Jun 12, 2013
Some argue that the Big 3 on either team will be the deciding factor of the NBA Finals but I think it lies in the hands of the role players or X-Factors for each team. Game 3 proved my theory.
For the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh came out aggressive to start the game. With LeBron James struggling so far in this series, Wade and Bosh combined to score 22 of the Heat’s 50 points in the first half to help their team.
But Mike Miller was the player that came up with the big plays for the Heat. Miller was perfect from three-point range hitting 5-for-5 for 15 points in the game, hitting threes when the Heat needed them most through the first three quarters.
LeBron James finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds but he was nonexistent for much of the game scoring only 4 points in the first half and only showing a sign of life late in the third quarter. Wade finished with 16 points and Bosh with 12 points, 10 rebounds.
The Spur’s Big 3 only scored 25 of San Antonio’s 113 total points of the game. It was Danny Green (27 points), Gary Neal (24 pts), Kawhi Leonard (14 pts, 12 rebs, 4 stls) that proved the deciding factors for the Spurs.
The Spurs made NBA history with 16 three pointers (Green – 7, Neal – 6).
At one point everything the Spurs threw up was falling including Neal’s buzzer-beater to end the first half and his back-to-back in the fourth.
Tony Parker still bothered with a calf injury, finished with six points, eight assists. Ginobili scored seven points, six assists. Tim Duncan secured a double double with 12 points, 14 rebounds.
Spurs now leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 also in San Antonio this Thursday.
