6 memorable Finals moments involving the Spurs and Heat
When two teams combine to win seven championships in 15 seasons (soon to be eight in 16), as the Spurs and Heat have done since 1999, there are bound to be some classic memories made along the way.
On that note, with San Antonio set to host Miami in mere hours to tip off the 2014 NBA Finals, here are six of those memories from the last decade-and-a-half of Spurs/Heat Finals dominance.
1999 - Spurs vs. Knicks - Avery Johnson sticks the dagger
In what was a foreshadowing of the next 15 years worth of role players stepping up for Gregg Popovich's Spurs, Avery Johnson takes the pass from Sean Elliot (after a Tim Duncan find out of a double-team) and buries a corner three to put the Spurs ahead late in Game 5. Moments later, San Antonio had championship No. 1.
2003 - Spurs vs. Nets - Twin Towers dominate in Robinson's last stand
It was the last game David Robinson would ever play in the NBA, and The Admiral went out in fitting fashion, dropping 13 points (on 6/8 shooting), 17 rebounds and two blocks to help the Spurs clinch their second championship in five seasons. Tim Duncan had a game for the ages himself, posting 21 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists and eight blocks (Duncan also had a 32-point, 20-rebound, seven-block, six-assist, three-steal performance in Game 1). Yes, you read that statline correctly. Twin Towers, y'all.
2005 - Spurs vs. Pistons - Big Shot Bob wins another one
Few remember much from the 2005 Finals between the Spurs and Pistons. The series went seven games, but most of those games were blowouts. The one defining moment, however, was Robert Horry adding to his 'Big Shot Bob' moniker with the overtime game-winner in Game 5 of a tied series.
2007 - Spurs vs. Cavaliers - Duncan and James share a moment
After Duncan's Spurs had swept LeBron's Cavs out of The Finals in King James' first appearance, LeBron found Duncan after Game 4 to congratulate the elder statesman. With the Larry O'Brien Trophy their witness in the background, two legends shared a moment - the older Duncan telling the younger James "this can be your league in a little while."
Seven years later, with another Finals battle between them already complete and a third hours away from tipping off, re-watching the moment is chilling:
2012 - Heat vs. Thunder - LeBron James captures his first title
After falling to the Mavericks in the 2011 Finals in their first year together, the James/Wade/Bosh-led Heat lost Game 1 of the 2012 Finals to the younger Thunder, and then nearly blew a big fourth quarter lead in Game 2. Everyone who hated the way The Big Three had come together and James critics everywhere prepared their pitchforks, but LeBron and the Heat stormed back for four straight wins and a five-game series win.
King James finally had that elusive first ring, and the balance of power in the NBA had officially shifted to Miami.
2013 - Heat vs. Spurs - Ray Allen puts the ropes away
It will go down as both one of the greatest three-pointers and greatest Finals moments in NBA history. With the Spurs five seconds away from championship No. 5 and LeBron's Heat on the cusp of another Finals disappointment, Chris Bosh grabbed the offensive rebound off a James miss and found Ray Allen backpedaling to the corner. Bang. Tie game.