I Told You So: Game 6 Edition

I tried to warn you. I told you what was coming. I tried my best. And now, all I can say is…I TOLD YOU SO. That’s right folks, welcome to the first of a two-part series called “I Told You So”. For the sake of karma, this first installment will be more analysis than celebration because really anyone who celebrates prematurely is setting themselves up for humiliation. So, with as much humility as possible, I will analyze the keys to Miami’s Game 6 win (you know, the one I said was coming) and how they can ensure that Larry O’ Brien’s namesake leaves with them tonight.

Danny Green. This is probably the hardest prediction to gloat about it. I mean, I love the success of young players almost as much as I enjoy being right. However, here we are. In Game 5, Danny Green was a demigod on the court, seemingly unable to miss as he broke Ray Allen’s Finals record and shot a celestial 6 of 10 from behind the arc. Along with the refs, he stifled Miami’s comeback attempts time and again. The Spurs were living by the three, and they had no problem with it. Like the jerk brother at a wedding, I told everyone it wouldn’t last. And what happened? In Game 6, Green went 1 of 5 from three-point range, with his last chance for redemption being blocked by Chris Bosh. Tragic.

Speaking of people who didn’t show up the way San Antonio needed them to, the referees were nowhere near as much of a swing vote, even though they didn’t necessarily fade into the background. The Heat actually attempted more free throws in Game 5 (26 to the Spur’s 23), but it was all about timing. San Antonio attempted more free throws in Game 6 (28 to Miami’s 21), but the foul calls weren’t conveniently coming at times when Miami was on a scoring run. I’m not saying I knew the refs wouldn’t be carrying San Antonio as much in Game 6, I’m just saying I said so.

More important than the shortcomings of San Antonio were Miami’s miraculous efforts. I told you that the Heat had learned how to scrap and struggle to pull out a win, and they demonstrated so in the most stress-inducing way possible. Still, when the odds were against them, Miami fought until the very last second and came up big because of it. First, let’s look at Lebron (headbanded and sans-headband). Going into the fourth quarter, LeBron had 14 points and a world of basketball fans wondering if he had shrunk away from another big moment. By the time Miami was celebrating their win, he had scored 32 points, notching yet another Finals triple double.

Along the same thread of Heat players fighting for their season, we have to acknowledge Ray Allen and Mike Miller. Because, seriously, OHMYGAWDMIKEMILLERTHREEWITHONESHOEOHMYGAWDRAYALLENGAMETYINGTHREEOHMYGAWDISTHISWHATAHEARTATTACKFEELSLIKEIFSOPLEASECALLAPARAMEDIC. Miller has provided a spark for the team throughout the series, but recently Allen has had his legacy called into question. He redeemed some of that in Game 5, becoming the first player to convert a four-point play twice in the same Finals match. There were no questions, however, when the two showed up in Game 6. First was Miller, whose shoeless three pointer ignited the social media world. But that soon paled in comparison to the heroic effort of Ray Allen when he hit a game-tying three pointer on a broken play with only a few seconds left to tie the game at 95 and force overtime. Neither will be forgotten for a long while.

Even more deserving of recognition than that duo are Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers. For the past two years, criticism after criticism has been heaped on Chris Bosh, questioning everything from his physical ability to his sexual orientation. Likewise, fans around the league, even some in Miami, have put down Mario Chalmers. They wonder why he has the ball in certain situations; they demand explanation for his every turnover. However, they seem to be absent when he stepped up in the Finals last year, even turning in a 25-point performance to propel the Heat past the Thunder. Last night was more of the same. Chalmers had a few bad turnovers, but ultimately he came up with 20 points in an elimination game where the team’s other superstar, Dwyane Wade, struggled to score. When will we respect this man?? And with Bosh, he’s been drug through the mud more than anyone. Yet, on Tuesday night, when the chips were down, he had the confidence to charge at Danny Green and block his three-point superhero attempt. AND WHAT A BLOCK. I want to frame a picture of that block and then have it grafted to my heart.

But hey, I’m not one to get ahead of myself. The Spurs have had plenty of great moments in this series themselves, and if fate swings their way tonight, it’ll be those that history remembers. So, knowing that Game 7 could go either way, I’ll try to calm down until 6:00 tonight. But hear this: Miami will win. I’ll see you in part two of I Told You So! Now excuse me while I go sacrifice Kobe’s other ankle to the basketball gods.