ESPN.com presents TrueHoop http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop 60 en-us Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:03:13 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News: How painfully close were the Spurs to their fifth championship? Scores of Heat fans — admittedly, not exactly a die-hard bunch — were already streaming for the exits at American Airlines Arena as the final seconds of Game 6 wound down. The Spurs had endured a massive Heat rally, fighting back from three down with 2:09 left to lead by five in the final minute. The game, and the Larry O’Brien Trophy, seemed all but assured.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/59916/first-cup-wednesday-267 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:28:41 EDT 59916 Dan Le Batard on the incredible emotions of Game 6. When Ray Allen lofted his game-saving 3 the entire Heat team, its ethos, stars and formation were set to be doubted for eternity. Instead, the Heat walk tall into Game 7, while the only people who disappointed Le Batard were the Heat fans who left early.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/59913/dan-le-batard-takes-on-game-6 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:53:30 EDT 59913 Twists, turns, villains, heroes and Ray Allen; Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals was overloaded with drama. Bomani Jones and J.A. Adande discuss the Heat's come-from-behind overtime victory that sets up Thursday's Game 7. TrueHoop TV at the Finals.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/59909/one-for-the-ages Wed, 19 Jun 2013 02:24:49 EDT 59909 Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports Tim Duncan (left) started out hot in Game 6, but LeBron James turned up the Heat in the fourth quarter and overtime to force a Game 7 on Thursday in Miami.The Miami Heat staved off elimination with a thrilling 103-100 overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs, behind a clutch 3-pointer from Ray Allen and an all-around masterpiece from LeBron James. Let’s take a look at how this went down. Key Plays Allen tied the game with 5.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/59897/lebron-forces-game-7-with-all-around-gem Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:48:14 EDT 59897 Justin Rao and David Rothschild of Microsoft Research looked at what betting markets and our expert panel at ESPN Forecast were telling us ahead of Game 6 and found an interesting disparity: Are the Heat still favorites? Betting markets and the panel of ESPN Forecast experts disagree. Is it possible the first five games of the NBA Finals have increased the chances the Heat will win Games 6 and 7? According to the betting markets, the answer is yes.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/59875/what-prediction-markets-say-about-game-6-2 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:50:30 EDT 59875 How could the Los Angeles Clippers possibly walk away from a negotiation that would’ve yielded them Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers for a relatively unproven young center, a couple of first-round draft picks and the relatively small burden of taking on one or two mid-level contracts? That’s the question gnawing at some Clipper fans and many Clipper skeptics on Tuesday, but however ineffectual the organization appears on the surface for folding up their tent, the Clippers made a sound decision.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/59849/how-the-clippers-could-walk-away Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:16:49 EDT 59849 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty ImagesThe Heat have been good with Chris Andersen on the court.Why hasn't Chris Andersen played since Game 3? That's what I have been wondering. He's a big dude with -- it would seem -- the ability to hinder those Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili drives that have been causing so much trouble for the Heat. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are good at getting the ball into the paint, where Andersen is good at turning touches into buckets.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/59839/free-birdman Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:21:54 EDT 59839 At full speed, the Heat may well be unstoppable. But even in these NBA Finals, you can see the Heat occasionally deciding not to bother challenging Danny Green, for instance. Ethan Sherwood Strauss has interesting ideas about intensity.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/59841/100-percent-effort-90-percent-of-the-time Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:42:23 EDT 59841 AP Photo/Lynne SladkyLeBron James is averaging 31.5 points per game in games in which his team faced playoff elimination Historical storylines abound going into Tuesday's Game 6. Can the San Antonio Spurs continue their road closeout dominance? Will LeBron James have another big scoring game to stave off elimination? Here's a look at the numbers in support of each team. Why the Spurs Will Win The Spurs enter Game 6 leading the series 3-2. Teams up 3-2 in the Finals have gone on to win the series 83.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/59828/history-points-both-ways-for-game-6 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:38:03 EDT 59828 Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News: During the postseason, Miami has won each of its six games following a loss by an average of 20.7 points. The Heat’s victories in this schizophrenic series have come by 19 and 16. History conflicts on where things go from here. Bad news for Miami: Since 1985, only three home teams have swept Games 6 and 7 in a Finals. Good news for Miami, if it can win Tuesday: No team in that span has lost a Game 7 at home.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/59822/first-cup-tuesday-261 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:38:07 EDT 59822