True Brilliance
There may have been more historic individual performances in NBA finals history. Michael Jordan’s “flu game” in game six in 1997 against the Utah Jazz in which he came into the game with 103 degree fever in pivotal game five with the series tied 2-2 and the Jazz gaining momentum. Jordan scored 38 points and willed his team to the victory to give the Bulls a 3-2 lead over John Stockton and Karl Malone. The Bulls won it in six to claim their fifth NBA title with Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson at the helm.
And Magic Johnson’s epic game seven performance in 1980 against the Philadelphia 76ers in which, as a 20-year old rookie, he replaced Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at center (who was hurt) and poured in 42 points, pulled down 15 boards and leading his team to the NBA title. It was the first of 10 NBA Finals played in the 1980’s all of which featured Magic’s Lakers or Larry Bird’s Celtics.
But as far as an epic team game goes, I haven’t seen a finals game any better than last night at American Airlines Arena in Miami between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat. The Heat were down by as much as 14 in the third quarter and their season looked very close to over. But LeBron James got it going in the fourth quarter. He wasn’t perfect-he made some errant passes and shots– but he scored 16 to keep his team alive. Tony Parker was just as dynamic for the Spurs in the final period. With the Heat taking the lead 89-86 on two Dwayne Wade free throws with 2 minutes left, the Spurs’ prospects were wavering. But Parker got the ball at the top of the key with the shot clock winding down and tossed up a 26-foot three fading away with 1:27 left. Amazingly it went through the net and the game was all tied at 89. Then Parker stole an errant James pass intended for Mario Chalmers and raced down the court and drained a highly contested 12-foot turnaround jumpert. It was sheer basketball brilliance. The Spurs led 91-89 at that point with 58 seconds left. The Spurs defense turned ‘Bron over with Kawhi Leonard, the sensational second year player out of San Diego State, stealing the ball from James. Manu Ginobli was fouled on his shot and sank both free throws to put the Spurs up, 93-89 with 37.2 seconds left. Then Ginoblo stole the ball from James and was fouled shooting and sank one of two to put the Spurs ahead 94-89 with 28.2 seconds to go.
The Heat looked close to devastated. But it wasn’t over just yet. With 23.9 seconds left, ‘Bron had an open look from three and let it go. It bounced off the rim. But Chris Bosh, who had been having a relatively quiet finals, tipped it out, Mike Miller touch passed it back to James who sank his next triple with 20.1 left to cut the lead to 94-92. The Spurs’ Leonard was fouled by Miller with 19.4 seconds left. He’s 20-years old and shooting the biggest free throws of his life in an extremely hostile environment of 24,000 Heat fans. Leonard looked good dribbling the ball, but missed the first. He sank the second and the Heat got the ball with no timeout and 19.4 left down 95-92. They worked the ball around with time painfully winding down. James finally attempted a 26 foot three with 7.9 seconds left. He missed, but Chris Bosh got the ricochet off the board and kicked it to Ray Allen in the corner. And 37-year old Ray Allen was about to launch the biggest shot of his life. He let it go. First, some personal history.
I was watching the 2010 Finals with my younger daughter which pitted the Celtics and the Lakers and we both loved Ray. My daughter was creating cheers for him. In the game, I believe it was game two, Ray sank eight of his first eight threes and finished eight-for-11. It was beautiful shooting. Pure poetry and art. I was disappointed with Ray when he left the Celtics after last season to go to the Heat, but apparently he didn’t get along with point guard Rajon Rondo and wanted to go somewhere else for a fresh start. I have to admit, most of the season I was calling him Benedict Allen for leaving my beloved Celtics. But last night Ray won me back.
With 5.3 seconds Ray jumped to what looked like three feet in the air with Parker right on him, not fouling him, but distracting him to no end. Ray let it go at the top of his leap with picturesque form. It was a vintage, beautiful Ray Allen shot and it found the net with five seconds left. The game was now tied at 95. The Heat kept Parker from scoring on the Spurs possession after the refs stopped the game to make sure Allen’s feet had been behind the arc. They were. The game went into overtime.
The Heat won it in overtime 103-100 with Allen sinking two clinching free throws, but not before Danny Green took a tightly contested three from the corner in the final second. It looked like Bosh had fouled him, but it wasn’t called. Could have been whistled. Maybe should have been. But it wasn’t and now we’re all tied up at three and heading to an epic game seven.
LeBron was almost apologizing to America after the game telling Doris Burke of ABC Sports that he made mistakes but he and his team got it done and left it all on the court. It was a pretty powerful, pretty touching moment. LeBron showed a lot of vulnerability, a lot of honesty and a lot of humility. What was even more powerful to me was when ‘Bron was done talking with Doris I heard him go over to DWade and say “Sorry, man,” and give DWade a hug. I’m not sure if ‘Bron was saying he was sorry to Wade because he was tough on Wade for not producing in the second half or that Bron was apologizing to Wade for not playing HIS best. It was powerful. Doris also talked to the classy Allen and he was his typical classy self. Humble, focused, serious and gracious for getting another chance to play. Still love Ray.
It was an amazing game and it’s been an amazing series. Those lunch pails and hard hats are coming out for the Heat and the Spurs in game 7 Thursday Night at Miami at 9 PM ET/8 CT on ABC. Have the Heat in 7. We shall see. Know one thing: Can’t wait.
