Game 6 ECF 2012 Miami vs Boston
Welcome back to another Iconic Moment, and on today’s date, June 21st, Lebron James captured his first ever NBA Championship in 5 games against the Oklahoma City Thunder. We are documenting some of James’s greatest games and moments.
It was Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals and Lebron James and the Heat were down 3-2 and were playing Game 6 on the road. 2011 had ended in a bitter way losing in 6 to the Dallas Mavericks where people said that Lebron James under performed. Now with more experience playing with Wade and Bosh, Miami were the favorites to the win the title. But, playing in a hostile Boston crowd, winning Game 6 would not be easy. Even if they did win, Lebron and the Heat would have to win Game 7 to move on to the NBA Finals. If Lebron lost this game, he would face lots more criticism for not making the NBA Finals and not winning the Finals.
James started off the game passing to Mario Chalmers in the corner for a 3, which he made. James’s first field goal was him attacking down hill and throwing it down. James then hit a right wing mid-range, giving him 4. James was posted up on the left baseline. He got the ball, but help came. He turned around, leaning in and made a tough shot. After a turnover, James went coast-to-coast and got the layup and one. He made the free throw, giving him 9. James then dribbled right and knocked down a right wing 3, giving him 12. James was in the right corner, then flashed through the middle. He ended up on the left side. Rondo showed help but then left, leaving James isolated. He spun, pump faked and made a tough floater. James was again posted up near the foul line, this time just catching and shooting, giving him 16. James was running the semi-transition and then started to post up on the left side. He faded to the left and knocked it down. They gave James the ball again on the left side, and this time he faded towards the middle, giving him the open shot. He hit it, giving him 20. James was on that left side again, he spun and took a fade away towards the corner, hitting it again. James was on the left wing 3 point line, took one dribble to the left, pump faked and drew the foul. He would hit both free throws, giving him 24. James was near the left baseline, with a smaller Rajon Rondo on him. He pump faked and once again was going to the foul line. He hit 1 of the 2 free throws giving him 25. James was on that left wing again, hut this time a double team came. James calmly through the ball to Mario Chalmers on the right wing, who stepped in and knocked down a 3. This time Chris Bosh threw up a hook shot that missed, but James came flying in from the top of the key to through it down on the out back. He had 27 with 1:30 still left in the 2nd quarter. James it 1/2 from the foul line, giving him 28. Off the in bounds, James was isolated on the right baseline, James faced up and took a tough step back jumper. But it was that kind of night, he hit it, giving him 30 all in the 1st half. He was 12/14 from the field and 5/9 from the free throw line. He also had 5 rebounds. James started the 2nd half with attacking down hill, forced into a fading away, one footed bank shot, which went in. James was at the right elbow, against Rondo again, he spun to the middle and put in a floater. James stole the pass and was running down the floor. He attacked the middle and kicked it out to a wide open Mario Chalmers in the right corner. He drilled the 3. James was again isolated on the right baseline. He jabbed stepped once and just raised up. He knocked it down again, giving him 36. With the shot clock winding down, James pulled up from 3 and drilled it, giving him 39. James was back to that left baseline, just turned around and knocked it down. 41 for the King. James snatched the board and was dribbling up. James bounced passed it to a cutting Wade who hit the jumper. James was isolated just inside the top of the key 3, just raised up and hit it, giving him 43. James came across half-court and did a spin move, and made a great jump-pass to Wade who made the reverse layup. Wade was near the left elbow, and threw a bullet of a pass to a cutting James along the baseline, and made the left sided reverse layup, giving him 45. The Heat eventually won a blowout game, 98-79 forcing Game 7 back in Miami. James had 45 points, 15 rebounds and 5 assists. He was 19/26 from the field and 2/4 from 3. All in all a dazzling performance from the King. The Heat would eventually win Game 7 and head to the NBA Finals. They would win in 5 and gave Lebron James his first ring as a pro.
I hope you enjoyed today’s Iconic Moment. Please leave a comment on what your favorite Lebron James moment/game is and what other Iconic Moments I should do in the future.
