2013 NBA Finals: Game 7 Preview
Series status: Series tied 3-3
Date: June 20th
Time: 9:00 p.m. (EST)
Location: AmericanAirlines Arena (Miami, FL)
TV: ABC
After six hard fought games, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs wrap up their series and the NBA season in tonight’s Game 7.
For the Spurs, the big question is if they can pick themselves up from a devastating loss in Game 6. With the game in hand, up four points with 28 seconds left, San Antonio missed two clutch free throws in regulation and allowed the Heat back into the series. Ray Allen hit a game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds and Miami went on to an overtime 103-100 win.
The Heat, meanwhile, are playing for big stakes as well. Miami hopes to repeat as champions for the first time and LeBron James continues his journey of trying to be one of the game’s all-time greats. James is an unreal talent, but can’t be compared to guys like Michael, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, or even Kobe until he wins a few more rings.
If San Antonio wants to bring home a fifth title for Tim Duncan, better games from their guards would be a start. Tony Parker had a mixed bag in Game 6. He led the unit with 19 points, eight assists, and no turnovers, but shot only 6-23. Manu Ginobili had nine points but eight huge turnovers, including one at the end of the game when he was stripped of the ball. Ginobili also finished with a woeful -21 when he was on the court in the +/- category. And Danny Green, who had been challenging for MVP honors, had his worst game of the series with only three points on 1-7 shooting.
The Spurs nearly won Game 6 anyway, but that was only behind a large effort by Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard, who combined for 52 points and 28 rebounds. San Antonio can’t expect that much production again and need their backcourt to step up.
Everyone knows about the Big Three, but one guy to watch for Miami is Mario Chalmers. Chalmers is a big reason the Heat won Game 6 as he scored 20 points shooting 7-11 from the field. He has been up and down in this series, but also gave a great effort in Game 2 with 19 points in Miami’s 19-point win at home. In the team’s three wins, Chalmers is averaging 15 points a game, shooting 56% from the field. But in the losses, he’s scored only five per contest and shot 20%.
Do the math.
Miami will get something from their trio of stars, even if we don’t know quite how much. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh haven’t been all that consistent and even James struggled in the early games of the series. But the way Chalmers plays could say a lot about tonight’s game.
It can never be fully expected what a Game 7 will bring, but here’s to hoping it will more closely resemble the epic Game 6 than some of the earlier blowouts in the series.
