Blessed with all his glorious achievements: 4 time MVP, NBA finals MVP, gold medal winner, LeBron James has yet to truly meet his maker when it comes to facing a Game 7. His supporting cast aka Wade, Bosh, and three point specialists will make a splash tonight. James is a facilitator more so than Kobe or Michael Jordan, but has to prove that he has the ability to will a team to the finals and win a championship. In 2012, the entire team won for the Miami Heat, as we all remember Mike Miller's stellar performance in Game 5. However, LeBron seems to put the team on his back this spring due to Wade's knee problems and whatnot.
Game 7's are "win or go home" scenarios. A game 7 in itself is a mini championship because unlike the NFL, a team can lose a few times before it really fears elimination. There is no bigger stage than a Game 7 in a finals, even an eastern conference finals. James is putting up solid playoff numbers: 25.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 6.6 APG, but he'll need 30 tonight in order to lock this one up (probably gonna need 10 rebounds and 10 assists as well). LeBron James is no doubt a superstar beyond the scope of all athletes before him, but if he loses tonight, he will tarnish the reputation he has worked so hard to achieve.
Now, onto Paul George. Yes, Paul George, the Most Improved Player of this year will have to improve just a bit more if he wants to be considered elite. George has put up some quality numbers this postseason, averaging 19.9 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 5.1 APG while shooting an admirable 43.7% FG and 33% from three. Those numbers need to be higher. I'm thinking he puts up 25-10-10 tonight and the game is his. That being said, our dear potty mouth big man must also put up 25 points 15 rebounds and has to shoot at least 55% tonight (he's shooting 50.4% throughout the playoffs). Without the two of them going for big game 7 performances, LeBron will sneak out a victory at home and face the Spurs.
My favorite matchup in this one is the Hibbert-West duo versus the angry dinosaur and the angry Birdman. Hibbert is putting up nearly 17 PPG and 10 RPG. He is a vital part of whether or not this Pacers team moves onto the finals, but in ways not quantified by Stats.com. Birdman has a bit of a temper (we saw that when Tyler "bull in a china shop" Hansborough slipped under his tattoo filled skin and got him suspended for game 6). Hibbert and West need to be the true bruisers Donnie Walsh hoped they'd be. Bosh, Haslem, Battier, and Birdman will all punch and grind and play as dirty as they can to prevent the Indiana towers from dominating. It'll be interesting to see who gets the first technical foul of the game. My guess is Birdman, but who knows.
After Bosh apologized publicly about his performance he is sure to have an aggressive game, but I'm afraid Hibbert will cause him to fall short once again and make Chris reassess his value to the team. While currently shooting more outside than in the post, it is clear that Bosh is a scaredy dinosaur. Haslem might put up another stellar performance as he did earlier in the series, and helping reignite the Heat offense, but it will be the true Duke-ness of Shane Battier that will propel the Heat. Battier's basketball IQ gives him that offensive edge (stretching the floor and sneaking out to the corners) while David West is not in tip top shape and not nearly fast enough to keep up with a Battier who faces elimination. The stretch 4, as Spoelstra calls him, has too quick a release from three and can easily change the tempo of the game in Miami's favor.
I expect the Miami Heat to win, because the home team wins Game 7. It's not written in stone, but close to it. King James will score 30, and probably get a triple double along the way. I do not expect much from Wade or Bosh, but the supporting cast of "wait and see if the King passes me the rock" three point specialists will step up their game and shoot the lights out of the American Airlines Arena. Ray Allen, you will again crush the hopes and dreams of fans who wished you played for them.
Miami 95, Indiana 88
PS. As a Knick fan, I hope they both lose.
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