Five to Watch in the Finals
Added on Jun 06, 2013 by Scott in
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Apologies to Oklahoma City and Indiana, but the two best teams in the NBA will be vying for the 2012-13 Championship when the Finals tip tonight in Miami. The subplots in the series are many, spearheaded by an opportunity for LeBron James to exact a measure of vengeance for 2007, the year San Antonio swept James’ Cavs. Stars like James and Dwyane Wade and Tim Duncan and Tony Parker will steal most of the headlines, but here are a few guys who will play vital roles in deciding the outcome.
Ray Allen (Heat) – Allen’s three-pointers in Game 7 versus the Pacers were all clutch shots. However, that Ray Allen had been MIA for weeks. The Spurs are a much more efficient team from the perimeter, so Allen can’t afford to be a non-factor for prolonged stretches. He came to Miami to win another title. Now is his time to shine.
Chris Andersen (Heat) – Andersen’s physical presence in the paint was another key in the Heat’s Game 7 victory in the Eastern Finals. With Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard and to a lesser extent, Tiago Splitter, manning the post, Andersen’s energetic pestering will be needed.
Kawhi Leonard (Spurs) – The aforementioned Leonard has become a reliable long range threat in the playoffs and a consistent rebounder. His defensive skills will be called upon against Miami, especially if he draws LeBron James. Stopping James in crunch time is a tall order, but Leonard can’t back down if his number is called.
Manu Ginobili (Spurs) – Like Ray Allen, Ginobili has been battling injuries and age this postseason. The long layoff after beating Memphis appears to have done him a lot of good. He must channel the Ginobili of old and become a potent third scorer. If not, San Antonio may find it difficult to keep pace.
Gregg Popovich (Spurs) – Popovich’s savvy and experience cannot be underestimated. His knows how to properly use his bench and is the best in the business at adjusting when things aren’t going well. This series presents perhaps the biggest challenge of his coaching career, but if anyone can craft a winning gameplan, it’s “Coach Pop.”
