The 2012-13 NBA season has come to an end and it ended with the Miami Heat becoming back-to-back NBA champions and for the Spurs, a bitter end as they are handed their first franchise loss in Finals history.
The San Antonio Spurs, classy organization, classy fans, and as a Laker fan, there was no team in the West I respected more than the San Antonio Spurs and it was an honor to clash with them 5 times in the last decade to go to the NBA Finals. Tim Duncan, if this were his last season, he went out guns blazing. Duncan was a positive for the Spurs, 24 points, 12 rebounds on 8-18 shooting, perfect from the free throw line. I mean it's a bitter end to his legacy, considering he is no doubt one of the greatest power forwards to ever play the game and it's crushing to end on a bitter note on the NBA's biggest stage at the twilight of his career, considering he was perfect up until this Finals. Kawhi Leonard, this guy is going to be the Spurs' building block of the future once Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili retire. Leonard had 19 points and 16 rebounds, he's a star in the making and he should take these Finals as a learning experience to lead this team back to it at some point in the future. Manu Ginobili, in the limbo of the positive/negative, he did have a bounce back game with 18 points on 6-12 shooting, but he did commit key turnovers that helped the Heat en route to their 3rd NBA championship. Tony Parker, a negative, non-factor this game, the Heat did an amazing job defensively clamping him down with their long defenders. Parker only scored 10 points on a whopping 3-12 shooting, it's apparently obvious that hamstring caught up to him. Danny Green, I said if the Spurs were to win, he should get Finals MVP honors; I ate crow the last two games, he stunk even more in game 7 scoring only 5 points on 1-12 shooting.
For the Miami Heat, congrats to them and to Finals MVP, LeBron James. LeBron had a spectacular game 7, a performance that further solidifies his legacy, I mean he's already light years behind Kobe (don't flame me my fellow Laker brethren, I was a Laker fan first, then a Kobe fan) since last year and this game 7 performance certainly puts him in the conversation among the all-time greats, but putting him in the conversation with Jordan is pure ludicrous, but with the all-time greats he's up there. Virtuoso game 7 performance by LeBron on the grandest stage, finishing with 37 points, 12 rebounds, 12-23 shooting and was hitting from beyond the arc. Full credit to LeBron for bringing his A game when we all know the pressure was going to be on him. Dwyane Wade another positive for the Heat, bad knee at all, he was just hitting his shots at will. Wade had 23 points and 10 rebounds on 11-21 shooting, just a brilliant performance from him. Shane Battier, the X-factor in this game off the bench. Battier started 5-5 from 3 point land and finished with 18 points on 6-8 shooting from beyond the arc, his shots were the big shots Miami needed in order to clinch this title. Mario Chalmers in a limbo between the positive/negative, didn't have a good shooting night, but his 14 points were key and that deep three he made in the final seconds of the third quarter. Negatives, Chris Bosh and Ray Allen, they went from heroes in game 6 to goats in game 7. The Boshtrich, Boshasaurus Rex, laid an egg this game and was in foul trouble, Duncan obviously did a good taking it to him physically in the paint and the Spurs who penetrated in the likes of Parker because obviously Bosh is not a true rim protector. Ray Allen, another goose egg after being so clutch in game 6. Of course the negatives are going to be negated considering the Heat won the championship.
Anyway like I said, bitter end for the Spurs, but as always, they're professionals and very classy organization. For the Miami Heat, for the city of Miami, congrats on your 3rd NBA title. And for all of you, thanks for following my coverage of the 2013 NBA Finals, it was an amazing series if you're a basketball purist and love the game like it is. Until then, I will take a short break, recap the Lakers' 2013 NBA Draft Picks and once July hits, I'm going to be posting daily off-season transactions the Lakers made as the 2013 NBA off season now rolls on.
Congrats Miami Heat 2013 NBA Champions!
Photo Courtesy of: Yahoo! Sports, Getty Images, Associated Press
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