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SLIDESHOW: James helps Heat stave off elimination in Game 6

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:51:05 -0500

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Basketball Writer

MIAMI (AP) -- LeBron James shrugged off a poor start to get 32 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds to play to force overtime and the Miami Heat staved off elimination with a 103-100 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night.

CLICK HERE for a game 6 slideshow...

James missed nine of his first 12 shots, but scored 16 points in the fourth to rally the Heat from a 10-point deficit. The Heat trailed 94-89 with 28 seconds to play, but James hit a 3 with 20 seconds to go and Allen drilled another to tie it.

James' layup with 1:43 to play in overtime gave the Heat a 101-100 lead, and Allen added two free throws to force Game 7, which is on Thursday night in Miami. The Spurs had one final chance down 103-100, but Chris Bosh blocked Danny Green's 3-pointer from the corner as time expired.

Tim Duncan had 30 points and 17 rebounds in a performance straight out 2003. But he was scoreless in the fourth and overtime and the Spurs squandered a golden opportunity to close out the series and win their fifth championship.

Mario Chalmers scored 20 points, Bosh had 10 points and 11 rebounds and Shane Battier hit three 3-pointers for the Heat, who trailed 75-65 after three quarters.

James eschewed his trademark headband in the fourth quarter, then spearheaded the ferocious comeback. He scored six straight points for the Heat, then fed Chris Andersen, who made a free throw to pull the Heat within two at 82-80 with seven minutes to play.

James then blocked a layup by Duncan and scored on the other end to tie it and Allen's reverse layup gave the Heat an 84-82 lead with six minutes to go.

The Heat led 89-86, but Tony Parker hit a step-back 3 and a layup to take back the lead.

After Allen's big shot from the corner sent the game into overtime, James scored on a layup for a 101-100 lead with 1 minute to go. The Spurs had a chance to take the lead in the closing seconds, but Manu Ginobili's drive was thwarted and Allen hit two free throws.

Bosh blocked Danny Green's 3-pointer at the buzzer, and the defending champs lived to fight another day.

Parker finished with 19 points on 6-for-23 shooting and eight assists and Kawhi Leonard had 22 points and 11 rebounds for San Antonio. Green, who broke the NBA Finals record for 3-pointers, had just three points on 1-for-7 shooting.

After a vintage first three quarters from Duncan had the Spurs steamrolling toward the championship, James delivered a vintage performance of his own in the fourth. Tentative and flustered through the first three, James went into full-on attack mode in the fourth to force a Game 7.

It was the force-of-nature showing that had been all too rare for James in these finals, but the Heat have never needed it more after Duncan took it to them the first 36 minutes.

Duncan hit his first eight shots of the game, conjuring the dominant form that brought four titles to San Antonio between 1999 and 2007. But he long ago handed the reins of the Spurs offense over to Parker, letting the speedy French point guard take over as Duncan grew older.

Until Tuesday night.

After getting a vintage performance from Manu Ginobili in Game 5 to take control of the series, the Spurs got a throwback effort from Duncan to start Game 6.

With the Heat leading 40-33 and threatening to pull away with 7:30 to go in the first half, Duncan scored San Antonio's next 13 points to start a 17-4 run that gave San Antonio a 50-44 lead at halftime.

Duncan has never scored more points the first half (25) of a finals game in his career, a performance reminiscent of his 32-point, 20-rebound, seven-block game in Game 1 of the 2003 finals against New Jersey. But this one was so much more important.

They entered the game with title No. 5 sitting right there in front of them. They had two cracks to bring the trophy back home to San Antonio, but the last thing they wanted was to have to play a Game 7 against LeBron James on the road for the championship. There have only been five Game 7s in the finals since 1978, with the home team winning all those contests. The last road team to win a Game 7 for the title was the Washington Bullets over the Seattle SuperSonics in 1978.

Chalmers was 4 for 19 over his last three games, but came alive in this must-win for Miami. He made 5 of 7 shots, including two 3s, in the first half to get the Heat out quickly.

Wade seemed to tweak his left knee after being whistled for an offensive foul early in the first quarter, but he looked fine moments later when he dunked over Duncan to tie the game at 16.

It's been 12 games since the Heat have won two in a row, a startling stretch of inconsistency for a team that won 27 straight in the regular season and figured to turn this postseason into a coronation rather than a competition.

But the short-handed Chicago Bulls put up an inspired fight in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Indiana Pacers took them the full seven in a rugged conference finals and the Spurs picked them apart in three of the first five games in this series.

For most of the last two months, the Heat have preferred to wait until they were in serious trouble before finding that extra gear that only they seem to have. Down 2-1 in the series, James, Wade and Bosh combined for 85 points to even the series.

It doesn't get any more serious than what the Heat faced when they walked into American Airlines Arena on Tuesday night.

One more uninspired performance from their three All-Stars, one more lazy night on defense, one more loss and the Heat were done for the season. The prospects of falling to 1-2 in NBA Finals appearances since James, Wade and Bosh united in 2010 loomed over a team that was constructed to win not just one title, but multiple crowns.

In the unflappable Spurs, the Heat may be facing their biggest challenge yet. Duncan, Parker and Ginobili have teamed to win three championships, so they know what it takes to deliver in the finals. And youngsters like Green and Leonard have shown that even when LeBron and Co. flex their muscle, like they did in Games 2 and 4, they come right back at them.

For as much as James and the Heat had riding on this finals appearance, the Spurs may have even more. Duncan is 37, while Ginobili will soon turn 36 and is in the final year of his contract, giving the feeling that after so many premature proclamations of demise for this core group.

Video: Kawhi Leonard puts Mike Miller on a poster

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:07:45 -0500

By Jeff Garcia, Project Spurs.com

It didn't take long for the San Antonio Spurs to get the highlights going in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals courtesy of Kawhi Leonard.

Early in the first quarter, the Spurs were out on the fast break when Tony Parker found a streaking Leonard heading to the rim. Only one thing... Mike Miller was standing in his way.

However, Leonard made short work of Miller's weak attempt at defense and threw down a vicious dunk on Miller. Check it out at PROJECT SPURS.

Spurs no strangers to closing out on the road

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:11:18 -0500

By Michael De Leon, Project Spurs.com

Through four playoffs series this postseason, the San Antonio Spurs have now only lost four games total. Sweeps in the opening round and Western Conference Finals mean the Spurs’ only losses have come at the hands of the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat.

4 losses.

The Spurs will look to end the playoffs tonight with that same number as they enter a crucial Game 6 in Miami.

There’s nothing easy about closing out a series on the road, but the Spurs have been here before and have a 100 percent success rate in closeout games on the road.

Click HERE for the complete article at Project Spurs.

Five players in play for Finals MVP, Green the lone standout

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:33:20 -0500

By Paul Garcia, Project Spurs.com

With the San Antonio Spurs ahead 3-2 in the NBA Finals over the Miami Heat, it’s safe to begin looking at who a potential Finals MVP for the series could be if the Spurs win the title in six or seven games, or the Heat force a seventh game and win the championship.

The numbers provided below come from NBA.com/stats are only taken from the averages through the five NBA Finals games.

If the Spurs win the Championship

Danny Green: 18 points (10.6 FGA), 66% shooting from 3-point range, 1.6 blocks
“Danny Shoot Ball” is what Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said about Green back in early January, and that’s exactly what Green’s continued to do at an even higher rate through five games in the Finals.

Click HERE for the complete article at Project Spurs.

Window artist paints with Spurs spirit

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:17:47 -0500

SAN ANTONIO -- All of us pretty much have gotten into the Spurs spirit. Local retailers who are jazzing up their places for the big finals, and we talked to a man who is making their windows a little brighter for this championship run.

With his green backpack and every color on the ground around him, Salvador Soriano says word of mouth has kept him busy.

"I've done a lot," Salvador told us as he laughed. "I've done a lot!"

Ever since the Spurs got into the finals, business owners are all about the team and showing their Spurs spirit. Salvador says it slowed down as the series progressed. But when the team won Game 5 on Sunday, his phone started ringing again.

On the day we visited with him, Salvador said he would be be stopping at several local businesses, painting everything Spurs, free-handed on windows. The Spurs mascot - The Coyote - is the most requested.

"He's the driver..the inspiration to keep us going," explained Salvador.

Salvador says he takes great pride in producing the trophies too, and he's ready to make room for another one.

It's now or never for the Spurs

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:15:57 -0500

By John Karalis, Project Spurs.com

During the San Antonio Spurs' title chase, John Karalis of Red's Army will be contributing to Project Spurs.

There’s an amazing statistic that’s been floating out there for a little while. It’s truly indicative of the San Antonio Spurs’ dominance in the Tim Duncan era. You’ve heard it before, but it’s still breathtaking every time you hear it again.

The Spurs have never trailed in the NBA Finals.

Ever.

EVER!!

That’s insanity. But it could also be history if the Spurs don’t win tonight.

That’s right. No matter what ridiculous debates you might have seen today, tonight is the most must-win game of the season for the Spurs. If they lose this, they can forget it.

Click HERE for the complete article at Project Spurs.

The 'Effort' Narrative

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:25:38 -0500

By Aaron Preine, Project Spurs.com

Sports media is the most polarizing, glorified, and over-valued arm of all the journalistic outlets.

Yet, it only exists in this nature because you (and I), the fan, continually create an overwhelming demand of all things sports-related. Think about where media coverage was in both 1993 and 2003. Journalists dominated in both decades with the only difference being the Naughts-era expansion of virtual data and small-scale blogging. Now fast-forward to the sports world of 2013 - instant access to a tremendous amount of resources on almost everything a fan could ever care about.

Click HERE for the complete article at Project Spurs.

Our love for Manu Ginobili

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:22:15 -0500

SAN ANTONIO -- We all know he came back to life in Sunday night's game, and fans certainly helped Manu Ginobili score 24 points.

News 4's Kristina De Leon talked to fans about his popularity, and why we have such a love affair with number 20.

By the numbers: Green's hot three point shooting vs. Heat

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:06:08 -0500

By Jeff Garcia, Project Spurs.com

San Antonio Spurs' Danny Green has been putting on one of the best three point shooting displays in recent history of the NBA Finals.

From breaking Miami's Ray Allen's Finals record by connecting on 25 three points to currently shooting a whopping 65% from the three point line, Green is definitely leaving his mark on these Finals and quite possibly, garner some votes for NBA Finals MVP.

Here are some eye popping stats (via Basketball-Reference) on Green's three point shooting performance through five games:

• Green has connected on 25 out of 38 three point shots which has him shooting 65% from behind the arc

• In San Antonio, Green went 16-24 from the three point line (66%) and in two games in Miami, has made 9-14 (64%)

Click HERE for the complete article at Project Spurs.

Heat have no room for error versus Spurs in Game 6

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:32:06 -0500

MIAMI (AP) -- They lost three times in three months in one of the most overpowering stretches the NBA has ever seen.

Now the Miami Heat have lost three times in five games.

So superb during the regular season, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Heat have to be something even more for the rest of the NBA Finals.

They have to be perfect.

"We look forward to the challenge," James said.

The San Antonio Spurs can finish Miami off Tuesday night in Game 6, reaffirming themselves as one of the league's greatest franchises.

If so, the Heat and their Big Three once again go from celebrated to devastated, just as they were two years ago when they came home from Texas facing this same predicament.

"We're going to see if we're a better team than we were our first year together," James said.

The Spurs took a 3-2 lead with their 114-104 victory Sunday night. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were all brilliant again, and Danny Green added to what could become one of the most out-of-nowhere finals MVP campaigns ever.

One more victory makes the Spurs 5-0 in the NBA Finals, keeping pace with Michael Jordan's 6-0 Chicago Bulls as the only teams to make it here multiple times and never lose.

"We understand Game 6 is huge," Parker said. "Obviously, you want to finish in the first opportunity you get. We understand that Miami is going to come out with a lot more energy, and they're going to play better at home. They're going to shoot the ball better. Their crowd is going to be behind them."

None of that mattered two years ago.

Clearly reeling and their psyches shaken after dropping two straight games in Dallas, the Heat were blitzed early in Game 6. They never recovered, Chris Bosh inconsolable as he made his way back to the locker room afterward while the Mavericks celebrated at center court.

James had to endure the criticisms that came with not getting it done in the finals, a story line that was put to rest last year but will be back again if the Heat don't manage to put together consecutive victories.

"We challenge ourselves to see if we're a better team than we were," Wade said. "Same position no matter how we got to it."

The Heat would also host Game 7 on Thursday. They're trying to join the 1988 and 2010 Los Angeles Lakers and 1994 Houston Rockets as the only teams to rally from 3-2 down by winning the final two on their home floor since the NBA Finals went to a 2-3-2 format in 1985.

Of course, the Heat - who won 27 in a row during the second-longest winning streak in league history - haven't put together consecutive victories now in close to a month.

"We're in a position where it's a must-win and everything that we've done all year comes to this point, and we have to win," Heat guard Ray Allen said. "We've found ourselves in so many situations this year, and we've thrived in tough moments because this is a tough team. We will be ready for Game 6."

So will the Spurs, and the Heat know it.

"I'm sure this team, they've been here before many times. They understand winning that last game is one of the hardest things you're going to do. And we understand it as well," Wade said.

"But you know what? It's the game; we've got to play it. I like our chances, just like they like their chances, in this series and in Game 6. We'll see. We'll see which team, which style is going to prevail."

Their four titles have made the Spurs respected but never beloved. Their first, in 1999, came following a 50-game lockout season, and they certainly weren't the team to help the NBA regain its jilted fan base.

Victories in 2003 over New Jersey, 2005 over Detroit and 2007 over James' Cleveland Cavaliers were all low-rated, lukewarm-interest series in which the Spurs were supposed to win and did, just not in a way that erased the idea that they had boring players with a boring brand of basketball.

Win this one, though, and they will surely get their due. They would be knocking off the league's winningest team and the game's best player, with Duncan at 37 and Ginobili soon to be 36, behind a more wide-open offense that has helped Green break Allen's finals record for 3-pointers.

Not that they're thinking about that, or anything else beyond Game 6 at this point.

"We'll reflect back and let it hit us when it's over. We still have a lot more work to do. There's still some business to be done. We have to carry it out and finish it," said Green, who was cut previously by the Cavaliers and Spurs and now has made 25 3-pointers in the first five games.

It looked as though the game was finally passing by the Spurs last year, when the young Oklahoma City Thunder blew by them with four straight victories after San Antonio had taken a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

The Heat routed the Thunder for the championship and the Spurs brought back essentially the same team, believing another year in their system for players like Green and Kawhi Leonard was a better option than seeking out some quick-fix outsider.

That's almost always been the Spurs' way, and it's on the verge of again being the model for an NBA title - at the expense of the Miami one that once appeared to be the way champions would be built.

"I think every one of us wants this very badly from the top on down," Duncan said. "We're trying to play that way."

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