IND (3) @ MIA (1) – Game 7
Miami won its 2nd straight game 7 Eastern Conference Finals to reach the Finals for the 3rd consecutive year, beating down the Pacers by 23pts. The Heat won despite shooting only 40%, but led by as many as 28pts, despite the Heat only scoring 5pts more than Indiana throughout the first 6 games. Miami trailed Indiana 12-6, and then trailed 21-19 at the end of the 1st qtr. But Miami turned it around with a 33-16 2nd qtr, led by James and a bounce-back game from Ray Allen who had struggled all series, but hit 3-of-4 3-pters and finished with 10pts. At the end of the first half, Lebron had 18pts, Indiana had committed 15 turnovers (including 9 in the 1st qtr alone), and the Heat had a 15pt lead.
Indiana’s top scorer was Roy Hibbert with 18pts who picked up his 5th foul towards the end of the 3rd qtr. Paul George only had 7pts on 2-of-9 shooting and also picked up his 4th and 5th fouls in the final 46sec of the 3rd qtr, eventually fouling out with 7:43 remaining in the game. Dwayne Wade finally broke out of his slump and showed some of his old “Flash” to score 21pts (7-of-16 field goals), 9reb - his first 20pt game since round 1 against the Bucks. Lebron finished with 32pts (8-of-17 field goals, 15-of-16 free throws), 8reb, 4ast, and sat out the rest of the game with 5min to go.
The Heat beat the Pacers at their own game and outrebounded them 43-36. The Heat and Pacers won each game alternatively in the 7-game series. Miami’s win gave them 78 wins for the season, the 11th best season total in NBA history. The Heat (66-16 in regular season), having the better record than San Antonio (58-24 in regular season), get to play game 1 of the Finals at home on Friday. In the NBA Finals, the series format will switch from 2-2-1-1-1, to 2-3-2. This means the first 2 games are played in Miami, the next 3 in San Antonio, and the last 2 back in Miami. In last year’s Finals, the lower-seeded Heat lost game 1 in OKC, but then stole game 2 on the road. They were then able to win the title by winning all 3 of their home games to beat OKC 4-1.
Miami went 2-0 against San Antonio, although this cannot be used as a barometer for the Finals matchup. In the first game, Spurs’ Coach Popovich rested 4 starters (after the Spurs had played 5 games in 7 days) and as a result was fined $250,000 by the league. In the second game Miami played without 3 starters, stating that they were “injured”. The reigning champion Heat will face an aging/experienced Spurs’ team (4 championships in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007), who still have their core of Duncan/Ginobili/Parker/coach Popovich, who have won 3 of their last 4 championships together. The Heat will look to accomplish what the spurs failed to do in their championship run – win back-to-back titles.
Video – Game Recap:
Lebron James vs Paul George: ECF Duel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Game 1 highlights: George hits long 3-pter over Lebron to send it to OT, Lebron makes game winning layup in OT
Lebron James vs Paul George game 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Game 2 highlights: George beats Lebron and dunks on Chris Andersen, Lebron responds with the long 3-pter to beat the buzzer on the next possession
Paul George outduels Lebron James in Game 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
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