Before there can be a Game 7 of the NBA Finals, the Miami Heat Game must win Game 6. LeBron James wants us to remember that.
Following a 114-104 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5, LeBron took the podium arms crossed, seemingly disconnected from the very world he had owned after Game 4.
You remember Game 4, the one that saw the Heat win by 16 points. The one that saw LeBron drop 33 points on 15-of-25 shooting. The one that saw the Heat notch the series up at two games apiece and steal momentum they were never supposed to give back. That game.
His and Miami’s performance then seemed like ages ago. LeBron went 8-of-22 from the floor in Game 5 for 25 points. He also pitched in six rebounds, eight assists and four steals in what was one of his most unbalanced efforts in the postseason.
But those stats didn’t matter. His three turnovers didn’t matter. The fact that Ray Allen had 21 points off the bench, Chris Bosh had 16 points and Dwyane Wade had 25 points didn’t matter. All that mattered was the Heat lost. Badly. Now they’re down 3-2, faced with an overwhelming task. One that must begin with a win in Game 6 before anything else.
“The most important game is Game 6,” LeBron said. “We can’t worry about Game 7.”
"The most important game is Game 6. We can't worry about Game 7." – LeBron James pic.twitter.com/LQMajvMVCg
— The NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) June 17, 2013
For now, he’s right. Joined by Wade at the podium as per usual, Miami’s finest didn’t looked resigned to losing or sound confident that there would be a Game 7 or that the Heat would even come back to win a second straight championship. All they cared about was Game 6 and all it means.
Game 6 is for their season. Lose it and they go home. Game 6, for intents and purposes, is their Game 7. Only after winning it can they shift their focus to an actual Game 7.
“I do put a lot of pressure on myself to force a Game 7, and I look forward to the challenge,” LeBron added.
"I do put a lot of pressure on myself to force a Game 7, and I look forward to the challenge." – @KingJames
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 17, 2013
Reaching and subsequently winning Game 7 will be no small challenge.
Since the 2-3-2 format was implemented, no team has ever won Game 6 and Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Going down 3-2 has been the death knell. It’s been an insurmountable deficit. That’s what the Heat are up against and there’s some serious doubt as to whether they have the opportunity to rise above such adversity.
Miami hasn’t lost back-to-back games since January, an astounding factoid for any team, including one that won 27 straight contests during the regular season. But even if the Heat manage to keep the trend going and force a Game 7, there’s nothing to suggest they’d be guaranteed to win it.
Sure, they’d be playing at home for another ring, one that would advance their dynasty conversation. And sure they’d be coming off a Game 6 victory, but the Heat also haven’t won back-to-back bouts in nearly a month. They won Game 5 to complete the second-round ousting of the Chicago Bulls and then won Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers. Since then, they’ve alternated victories.
Trading blows isn’t an option anymore. It never should have been one to begin with. Losing Game 7 ends their season, ends their hope of beginning one of the most feared dynasties professional sports has ever seen. They have to win Game 7. They just have to.
We’re getting ahead of ourselves, though. The Heat won’t have the opportunity to win Game 7 if they don’t force one. So for now, there is only Game 6.
“We’re going to see if we’re a better ballclub and if we’re better prepared for this moment,” Wade said of Game 6.
Preparation for the next moment (Game 7) begins if, and only if, the Heat are ready for this one.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
