MidValleySports.Com

Steven Mercado

The Miami Heat are the 2012-2013 NBA champions for the second straight year. They beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 in an unforgettable Game 7.

LeBron James scored 37 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. He played like the best player in the NBA and as he progresses through his career, he has continued to prove he deserves that title. Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs did not respect his jump shot by playing a good three or four feet off of him. He answered with 10 of his 12 made field goals being jump shots.

People can hate the Heat all they want. This team has proved they are the best in the world and have earned each and every win this year.

When LeBron had an off game, Dwyane Wade stepped it up. When Dwyane Wade had an off game, Mario Chalmers stepped it up. Even if it took longer than they would have hoped, the role players performed when they needed to. A prime example is Shane Battier. He went only 12-for-46 in the first two playoff series and in the Eastern Conference Finals, he barely found playing time and made only two threes in the whole series.

This is what championship teams do. No matter how far a series go, no matter what it takes, they end up victorious.

I was wrong about the Heat. I predicted they would lose the series in six due to their inconsistency and the Spurs being a better all-around team.

The Spurs were not the better all-around team. They may have showed signs of superiority, but signs do not win championships. Executing in key moments wins championships. The Spurs actually folded under their nerves in these key moments.

Late in Game 7 during a timeout, Manu Ginobli was seen with his head in his hands. He could not handle the pressure. Tim Duncan led his team with 24 points and 12 rebounds, but missed a hook to tie the game with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter followed by an errant tip that completely missed the rim. These are shots he usually makes.

Another key error was with three and a half minutes left. Duncan grabbed an offensive rebound, was trapped against the baseline, and threw a reckless pass that went straight to Chalmers. He ended the game with three turnovers and Ginobili with four. The Spurs went six-for-20 and turned the ball over seven times in the fourth quarter.

Kawhi Leonard was the most composed player on the Spurs. How a 21-year-old rookie was the most composed player over a 37-year-old, 15-year veteran in Duncan and a 36-year-old, 10-year veteran in Ginobili is beyond me.

The Spurs’ big three that won three championships together has been the core of the team for the past decade. Ginobili seemed angry and upset after the game last night as if he was ready to redeem this loss next year, but admitted “the next few days are going to be very hard.”

Duncan was blinking a mile a minute during the press conference as if he were trying to contain his emotions. How can you blame the guy? This was his last shot at getting his fifth ring. This was also most likely the end of his career. His last NBA game ever.

Both teams played an amazing series, but LeBron is the best player in the NBA right now. You cannot deny the ability of the third player to win back-to-back regular season and Finals MVPs. A guy in the company of Bill Russell and Michael Jordan is not overrated. If he has not already proved himself, he definitely did with his performance in the Finals; especially in Games 6 and 7.

LeBron still has a long way to go to be included in the same category as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. He proved the critics wrong this year and has every right to shove this championship into their faces. But unless the Heat continue to provide James with a good supporting cast, he will not continue to win championships.

For now, LBJ’s best bet is to stick with the Big Three. During the games where he had a hard time finding his offense, Wade was always there to pick up the slack. Without Wade, the King is ringless. Dwyane Wade means far more to the Miami Heat franchise than LeBron does. If it was not for Wade’s contributions, this franchise is still looking for their first championship. Three titles for the Heat and three titles for Wade.

Luckily for Miami, their three stars will stick around after winning their second consecutive title. If they continue to stay together, this team will always be a threat to win it all.

Congratulations to the Miami Heat, for a great performance in the playoffs and for foiling every part of my NBA Finals predictions.