Compelling NBA Finals Go To A Seventh Game

I was fortunate enough to have been in attendance at the sixth game of the 1986 World Series when the New York Mets down by two runs and with two outs and nobody on, rallied to “(6-5)” the Boston Red Sox in ten innings.

That victory forced a seventh and deciding game which the Mets won. It is an arguable point as to whether that game defeat for the Red Sox was worse than the one suffered by the San Antonio Spurs last night.

The Miami Heat, down by four points with thirty seconds left and Manu Ginobili “popping free throws” and in other dire situations just after, somehow forced overtime and won game six.

That sets up a “ratings bonanza” for Disney in the form of a seventh and deciding game, with the NBA title on the line Thursday night in Miami.

The result of that game could alter the historical ranking and perspective of this Spurs’ defeat. Obviously, if the six point underdog Spurs, win #7 then much, if not all the “horror” of the game six loss will vanish.

However, if the Heat do prevail at home, (20 of the last 22 home teams have won the “title on the line” 7th game and teams suffering horrible defeats in game six, as the Spurs did last night, have all lost) this will rank among the worst defeats ever.

Now thank goodness I have this in proper perspective. I relate to (events in) Turkey and am not one. More important things abound than game seven of the NBA finals, compelling though it may be.

The Spurs were up by four points with 24 seconds left and Ginobili could only the “split the pair” as the great Cleveland Cavaliers announcer Joe Tait would say.

Next, Miami’s LeBron James twice missed three point field goal attempts but each time a Heat player got and made one on the same possession. Ray Allen’s three point shot tied the game with five seconds to play.

After that, Tony Parker, who shot but 6 of 23 from the field, made but one of two foul shots with the Spurs ahead by two points in the overtime. Earlier and in between the three point field goals made by James to cut the Spurs lead to two points and the tying shot by Allen, the Spurs Kawhi Leonard also made but one of two free throws.

Hence missed free throws and bad bounces leading to Miami 3 point field goals, manifested in a game seven tomorrow night.

Since the Pittsburgh Pirates led by the great Willie Stargell won game seven of the 1979 World Series at Baltimore, home teams as stated above, have won 20 of 22 finals’ game sevens in the major sports leagues.

At one point the streak was 18 straight wins for the home team in such games.The two most recent NHL game sevens of the finals were won by the road team. The seventh game win by the Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit vs the Red Wings in 2009, ended the 18 game home winning streak in the “winner take all” game.

In the NBA, the current streak is five straight wins for the home team with three involving current Miami Heat President Pat Riley. Riley’s teams are (1-2) in previous game sevens of the finals.

The Washington Bullets, now known as the Washington Wizards, are the last road team to win game seven of the NBA finals. They won game seven at Seattle vs the SuperSonics, who are now the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In baseball the home team has won 9 straight game sevens in the World Series. In hockey after 6 straight home team wins, the visitor has won the last two game sevens in the Stanley Cup Finals.