2013 NBA Finals Roundtable: What’s At Stake For Both Teams

Jun 21, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) shoots a fragrant foul during the third quarter of game five in the 2012 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With 2013 NBA Finals scheduled for tip-off on Thursday, King James Gospel writers got together for a roundtable. One topic that was discussed was the following.

Other than an NBA championship, what is at stake for both the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs?

Here is what our writers thought.

David Walker: For Miami, once again, their entire purpose is at stake. One championship in three years will do little to validate the decision LeBron made to come down to Miami and the grand experiment would be labeled a failure. We don’t judge this Heat team by the standards we judge others and a loss here makes last year’s Finals almost irrelevant when it comes to a referendum on how successful this super-friends experiment was. The Spurs have Tim Duncan’s legacy at stake. Though he will be far from being labeled as a failure if the Spurs lose, a fifth ring puts him on hallowed ground in terms of NBA greatness. It would put to rest the debate of “greatest player of his generation” and it would serve as an apt bookend for this decade and a half long Spurs run.

Connor Cook: Obviously, besides a championship, legacies can be altered with this series. A win for the Spurs would give Duncan and Pop five and Parker and Ginobili four titles, making these Spurs just as much of a dynasty as the Lakers. If people somehow didn’t talk about Duncan and Popovich among the greatest players and coaches, respectively, they (hopefully) would then. A Spurs win would also be crushing for LeBron James’ legacy, as many would probably go back to saying LeBron isn’t “clutch” because he had lost three NBA Finals. A Heat win would add to LeBron’s legacy even more, and really shouldn’t help any other Heat player’s legacy much unless they step up big in the Finals, since LeBron carried them at least through the ECF.
Also, no matter which team wins, it’s a victory for offenses that greatly value three point shooting. After eliminating mostly non-three point  shooting teams in their Conference Finals, both the Spurs and the Heat have proven that a bevy of three point shooting is a great thing for any team these days.

Robert Krivitsky: For Miami, there is both the simple and the complex. A chance to win a second-straight title and be in position for a three-peat, which would validate its place amongst the greatest teams of all time are on the line. Meanwhile, a loss may very well result in the big-three’s breakup.

For San Antonio, who knows when the next opportunity on the grand stage will come? The Spurs are arguably the greatest organization in sports. But, with Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan getting closer to the end and so many teams on the rise in the Western Conference, San Antonio understands what’s on the line.

Gavin MacPherson: The Heat have their reputation at stake.  Fair or not, in the minds of a lot of people simply winning one title isn’t good enough, this team needs multiple rings in order to be considered a success.   People aren’t going to look at how well the Heat players actually performed, all they are going to do is question how a team with LeBron, Wade and Bosh could possibly have lost.

I don’t think anything is really at stake for the Spurs.  Win or lose the fact that they made it this far only improves their already stellar record in the Tim Duncan years, and the four titles they’ve won during his time in San Antonio has shown that they’re capable of winning it all.  What they’ve accomplished together is above any kind of reasonable criticism, and that doesn’t change if they happen to lose this series.  All of the pressure is on the other team.

Ross Gottschalk: For San Antonio, a championship would cement Duncan’s legacy as one of the greatest players in history, whether at the 4 or the 5. And if Tony Parker continues to play the way he has in this postseason, conversations about his all-time legacy will start to creep up. (Bonus! Would Popovich and Duncan retire on top?)

A championship this year would go a long way in bringing LeBron back in 2014. The pressure for the team to win a title next year, in my opinion hinges on if they win it in 2013.

Leslie Kam: You mean other than TRACY MCGRADY POSSIBLY RETIRING WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP? Okay, in all seriousness, this is the Spurs’ last shot at the title with their big 3. After this season, with Westbrook returning from injury, the Thunder will be back in full force and will make multiple recurring finals appearances for years to come, as long as the team stays healthy. For the Heat, it is everything and more. There is no other team that has faced more scrutiny and dissected under the microscope like the Heat. If they lose this one, not only will it ruin their possible legacy, it will also question the legitimacy of their first title in the shorter lock out season (Not that it makes any sense, but people will do it). On the other hand, if they do win, it will only solidify LeBron’s case as one of the greats, if not the best.

Adam Lowenstein: One word: legacy. A title could define the Spurs’ dynasty or begin LeBron James’ own.

Lindsey Flemon: At stake for the San Antonio Spurs is Tim Duncan probably retiring without his fifth championship ring. I say probably because his off season divorce may cause his bank account to need just one more season. Other than that, the San Antonio Spurs are in good shape with young players that can move up and compete for the next level. They may make a trade but for the most part, players like playing for Gregg Popovich and usually stay with the Spurs for a long time.

The Miami Heat on the other hand have a lot to lose. With LeBron James being the best player in the world, a lot comes with that which is the expectations of winning it all, all the time. The Heat are expected to win consecutive championships and if they don’t, then the entire season is a failure. Player changes will be made to find supporting players that can pick up the slack when LeBron has the rare off game. At stake for Miami is the greatest player in the world with only one ring, and if he cannot win consecutive championships, is he the best player in the world?

Stay tuned to KJG as we continue to bring you NBA Finals coverage.