MIAMI — As usual, the entire NBA world, after being stunned by the brilliance LeBron James forged in Game 6, demanded he do it again to validate his oft-criticized superstar stature. When the game went bad early for the Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against Boston last night, the same old “told ya” cries went out.
Then the fourth quarter arrived.
“[James] in particular played an extremely smart, aggressive game,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “He kind of let the game come to him and then down the stretch he took the game over and that’s what great players do.”
Reuters
GET OUT OF MY WAY! LeBron James — who scored 31 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter — shoots over the Celtics’ Paul Pierce during the Heat’s 101-88 Game 7 victory over the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals.
James, who played all but the final 28.3 seconds, attacked and scored, he attacked and passed. And when he didn’t attack the rim, he offered up moments like a back-breaking 3-pointer from somewhere outside of Coral Gables. Oh, there was plenty of help for The King in a true Miami team effort, but he was front and center when it matter most, scoring 11 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, propelling the Heat back into the NBA Finals through a 101-88 win over the Celtics at frenzied AmericanAirlines Arena.
“He’s amazing,” said teammate Dwyane Wade (23 points). “He’s the leader of this team and we just follow him.”
So Miami, rallying for wins in Game 6 and 7, will follow James back to the finals against the Western Conference champion Thunder starting Tuesday in Oklahoma City. The Heat will look to avenge their finals failure against Dallas last season when the title round ended in six games on Miami’s home court.
So it wasn’t a 45-point detonation again — just 31 — but James was, as Bosh said, “the best basketball player in the world.”
“For me as a competitor, I just try to do whatever it takes to help my team win,” James said.
And that night it was scoring, driving, kicking, rebounding (12 boards). You know, being LeBron.
Predictably, when it mattered most, James was at his best. The third quarter ended in a tie after the Heat erased Boston’s first half advantage. That’s when James knew.
“We were saying, ‘it’s time,’” James said. “It’s time. Let’s play our fourth quarter defense.”
The Heat arranged the finals trip through the last 7:59 when they were brilliant at both ends. Trailing by one, the Heat jumped ahead for good when James soared and dunked. After a Boston turnover, James found Bosh (19 points) for a right corner 3-pointer, his third of the night in four attempts — Bosh had been 2-of-4 on treys in eight previous playoff games.
Miami got a stop and James scored a runner. After Brandon Bass (16 points) temporarily halted the carnage for Boston, James tripled from 30 feet.
“LeBron takes a shot from halfcourt it felt like,” Rivers said. “That was a back-breaker for us.”
“He played incredible,” Bosh said. “I don’t think there’s anybody out there performing as best as he is right now.”
It was 91-84 Miami and it only would get worse for the Celtics who received a triple double from Rajon Rondo (22 points, 14 assists, 10 rebounds) and 19 points from Paul Pierce, but they managed just six points after Ray Allen (15 points) tripled at 8:49 for an 82-81 lead. The Heat closed the game on a 20-6 run. Boston, which led by as many as 11 points in the first half but looked totally gassed late, missed 10 of its last 13 shots and tossed in two turnovers as well.
After a terrific half where they forced Miami into 10 turnovers and withstood foul trouble on Kevin Garnett (14 points), the Celtics saw the wheels come off early in the third quarter as the Heat tied and the knot stood at quarter’s end. Shane Battier (12 points) nailed his third and fourth 3-pointers two minutes apart along the way.
And then James ruled the fourth.
fred.kerber@nypost.com
LeBron James, James, the Heat, the Heat, the Heat, Celtics, Celtics, Boston, Boston, Eastern Conference, Paul Pierce, Miami
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