The King's Ascension To The Throne.

11:54:22 PM | 6/24/2013 | Monday

It was for all the marbles. It’s more known as the do-or-die match, or sudden death, or much simpler term, “the decider.” This is the Game 7 of the Championship series of the National Basketball Association between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs. The very last game of the 2012-2013 NBA season. One last game to play. One last game to watch. To witness the last two teams standing at that point.

One will rise and one will fall. One will earn a legitimate bragging right, one will lose it. One will rise in the history, while the other falls and will end their season on a broken note, as both legacies will be on the line. There’s no such thing as “records,” “statistics,” and even the so-called “winning tradition.”

And it was a hell of a game, just like what the previous Game 7 is really all about, from the opening minute to its dying seconds. Defense took its toll on both teams. And the ones, who can withstand the defensive wall, are the ones that are capable to break that barrier to score buckets and make plays. Stars arose from their respective shadows. Though only few of them really managed to ascend to their respective thrones.

Shane Battier was a hero in perfect timing, collecting 6 triples with some of them coming off from James’ assists. LeBron James dialed 10 times from long distance and got connected on  5 of them. He finished with 37 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.

At the end, the Miami Heat scored a 95-88 win to claim the trophy of championship and take home the glory in their hands. It all came from the expense of a winning team known as San Antonio Spurs, led by Tim Duncan’s 24 points and 12 rebounds, almost the same stats he got from a Game 7 against Detroit – and that was 8 years ago. Kawhi Leonard was also a potential Finals MVP with 19 points and 16 rebounds.

Both teams almost fared up equally on total rebounds, and personal fouls. The Heat edged up the Spurs when it comes on swatting shots away, while the Spurs had a slim advantage on turnovers, steals, and free throw shots. Even if LeBron, Shane and Mario Chalmers attempted less on rainbow distance, they still outnumbered the Heat in 3-point attempts. The only downside of their team was Chris Bosh’s 0 points in 6 attempts and 5 fouls. However, I think if they did have more players scored in this ball game, maybe the result will be different, eh? Only 5 Heat players managed to put up at least 3 markers.

Tony Parker was only held to 10 points – scoreless on the second half. Manu Ginobili had 18 points, but committed 4 turnovers – with I think 2 of them were from the crucial moments of the deciding match. And prior to this series, San Antonio was victorious in all of its four Finals appearances for the previous 14 years.

Plainly, the defending champions did a great job in their main task for this season – that is defending their title. That is despite the rising level of competition above them, with powerhouse, dark horse, elite and underdog squads emerged.

Can they go for 3-peat? We’ll find that out in late October. For the mean time, congratulations for the Miami Heat!

Author: slickmaster | © 2013 september twenty-eight productions