Heat vs Spurs: The Greatest NBA Finals Ever?
By Alex Monseth
Jun 24, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat players cheer during the 2013 NBA championship rally at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
It’s been a few months now. The major off-season movement is basically done with the Wolves signing of Nikola Pekovic to a five year deal. Maybe it’s the fact that this isn’t the first time. Or maybe so many things happened between now and then in the sports world. Baseball’s PED suspensions, Johnny Manziel’s drinking, NFL training camps, more Johnny Manziel drinking…
Have we already stopped savoring what could have been one of the greatest playoffs series in NBA history?
Let’s take a look at what happened.
Game 1 – This was a great game. Sure, LeBron “struggled” according to some with an 18-18-10 game. But this went down to the wire. Tony Parker travels (falls downs), gets back up, and banks in a shot with the shot clock winding down to win the game for San Antonio for a few seconds left? Need a more edge-of-your-seat ending? Sorry to break it too you, but there really isn’t one.
Game 2 – The game where Heat fans breathed a sigh of relief. LeBron dazzles in a run down the stretch. The Heat blew the Spurs out late to clear the benches, but it was in Miami, the crowd was into it, and we got to see this:
Game 3 – Maybe back-to-back won’t be so easy. Gary Neal and Danny Green combine for 13 three pointers. The Spurs turn a 6 point half-time lead into a 15 point fourth quarter lead into a 36 point blowout.
Game 4 – Welcome to San Antonio D-Wade and LeBron, who went for 32 and 33 respectively. CB pulled down 13 boards along with 20 points as the Heat collapsed the Spurs in the second half in front of their home crowd. 2-2, three game series.
Game 5 – Danny Green collects another 6 three pointers and Manu Ginobili’s starting job turns into a nightmare for Miami. The Spurs now have Miami on the brink of elimination, and Duncan has another chance at a championship.
Game 6 – What will this be called years down the road? The shot? Ray Allen is a clutch man. Don’t be quick to forget that the Heat don’t have a chance without LeBron going beast mode in the fourth quarter to get his team into the situation where they could win it. If Mark Jackson wasn’t off coaching near the Pacific Ocean, we might’ve heard, “Somebody stop that man.”
Game 7 – NBA Championships. Another game that went down to the wire. LeBron seals the deal with a jumper in the fourth.
Jun 20, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade addresses the media after game seven in the 2013 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at American Airlines Arena. Miami Heat won 95-88 to win the NBA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
One can argue, yes, games 2-5 weren’t all that exciting come the last 8 minutes or so of the fourth quarters. But we got three classics in games 1, 6 and 7. Ray Allen’s shot could be one of the greatest in finals history. James has his second ring. Wade, the newly voted most important man in Heat history, got his third.
Yes, you have the Bulls vs. Jazz in ’98/’97, Lakers vs. Celtices ’84 and countless other times. Those are still all-time great matchups.
But this year had everything. Whether you’re a Heat lover or hater, the NBA scored a big one here.