And though it came in a losing effort, Kawhi Leonard has proven himself to be a special player who simply has a knack for making the right plays on both ends of the floor. Over the seven game series, Leonard averaged 14.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and two steals per game. He also shot 52 percent from the field.
But in the end, Duncan and Leonard had little help in the decisive game.
Tony Parker and Danny Green shot just 4-for-24 from the field. All by themselves, James, Wade, Battier and Mario Chalmers outscored the Spurs, 92-88. Ray Allen, Mike Miller and Chris Bosh each played at least 19 minutes for the Heat, but amazingly, each went scoreless.
The Spurs have managed to defy Father Time. But in Game 7, they could not defy history.
Entering Game 7, road teams playing a Game 7 in the NBA Finals were just 3-14. And these Spurs—not even these stubborn Spurs—could do what has not been done since 1978.
And as James stood in front of the 20,000 seated in front of him and the millions watching on television—as he stood next to Bill Russell and recalled the stops on his basketball pilgrimage, he uttered the only non-truth of the night.
“I’m not even supposed to be here,” he said.
But he was wrong.
He worked for this. He endured intense scrutiny for this. He suffered sleepless nights for this and he made it, once again, to the top of the mountain.
With the confetti raining down and the world watching, LeBron James was exactly where he was supposed to be, even if it did not seem like it in those waning moments of Game 6.
LeBron James—the best basketball player in the world—was in his rightful spot.
After leading a spirited rally in Game 6 and refusing to quit on his quest to earn his NBA immortality, James was a champion and a Finals MVP.
James was the last man standing in June.
He was reigning, as king, yet again.
Moke Hamilton is a Senior NBA Columnist for SheridanHoops.com on assignment in Miami for the NBA Finals. Follow him on Twitter: @MokeHamilton
Stormy says
As provide you cannot assume all electrical issues that might be recommended
if the job done to ensure their offices, which would require parking
facilities are not correctly connected with each team
member.
Here is my homepage … web page (Stormy)