LeBron James: It’s Time
By Josh Sanchez
Father’s Day will wrap up on Sunday night with a pivotal Game 5 in the 2013 NBA Finals. It will be the last home game of the season for the San Antonio Spurs, and it looks like they could be running in to an incredible motivated Miami Heat squad after tip off.
Heat star LeBron James addressed the team’s inability to haul off consecutive wins recently and when he went off it was the kind of fire and confidence that turns LeBron in to a nightmare for opposing teams. If LeBron’s comments were any indication, the Heat will be coming out tonight to make a statement and LeBron will do everything in his power to change the trend.
“I think it’s time,” James said, via NBC Sports. “I think we’re well overdue where it’s time for us to win consecutive games. I think we’re at 11 or 12 straight consecutive win‑loss, win‑loss, win‑loss. I think it’s time. Enough is enough for our team. I’m not saying it’s going to result in us having a win, but we need to play with the same sense of urgency as if we were down 2‑1 or whatever the case may be tomorrow night. And we can’t wait around.”
After being followed up by a question that asked LeBron about his willingness to dish out the ball to his teammates rather than aggressively take the ball in the paint, he offered no apologies and gave his most confident answer yet.
“Let me put it this way,” James said sternly. “We don’t make it to Dallas, we don’t make it to OKC and we don’t make it here if I don’t play the way I play. It’s that simple. My game doesn’t change no matter who I’m playing. I know I’m an attack player. I also do multiple things — I get my teammates involved, I rebound, I defend. I don’t have three straight trips to the Finals if I don’t do what I do. It is what it is.
“We’re not surprised to get a win, [or] surprised to win by double digits. If we play our game, if we force turnovers, we rebound, execute offensively and don’t turn the ball over, we can win against anybody. We’re a confident bunch.”
If the Heat are able to come in to Game 5 like the did in games 2 and 4, the Spurs will be in some serious trouble. With a win, the Heat will be one game away from earning their second straight NBA title with the final two games of the series at home.
There is no tougher team in the league to face than the Miami Heat once they flip their switch, and it looks like that has been done and the best player in the world is ready to come out and lead his troops to another victory.
Who do you think will come away from Game 5 with the victory and series lead? Share your predictions in the comments section.