MIAMI — The giant-sized black billboard blankets the front of AmericanAirlines Arena — a picture of LeBron James in his white headband. The inscription reads: “Witness History’’ with a logo “2013 MVP.’’
Tonight is history. The legend of LeBron reaches a climactic moment — even if there’s no trademark headband again. The basketball titans from Miami and San Antonio slug it out in Game 7 for what James called yesterday “one of the biggest games, if not the biggest game of my life.’’
“I understand the moment for me,’’ James said. “I’m going to have butterflies. I’ll be nervous. That’s how it should be. The moment is going to be grand.’’
Coming off Game 6’s epic Heat 103-100 overtime victory created by James’ crazed, headband-less fourth quarter and Ray Allen’s magical game-tying shot with five seconds left in regulation, the Heat go for its second straight championship. The Spurs go for their fifth title since 1999.
“I said last year it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, winning my first,’’ James said. “Last year doesn’t even come close to what we’ve gone though in this postseason and Finals.’’
The Spurs were 28.2 seconds away from hoisting the championship trophy, ahead 95-90 at the end of regulation before the Miami miracle. Some fans were filing out of the arena. Security was using yellow tape around the court’s perimeter, readying for a Spurs celebration.
“It’s been a helluva series, man,’’ Dwyane Wade said. “I know that Game 6 will go down as one of the best final games that’s been seen.’’
“I think we should be happy about this opportunity to try to make history,’’ Spurs point guard Tony Parker said. “We know we can beat them here.’’
James had one crazy Game 6, finishing with 32 points and a triple double, but with six turnovers — three in the final 3:02 of regulation. To recap, James looked tentative for three quarters, shooting 3 of 12. Scrapping his headband, he led the charge from 10 points down in the fourth, scored 16 points in the period. But he missed a 3-pointer from the left wing in the closing seconds and a Chris Bosh offensive rebound coupled with Allen’s corner 3-pointer saved the season.
It had all the greatness and badness rolled into one package that makes James one of the most fascinating athletes in sports.
“I wasn’t perfect,’’ James said. “I made some critical mistakes that I can’t make if we want to win. But when I got out and I play as hard as I played [Tuesday] I can always be satisfied with the results. I’m going to leave everything on the floor.’’
James’ critics will suggest he was too passive until the fourth. But the Spurs are laying off, daring him to take his outside jumper that’s been spotty of late.
Wade said he knows James can’t be an attacking bull all game.
“He’s in unbelievable shape, but he can’t do it four quarters that way,’’ Wade said. ”That’s why he has a team.’’
Wade’s left knee is swollen and stiff after a first-half collision Tuesday, now giving him two bad knees. In addition, analytics show the James-Wade duo is a minus-56 in this series — a plus-48 when it’s just James.
So there’s hope for the Spurs. The Heat haven’t won two straight in 12 games.
Though James said he knows he never will regret teaming up with Wade and Bosh to form the Miami Dream Team, tonight is a defining moment for the Heat star.
“I need it because I want it,’’ James said. “I only came here — my only goal was to win championships. This is what I came here for.’’
Tonight could make two.