 rebs, 2 ast (because LeBron had 7 and Wade had 6). He also
converted a ridiculous and-1 in the second half to, increase their lead. The
other three point assassins were Ray, of course, and Mike Miller. Combined they
shot 6-8 from downtown to make Gary Neal and Danny Green’s 6-8. Danny Green was
a boss tonight, just to reiterate that. I cannot wait for him to bust out
another 6-6 performance in game 3. But, back to the Heat, they were amazing.
The Miami
Heat played two-way basketball, forcing 17 team turnovers on a team 3 nights
earlier turned it over 4 times. They knew that possessions determined this
series, and the team who turns the ball over the most, loses. Miami scored 19
points off turnovers and 13 in the fast break. Miami will not lose two games in
a row, but the Spurs might, they way they’re playing.
Also, just
in response to the talk about Dwayne Wade. He is the leader of this team.
LeBron and Wade both lead this team, of course, but the way Dwayne performed
tonight showed how passionate he is about winning. And for the talk about his legacy being determined based on this
series…it is complete horse poop. If I am not mistaken, Wade has been to the
NBA finals 4 times now. And 2-2 is not terrible, especially if he plans on
coming back next year, and the year after that…and the year after that, until
LeBron wants leave him for fresher knees and Kyrie Irving.
I first
thought that the Heat would win in 6 games, but now, I still say 6 games. The
days are numbered for the old time, rusty, slow moving Spurs. LeBron is coming.
And you can’t stop him.
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