AF1: 2014 NBA FINALS GAME 7 PREVIEW (Heat vs. Kings)

2011 PLAYOFFS
QUARTERFINALS

West

(4) Mavericks defeat (1) Thunder in 6 games


(3) Lakers defeat (4) Rockets in 5 games


East

(1) Heat defeat (4) Bulls in 5 games


(3) Celtics defeat (2) Magic in 5 games



CONFERENCE FINALS PREVIEW


Western Conference Finals
(3) Los Angeles Lakers versus (4) Dallas Mavericks

After an uninspiring regular season, the Los Angeles Lakers have shifted their title defense into fourth gear. LA was very impressive in their quarterfinals matchup with the Rockets, dusting the 54-win team in only five games. Kobe Bryant has also found his scoring touch with two 40-point games in the series, leading his team back to their fourth consecutive conference final. Chasing a sixth ring, the benchmark set by Michael Jordan, will give Mamba more than enough motivation to reach his eight NBA finals.

On the other side of the matchup, the Dallas Mavericks have rode veteran savvy to the final four. After needing seven games to get past the Nuggets in the opening round, the Mavs exposed the youthful Thunder in a six-game quarterfinal series. A nucleus of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Caron Butler, and Richard Hamilton has proven the value of experience. Whether that will be enough to take down Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest, and Lamar Odom remains to be seen.


Eastern Conference Finals
(1) Miami Heat versus (3) Boston Celtics

In the East, an unstoppable force meets and immovable object when Miami faces off against Boston. It’s the matchup many analysts predicted and the series fans wanted to see with both sides playing some of their best ball of the year. Top-seeded Miami have dismantled the Knicks and Bulls in five games each, getting solid production from their “Big Three” of James, Bosh, and Wade. LeBron punctuated Miami’s final performance, throwing down 44 points to eliminate Chicago in Game 5.

The Heat come into the matchup as favorites, but the veteran Celtics have more than enough firepower to take down Miami. Back in their third semifinal in four years, Boston will have to play without star Paul Pierce, who suffered a season-ending injury early in the year. Despite being hit hard by the injury bug, the team has regrouped and rallied behind Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo. “Celtic pride” was certainly on display in their quarterfinal series, as the reigning Eastern champs knocked the Magic out of the playoffs for a second straight year. The five-game victory reaffirmed that Boston will be ready for a showdown with the Heat in what should be a classic series.

Haha, thanks for luck. I will definitely need it for the lottery, since there are some potential stars in the draft this year.

St. Pauli is a great team to support (congrats on promotion last season!). I have a lot of respect for their fans who have stuck with them since their days in Regionalliga.

What is your main focus in the draft? A Big? Jamison won't get younger

It's not just a team, it's a religion. We won the Derby.

Dirk needs to get that damn first title Beat L.A.!

Lucky mavs, they are in WCF

Lucky mavs, they are in WCF

Lucky? Don't you mean, "Again? The Mavs in the WCF?"

Houndy, I think he mean ''WTF Mavs in Playoffs?''

Houndy, I think he mean ''WTF Mavs in Playoffs?''

And I said, "Thunder are too young to be in playoffs."

What is your main focus in the draft? A Big? Jamison won't get younger

Well, it depends how the lottery goes. If we go top 3, then we'll get the best available player since it would be a player the organization can build around. I we don't go top 3, we'll still be between #6-#9, in which case it will be more about filling gaps. The only position we wouldn't draft for in that scenario would be point guard with Mo Williams and Ramon Sessions both under contract. Should be interesting!

Lucky mavs, they are in WCF

Lucky mavs, they are in WCF

Lucky? Don't you mean, "Again? The Mavs in the WCF?"

Houndy, I think he mean ''WTF Mavs in Playoffs?''

Mavs in the WCF is definitely no accident. They might have not been clear contenders to make it that far, but when you go down that roster, it's stacked with quality. Factor in a favorable matchup against a Thunder team that still is learning to play in the postseason and you have the recipe for an upset.

2011 CONFERENCE FINALS

How The West Was Won
Dominant Second Quarter in Game 7 Sends Lakers to Fourth Straight Finals
May 25, 2011


HOLLYWOOD ENDING: Lakers celebrate at Staples Center while Dirk Nowitzki rues a missed opportunity

LOS ANGELES (AP)—The Los Angeles Lakers rode a dominant second half performance to rout the Dallas Mavericks, 110-91, in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. The victory sends the Lakers to their fourth consecutive finals and their eight appearance in twelve seasons.

“Dallas played a hell of a series, but our guys were determined,” said head coach Phil Jackson, who now has an unprecedented twelfth title in his sights. “We’ll celebrate tonight and start preparing for the next series tomorrow.”

The decisive game initially looked like it would be a closely-contested shootout at Staples Center. However, the Lakers put the hammer down before halftime, riding a 34-8 second quarter to a 28-point halftime lead.

Kobe Bryant contributed 28 of his game-high 30 points before halftime, effectively working a post-up game with Pau Gasol that wore down the Mavs. Gasol finished with 27 points, while European counterpart Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 22 points.

The loss may have finally shut the door on the title aspirations of two potential Hall of Famers. Nowitzki, the 2007 MVP, will get few better chances to finally win an NBA crown at age 32. Chances look even bleaker for fellow Mav Jason Kidd, a 10-time All-Star, who saw a shot at the trophy slip away at Staples.

The Game 7 victory capped an emphatic series comeback for the Lakers, who dropped the first two games at home before winning the next three. With their backs up against the wall, Dallas extended the series with a fourth-quarter turnaround in Game 6 before the Lakers took the series back in LA.

Waiting for them will be the Miami Heat, the Eastern champions who dominantly dispatched the Celtics in five games. The star-studded matchup is considered one of the most-anticipated NBA Finals in history.

“I can’t wait for it,” said Bryant, who will seek to equal Michael Jordan’s six titles. “These are the series, the games, you live for.”

2011 NBA FINALS PREVIEW
MIAMI HEAT VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

SHOWDOWN OF STARS
Heat and Lakers Collide in One of the Most Anticipated Finals in History




MIAMI (AP)--The showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat for the 2011 NBA title will be more than a series. It will be a cultural event, starring the two most talented teams in basketball and the league’s two biggest stars.

On one side, an empire built overnight, a king who might finally win his first crown, and a trio of teammates unlike any the league has ever seen.

On the other side, a franchise going for a second three-peat in a 12 years, a future legend aiming for a sixth ring, and a master coach pursuing an incredible twelfth championship.

There’s no shortage of storylines or personalities in this NBA finals, which begin tonight in Miami. The homestanding Heat have vanquished all before them, defeating the Knicks, Bulls, and Celtics in five games each. The “super-team” was the East’s top seed and have proven as good as advertised this year, meeting lofty expectations.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have been far from dominant, but have shown championship mettle to rise to the occasion when needed. The third seed from the West, LA needed six games to beat the Spurs, polished off the Rockets in five, and then defeated Dallas in Game 7 of the conference finals to make the championship series.

After a long regular season, grueling playoffs, and endless hype, it’s finally here: the NBA Finals fans across the world were waiting for.

2011 NBA FINALS
MIAMI HEAT VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

GAME ONE
Heat Take Series Opener
May 25, 2011

MIAMI (AP)—The Miami Heat drew first blood in the 2011 NBA Finals, routing the Lakers, 112-86, to take a 1-0 series lead. LeBron James led the charge for Miami, contributing 35 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in the home victory.

“We came out to play tonight,” James said to media after the game. “We’ll be ready for game two and bring the same intensity level as tonight.”

Fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh also posted solid numbers in the victory. Bosh posted 25 points with 8 boards, while Wade turned in only 12 points, but led the team with 10 assists.

On the Lakers’ end, the Purple-and-Gold were unable to get going in Game 1. One player surely not to blame for the loss was Kobe Bryant, who had a game-high 38 points on 14-26 shooting. However, Gasol had a quiet night from the floor, going 6-16 for 18 points, while no other Laker scored more than 10.

The series continues with Game 2 in Miami before shifting to the West Coast.

2011 NBA FINALS
MIAMI HEAT VS. LOS ANGLES LAKERS

GAME SEVEN PREVIEW
Heat-Lakers Epic Ready For Thrilling Finale

MIAMI (AP)--One of the most anticipated Finals series ever will go the distance, as the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers meet in tonight’s Game 7 to decide the NBA championship. American Airlines Arena will host the decisive game, giving the Heat home-court advantage in a contest that will shape the legacies of all involved.

The Heat scored the first blow of the series, cruising to a 112-86 victory in Game 1 behind a LeBron James masterclass. However, any thought of a one-sided series went out the window in Game 2, as the Lakers struck back for a 92-78 win.

As the series shifted to LA, Lebron’s 37-point performance paced Miami to a Game 3 win. Game 4 delivered perhaps the most dramatic game of the series up to this point, as Miami launched a furious, late-game comeback, only for the Lakers to prevail in overtime, 112-104.

In Game 5, Miami’s big fourth quarter was enough this time to secure the victory, taking a 3-2 series lead. Going back to Miami with their backs against the wall, LA forced a Game 7 behind Kobe Bryant’s 31 points and 8 assists.

It’s come down to this: two teams enter tonight, but only one will be a champion. Whatever the outcome, the Heat and Lakers have treated basketball fans to an engaging, dramatic series that has hopefully saved its best for last.

SERIES RECAP
Game 1: 112-86 MIA
Game 2: 92-78 LA
Game 3: 112-88 MIA
Game 4: 112-104 (OT) LA
Game 5: 96-94 MIA
Game 6: 96-82 LA
Game 7: TONIGHT @ MIA

Wow, that Game 5 was huge. Hopefully the Heat get it.

Let's go Rapers!!!

2011 NBA FINALS
MIAMI HEAT VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS
GAME 7

KING GETS HIS RING
Heat Wins Second Title In Game 7 Victory
MIAMI (AP)--The Miami Heat captured its second title in franchise history, defeating the Lakers, 110-97, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The American Airlines Arena crowd pulled the home team through as the Heat survived a third-quarter comeback from the Lakers to gradually pull away and set off wild celebrations on South Beach.

LeBron James was the star of the evening, bringing his journey full-circle from high school phenom to Finals MVP. James came through in the biggest game of his life, putting up 39 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in the winning effort.

James’ 29.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 6.3 APG in the series demonstrated a fully-matured superstar in his prime, having definitively taken the torch from league icon Kobe Bryant. The night was also about vindication for James, who left Cleveland in search of championships last offseason and now finds himself on the winner’s podium.

Miami jumped out to a 32-23 lead at the end of the first quarter and took a six-point lead into halftime. However, the Lakers erased the deficit in the third and even took the lead, only for the Heat to open it back up and pull away in the game’s final minutes.

The Lakers put in a commendable effort, as Kobe Bryant rose to the occasion with a 32-point effort. However, Pau Gasol was limited by foul trouble to 13 points, while Andrew Bynum’s 14 were not enough to make the difference.

For the Heat, LeBron got strong support from Chris Bosh, who won his matchup with Gasol. Bosh’s 23 points and 14 rebounds will go a long way to dispelling criticism of the big man, while Dwyane Wade had 17 points, but hit several key shot down the stretch.

The 2010/2011 season began with a “Decision” and now ends with a trophy for Miami. Whether the former, two-time defending champion Lakers will be back remains to be seen with an aging Bryant and Phil Jackson. Perhaps tonight will be best remembered as the night when the torch was finally passed in the NBA: Kobe to LeBron and the Lakers to the Heat.

Maybe Kevin Durant and the Thunder will have something to say about that. Tune in next season.


GAME OF A LIFETIME: LeBron James goes to the rim during Game 7 of the NBA Finals

Series Recap
Game 1: 112-86 MIA
Game 2: 92-78 LA
Game 3: 112-88 MIA
Game 4: 112-104 (OT) LA
Game 5: 96-94 MIA
Game 6: 96-82 LA
Game 7: 110-97 MIA

Miami wins series, 4-3
Series MVP: LeBron James

Fu*k the cHeat. This was last chance for Lakers to win it...
Can't wait for Cavs off-season...

Fu*k the cHeat. This was last chance for Lakers to win it...
Can't wait for Cavs off-season...

Yeah, who knows if the Lakers can make it back now. Suddenly, Dan Gilbert has a lot to think about too.

Getting ready to publish the offseason in installments...I think you'll enjoy the drama

THANK YOU!


Wrapping up the first season, I just wanted to thank each and every one of you who have read ALL FOR ONE so far.

Thierry, Houndy, Valdis, el stevo, Badger, Kubik, Sit, KidJustin, buzzy, CHUCK, Agent420, mandich, MrHeraklinos, Martti, z02, and anybody I may have missed: thank you for your comments, support, and advice. It has made my experience more enjoyable and I hope I can put together an entertaining story for you in future seasons. To reiterate, this is a long-term, rebuilding project, which makes your following mean that much more.

To those who read, but haven't commented: I want to thank you too. Your support has also been valuable and I hope you have enjoyed the ride.

It's been a crazy offseason so far, one I will share with you in the coming days. Until then, I look forward to reading your stories and hope to have you back for Season 2. It's been a pleasure to become part of this community.

-Grandmama Johnson

I'm looking forward to that Offseason

2010 Summer of LeQuit
2011 Summer of Melo

Interesting story so far. I love the retro Cavs logo!

Wow the season has come to an end very fast Thanks for the shoutout, looking forward to the new season!

Thanks for the shoutout bro.

Are you going to do the trades the Cavs made? (Baron Davis for Williams, Erden and Harangody for 2nd rounder)

I'm looking forward to that Offseason

You're anticipation will not be in vain. Part One coming soon!

2010 Summer of LeQuit
2011 Summer of Melo

Haha, so true. Don't want to give away too much of a spoiler, but Melo wrapped up his decision almost immediately. The destination may surprise you

Interesting story so far. I love the retro Cavs logo!

Thanks! Glad to have you on board

Wow the season has come to an end very fast Thanks for the shoutout, looking forward to the new season!

Of course, Thierry, and thanks for sending one my way recently.

Thanks for the shoutout bro.

Are you going to do the trades the Cavs made? (Baron Davis for Williams, Erden and Harangody for 2nd rounder)

You're more than welcome, Houndy. The real-life trades won't be in the game, since my association has now gone down an alternative future to real-life. My personal way of seeing it is that real-life and the association are the same at the beginning, but start to diverge almost immediately, since what happens in the game will always be at least a little different from real life's path. I know reasonable minds differ on that, but that's my view

Holy Crap! You got Melo!!

Liking this one man

Holy Crap! You got Melo!!

Liking this one man

I wish! I'll say we made a competitive offer for him from a money-standpoint, but didn't have the personnel he was looking for. That said, the destination will surprise people and makes for some very intriguing scenarios.