James and Miami move on to NBA Finals to face San Antonio

The Miami Heat were able to knock the Indiana Pacers out of the postseason with a game 7 win on Monday night and now move on to the NBA Finals to face the San Antonio Spurs.

In 2007, the Spurs swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. The Cavaliers were led by LeBron James, who at the time was just 21.

Spurs star Tim Duncan told James after the four-game sweep that the NBA would be James’ league at some point soon and Duncan could not have been any more correct than he was that night.

The NBA now belongs to the Heat forward who is at the top of his career or close to it. In the series final against Indiana, James showed how he has the ability to take control of important games and series.

James was his dominating force in the Heat’s 99-76 victory over Indiana in game 7. He dominated the game, even though he did not have his best game of the series.

James scored 32 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 4 assists. More importantly he controlled the Pacers’ Paul George on defense.

Indiana coach Frank Vogel said James was the best player in the world, and probably the best defensive player as well.

James showed he knows what he has to do to win an elimination game and any signs of pressure did not show in his game on Tuesday.

James said his talent has helped him become a very good game 7 player over his career.

The last time James played the Spurs in the NBA finals, he did not have the talent surrounding him that he has with his current Heat team. The Spurs were able to put the defensive clamps on him that exposed the weaknesses of the rest of the Cavaliers.

However, time and teams have changed and James has matured into the league’s best player. He did everything he had to, to defeat the Pacers.

He played the post, made spins moves reminiscent of Hakeem Olajuwon, hit his mid range jump shots and clamped down defensively in game 7 on George showing how his talent is now one of the best on both ends of the court.

George played very well during the series in what has been his breakout season, but managed to score only seven points and ended up fouling out in game 7.

The Pacers’ shooting forward has unlimited potential as did James when he lost to San Antonio in ’07. However, the moment was too much for him at this point in his career.

The finals will start on Thursday and James will have the added incentive to defeat San Antonio after being swept in 2007. The beating he took against the Spurs then might just be the medicine he needed to show them in this series who is now king.

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