MIAMI — Legacies are generally determined after the fact, written by others, imposed on the subject without their input. For the last three years, LeBron James has endured daily revisions to his legacy, a chorus of critics framing his career based on a single game, a single series, the shots that swished and those that missed, never waiting for a fuller picture to emerge.
James at last seized control of his own narrative Thursday night, leaving nothing to chance and no more room for debate. He drove hard, shot brilliantly, scored every critical basket and finally pushed the Miami Heat past the San Antonio Spurs for a 95-88 victory in Game 7 of the N.B.A. finals.
"For me, I can't worry what everybody say about me," James said on the championship stage, the red and white confetti raining all around him, the crowd shrieking in agreement.
A year after securing his first title, James claimed his second, with a 37-point, 12-rebound finale, closing out a taut series against the Spurs, who were seeking their fifth title with Tim Duncan.
"Every night I walk into the locker room and I see No. 6 with James on the back, I'm blessed," James said. "So whatever anybody says about me, I got no worries."
The Heat join the Los Angeles Lakers as only team to repeat in the post-Jordan era. They did it by becoming just the fourth team to win Games 6 and 7 at home after facing a 3-2 deficit.
"They played Hall of Fame basketball tonight," Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said of James and Dwyane Wade. "That's some of the best basketball they both played at the same time throughout the entire playoffs, from what I saw."
Duncan, one of the greatest big men to play the game, lost in the finals for the first time in his five appearances, and perhaps bowed off this stage for the final time. At age 37, he might not get another chance.
"I still have Game 6 in my head," said Manu Ginobili, who scored 18 points. He added, "Being so close and feeling that you are about to grab that trophy and then seeing it vanish, is very hard."
James hit a 17-footer with 5 minutes 37 seconds to play, staking Miami to an 83-77 lead. The Spurs got sloppy, passes by Tony Parker and Ginobili sailing out of bounds for turnovers. But the Spurs kept coming.
When James hit a jumper, Ginobili answered with a 3-pointer. When Shane Battier hit a 3-pointer for an 88-82 lead, Duncan countered with a 3-point play. After Wade sliced in for a layup, Kawhi Leonard responded with a 3-pointer.
With the Heat holding a 2-point lead and the pressure building, Mario Chalmers missed two free throws. Duncan, the four-time champion, missed two shots from close range.
With 39 seconds to go, the Heat's lead stood at 90-88. James nailed an 18-footer to give the Heat a cushion, the crowd erupting as it connected. The M.V.P. chants came next, as James finished off the game with two free throws.
There was no diminishing the moment, its historic importance, its impact on the careers of everyone involved. Even James, who is constantly fighting against the notion that every game is a referendum on his legacy, readily admitted this would be "one of the biggest games, if not the biggest game, of my life."
James finished 12 for 23 from the field, setting a finals career high with five 3-pointers. David Stern, who is stepping down as commissioner next February, handed the trophy over for the 30th and final time, and handed the finals M.V.P. trophy to James, his second straight. James joined Michael Jordan and Bill Russell — for whom the finals M.V.P. trophy is named — as the only players to win back-to-back regular-season M.V.P. awards and N.B.A. titles.
James scored 28 points over the first three quarters. Apropos of the series, neither team could get any separation. The Heat led by 2 points after one quarter, by 2 points at halftime and by one point after three quarters.
Mario Chalmers closed the third period with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer off the glass for a 72-71 edge.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Game 7: Heat 95, Spurs 88: Pushed to Limit, James and Miami Repeat as Champions
Dengan url
https://dunialuasekali.blogspot.com/2013/06/game-7-heat-95-spurs-88-pushed-to-limit.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Game 7: Heat 95, Spurs 88: Pushed to Limit, James and Miami Repeat as Champions
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Game 7: Heat 95, Spurs 88: Pushed to Limit, James and Miami Repeat as Champions
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar