It took everything we had as a team. Credit to the San Antonio Spurs, they’re an unbelievable team, an unbelievable franchise. This is the hardest series we ever had to play. But we’re a resilient team, and we did whatever it took.
  Dwyane Wade

The 2013 NBA Finals provided outstanding athletic performances with displays of physical play, stifling defense and incredible mental toughness. Culminating in a nail biting Game 7, the Miami Heat prevailed with the 95-88 victory.

Their decisive mental edge brought them from behind in the do or die Game 6 to win in overtime, forcing the championship to go the full seven games. When the final buzzer sounded, it was the Miami Heat that proved they deserved to raise the NBA’s Larry O’Brien trophy for the second straight year in a row.

Game 7 became the stage for one of the greatest performances in NBA playoff history by MVP LeBron James. When San Antonio closed the lane forcing James to the outside, he responded with five three pointers and his 37 points overall tied for the highest points scored in any Game 7 history. He dominated the boards with twelve rebounds, and also contributed four assists as well.

James explained his pregame preparation to gaining a mental edge, “I watched film, and my mind started to work. I said, ‘OK, this is how they’re going to play me for the whole series.’ I looked at all my regular-season stats, and I was one of the best midrange shooters in the game. I shot a career high from the three-point line. I just told myself, ‘Don’t abandon what you’ve done all year. Don’t abandon now because they’re going under (screens). Don’t force the paint. If it’s there, take it. If not, take the jumper. The repetition, the practices, the off-season training, no matter how big the stakes are, no matter what’s on the line, just go with it. And I was able to do that.”

This mental preparation allowed James the foundation for arguably the biggest game of his career.

 
James received help from his teammates as the Heat proved to work well as team. Forward Shane Battier, who had been in a shooting slump for most of the postseason, rose to the moment with a stunning six three point shots, and Dwyane Wade contributed 23 points following subpar performances earlier in the series.

 
The team and players maintained a positive focus even after losing Game 3 by the largest margin in NBA history, 113-77. The ability to overcome adversity while retaining a consistent mental toughness creates true champions.

 
Wade offered his assessment of the team and Battier’s incredible performance, “With our team, we just continue to trust and believe. Shane ain’t hit a shot since I don’t know when. But tonight he was unconscious. And he’s just a big-time player.”

 
The San Antonio Spurs also displayed a tremendous basketball mental game and physical tenacity in the paint. The 2013 NBA Finals were fiercely fought, with each team respecting the ability of their opponent, but the Heat had the Mental Edge.

 
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich offered his insight into the loss, “It was a great series and we all felt that. I don’t know if ‘enjoy’ is the right word, but in all honesty, even in defeat, I’m starting to enjoy what our group accomplished already, when you look back. And you need to do that, to put in perspective. So it’s no fun to lose, but we lost to a better team. And you can live with that as long as you’ve given your best, and I think we have.”

Congratulations to the 2013 NBA Champions Miami Heat and MVP LeBron James.