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The Miami Heat had a chance at making history on Sunday night. Down 3-1 in their NBA Finals series against the San Antonio Spurs, they could have taken a step toward becoming the first team in league history to overcome such a hole at the game’s biggest stage.
LeBron James showed up with 31 points and helped Miami to an early 22-6 lead in the first quarter, but the Heat offered little else through the final three quarters in a rough 104-87 loss in San Antonio.
The Spurs played excellent team defense and executing at a high rate on offense, as they claimed the series’ final three games to close out the Finals with a convincing 4-1 win.
The culmination of a series that failed to live up to the expectations stemming from a terrific showdown in the Finals last season opened the door to much change for both teams.
The likes of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili could at least consider “walking off into the sunset” and retiring as NBA champs, while the Heat could be looking at a swift disbanding.
That’s not all that likely to be the case, but several Miami players are scheduled to either hit free agency or opt out of their current deals to test the open market. LeBron James leads the pack, although both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh could follow suit, while big man Chris Anderson has already decided to do so.
Ray Allen has also stated that he’ll take the next couple of days to decide where his “true heart lies”. Despite still playing at a high level, the veteran sharpshooter apparently is torn between playing or calling it quits.
On the bright side, the future is looking bright for the Spurs, regardless of what happens with some of their aging veterans. Tony Parker will still be back, while superstar in the making Kawhi Leonard looks to be their main building block going forward after being named Finals MVP.
