Fanatics takes an in-depth look at the 2013 NBA Finals with a game-by-game analysis

The 2013 NBA Finals have been everything a sports fan could want: Exciting, memorable, record-breaking and just flat-out fantastic! Fanatics takes a look at each one of the first six games of the series as we get ready for the last game of the 2013 NBA season. When that final buzzer sounds, remember, there’s only one place to get all the NBA Champs Gear: including NBA Championship T-Shirts, Hats, Collectibles and more!

Game 1: Spurs

How they won:

1) The combined ineffectiveness of Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole to effectively guard Tony Parker resulted in Parker’s leading both the Spurs and the Heat with 21 points that led to a coaching change in the 4th quarter, whereby LeBron James was tasked to guard him.

2) Speaking of the 4th quarter, both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade failed to show up during it, with James contributing just six points and Wade zero. The Heat were outscored 23-16 in the 4th quarter.

3) Chris Bosh. During the regular season, the Miami Heat center averaged 1.1 three-point attempts per game. During Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Bosh was a perfect zero for his four three-point attempts. Bosh’s three-point shooting abilities did not warrant him attempting so many shots from behind the arc, and this shot selection only added to the Heat’s pains.

4) Turnovers, or lack thereof. During the regular season, the Miami Heat averaged 13.3 defensive turnovers per game; during the entirety of Game 1, they had 4. In fact, the 4 turnovers by the Spurs were the lowest in NBA Finals history since 2005.

Play of the Game: With only a two-point lead and seconds on the clock, San Antonio’s Tony Parker became Game 1′s hero when he took the basketball, fell down and almost lost it, only to launch a shot – almost blocked by LeBron James – that left his fingertips with a mere millisecond left on the shot clock to seal the game for the Spurs.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Game 2: Heat

How they won:

1) Turnovers. The Spurs only gave up four turnovers all of Game 1 in the NBA Finals; in Game 2, they gave up that many in just the first quarter alone. In total, San Antonio gave up the ball 17 times, and the Heat capitalized on those turnovers with 19 points.

2) Three-Pointers. In Game 1, the Heat were 8-of-25 from three-point range, including the 0-4 three-point shooting of Chris Bosh. In Game 2, the Heat were 10 of 19 on three-point attempts, including a 3-for-5 performance by Ray Allen and perfect 3-for-3 shooting by Mike Miller.

3) Mario Chalmers went 3-for-10 for 8 pts. in Game 1, but charged out of the gate Game 2 to lead the Heat with his 6-of-12 19-point performance. The Heat used their speed and quickness as well as the pick-and-roll from James and Chalmers, to go on a 33-5 rout of the Spurs that had them up 75-65 going into the fourth quarter.

4) Poor shooting from the Spurs. In Game 1, Tim Duncan went 8-of-19 for 20 points. Game 2? 3-of-13 for 9 pts. Manu Ginobili was 4-of-11 for 13 pts. in that first game. Game 2? 2-of-6 for 5 pts. In fact, San Antonio’s starting five were 27-of-61 for 70 points in Game 1. Game 2? 20-of-50 for 52 points. That’s 11 less shots taken and 18 less points in the second game match-up.

Play of the Game: In the fourth quarter of Game 2, San Antonio’s near 7-footer Tiago Splitter took a pass from Tony Parker and attempted to slam a dunk down over LeBron James. “Attempted” being the emphasized word here, as LeBron put up a highlight-reel denial of that dunk that gave the Heat back the ball and led to a three-pointer from Ray Allen.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Game 3: Spurs

How they won:

1) They let the new kids get on the block. Danny Green, who had less than 2 hours of playing time his rookie season with LeBron James’ Cavaliers, showed why the Spurs snatched him up so quickly after Cleveland discarded him with his 9-of-15 for 27 points in Game 3. But Green didn’t just drop it on the Heat–he bombed it from long distance–by going 7-of-9 from three-point range.

2) Kawhi Leonard not only excelled in his defense of LeBron James, but also had his best game of the series, going 6-of-10 for 14 Spurs points. Leonard led San Antonio with four steals and was second to only Tim Duncan with his 12 rebounds.

3) Undrafted wunderkind Gary Neal had an astonishing night, going 9-of-17, including 7-of-9 from beyond the arc, to end up with 24 points. It’s clear Neal is very much a part of San Antonio’s future plans.

4) They froze LeBron. James had the worst night of the 2013 NBA Finals due in large part to the defensive scheme the Spurs went with. By cutting off the lane, they forced LeBron to make perimeter shots, which resulted in a 7-of-21 15-point night. The Spurs basically made sure LeBron’s only options were to attempt jumpers or attempt to drive to the well-guarded hoop.

Play of the Game:
Gary Neal’s behind-the-back pass to Kawhi Leonard who dunked it, capitalizing on just one of the 10 steals the Spurs had in Game 3.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Game 4: Heat

How they won:

1) Up until Game 4 of the 2013 NBA Finals, it was just Dwyane Wade as part of Miami’s Big Three. Yet, in Game 4, Flash took over and he was unstoppable. The 31-year-old Wade, showed no signs of either his age or his bum knee, which made him the best player on the court. D-Wade was 14-of-25, with six steal, six rebounds and four assists. He scored 15 points better than his previous high in the NBA Finals and showed that when he’s on his game, no one can stop the Heat.

2) No one puts the Heat in the corner two games in a row. The Miami Heat have proven all year that they have too big of an ego or talent or both to lose two games in a row. Miami hasn’t given up back-to-back games since January 10. In fact, since that time, they are 12-0 after defeats and outscore their opponents by an astonishing 20-point average. Whatever it is inside them when they lose is replaced by a furious flurry of fierce play that not only comes back to avenge the previous loss, but eradicate it from everyone’s minds.

3) Miami’s Big Three simply outmatched San Antonio’s Big Three. The Heat suffered their biggest loss of the playoffs in game 3 of the NBA Finals when they fell to the Spurs 113-77. In Game 4, James, Bosh and Wade alone scored 85 points and accounted for 30 of Miami’s 41 total rebounds. The Spurs’ Duncan, Parker and Ginobili were only able to put together 40 points and 11 rebounds, with Tony Parker going completely scoreless in the second half of Game 4.

4) Welcome back, Bron Bron. Until Game 4, LeBron James best scoring in the playoffs was 20 points. He scored 33 points in Game 4, to go along with his 11 rebounds. LeBron was everywhere on the court during game 4, and his omnipresence was the missing piece of the puzzle during the previous three Finals games.

Play of the Game:
A steal and a race down the court by Dwyane Wade showed that “Flash” still has some spark in him.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Game 5: Spurs

How they won:

1) Three words, “Manu, Manu, Manu.” For the first time all season, coach Greg Popovich started 35-year-old Manu Ginobili, a bench player whose 11.8 points per game average in 2012 are the lowest of his career since his first year with the Spurs in 2002. So, what does Manu do with this rare opportunity? He lights up the NBA Finals scoreboard with 24 points and 10 assists. The Manu of old, i.e. 2007, was on full display in game 5, and showed that when he shows up, San Antonio’s Big Three is nearly unstoppable.

2) Tony Parker, who played with a strained right hamstring the last couple games, has been amazing all playoffs and Game 5 was no exception. The Spurs Point Guard went 10-of-14 for a game-high 26 points and five assists.

3) Danny Green is having a beast of a playoff run. Green set an NBA Finals record with his 25 three-pointers. Throughout the NBA Playoffs, Danny Green has had career highs in every category, including 73% shooting from three-point range in the NBA Finals. Add to this Green’s impressive defensive coverage of the game’s best player in LeBron James, and you’ve got a consistent Spur heating up at just the right time.

4) Team play. In an era that rewards individuality, the Spurs of today aren’t supposed to win. San Antonio’s Big Three harken back to a time when teammates counted upon one another and provided positive, not negative criticisms. A time when there was no social media to take jabs at your teammates or coach, and if there was, these players wouldn’t do so anyway. The Spurs may very well win another championship due to their hard work and belief in each other, not despite it. It’s as rare as it is refreshing.

Play of the Game:
After Dwyane Wade coughed up the ball in the third quarter, Manu Ginobili grabbed it and tossed it to Danny Green, who then dropped it in from beyond the arc and broke Ray Allen’s record of 22 Finals 3-pointers.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Game 6: Heat

How they won:

1) With 2:47 remaining in the 2nd quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Tim Duncan had 21 points–the same as LeBron, Wade and Bosh combined. In fact, after three quarters of play, LeBron James was only 3-of-12 and looked as if he was ready to hand the Spurs their 5th NBA Championship. Yet, with the loss of his headband, came an iconic run by James that erupted in the All-Star finishing 11-of-26 and leading his beleaguered team to a thrilling OT win in Miami. James would finish with a triple-double and tied James Worthy as only the second player in NBA history to score at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a victorious NBA Finals game.

2) Manu, Manu; where for art thou Manu? The Manu Ginobili who showed up in game 5 of the NBA Finals was nowhere to be seen in Game 6. In the previous game, Ginobili was 8-of-14 for 24 points. In Game 6, Manu went 2-of-5 for only 9 points, but it was his costly 8 turnovers that cost San Antonio dearly.

3) Danny Green, the Spurs Shooting Guard who had been tearing up the NBA Finals with his record number of three-pointers, was kept in check in Game 6. Green only made one three-point shot all night after going 25-of-38 on them in the previous five games. Green never seemed to be open at all during his 41 minutes of play.

Play of the Game:
Ray Allen hits clutch 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left in Game 6 to send the game into overtime.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Fanatics would like to congratulate the Oklahoma Sooners Softball team on their 2nd NCAA Women’s College World Series Championship! The Sooners nabbed their first National Championship since 2000 with a 2-0 sweep of Tennessee. Last year, Oklahoma played runner-up, but came back this year stronger and more determined to win a National Softball Championship. This remarkable win encapsulates an epic journey for the Sooners Softball program, which to date has:

9 Big 12 Titles

7 WCWS Appearances

2000 National Champions

2013 National Champions

Sooners fans, everywhere, celebrate your OU Softball team with Oklahoma WCWS Champs Gear from Fanatics. We have all the best Oklahoma Softball Champs T-Shirts, Hats and Sweatshirts, so you can show your Sooner pride for all to see!

With the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat facing off in the 2013 NBA Finals, Fanatics compiles all the Spurs Western Conference Champs Apparel and NBA Finals Gear as we look at . . .

Why the San Antonio Spurs will be the 2013 NBA Champions:

The 2013 NBA Finals are being portrayed as an “Old-School vs. New Cool” type of matchup, with the Spurs playing the role of the veteran squad hoping for one more shot at glory and King James and court looking to prove their historical value with a back-to-back championship. The dynastic grouping in summer 2010 of LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade hasn’t been the effortless win-a-thon many thought it would be, with all three All-Stars having on-court ups and downs. Bosh was nearly invisible in the Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana, and Wade was hit-or-miss during the 7-game series. Whereas, the Spurs trio of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili swept through Memphis 4-0, once again showing the 11 years they’ve spent together has made them a cohesive unit as well as 3-time NBA Champions (2003, 2005, 2007). Pair the Spurs aging trinity with emerging stars Kawhi Leonard and Tiago Splitter (both of whom are having the best seasons of their careers) and you’ve got a team that has an old wisdom and new energy at the same time.

San Antonio is not only well rested after their 10-day layoff, but unlike other teams with less experience, the Spurs veterans are well coached and prepared to do battle on the NBA’s biggest stage. The trio of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili infuses the type of veteran aplomb that will require LeBron James and the rest of the Miami Heat to put up a near perfect Game 1 if they expect to have any chance of defending home court Thursday night. The Spurs are the deeper team, and though they lack the league’s #1 player, they make up for it consistent outside shooting and team synergy.

Prediction: Spurs in six.

Show your love for the Spurs with San Antonio Spurs Western Conference Champs Gear from Fanatics. And, when the series is over, be sure to come back as we’ll have all the Spurs Champs Gear as soon as the final buzzer sounds on the 2013 NBA season.

With the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat facing off in the 2013 NBA Finals, Fanatics compiles all the Miami Heat Eastern Conference Champs Apparel and NBA Finals Gear as we look at . . .

Why the Miami Heat will be the 2013 NBA Champions:

First of all, let’s talk location. Of the seven games in the 2013 NBA Finals, the first two and the last two will be in Miami. This means, LeBron and Co. get a little extra rest before the 2013 NBA Finals begin at American Airlines Arena. If they can hold down the fort at home these first two games, it doesn’t matter what happens in Texas, because they can finish it all off when they get back to Miami.

If the Heat plays as well as they did in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Championship, no team, no matter how deep, can match up to them. The San Antonio Spurs lack a rim protector the likes of a Roy Hibbert. Tim Duncan is effective, but Udonis Haslem and Chris Anderson should be able to effectively guard him throughout the series.

LeBron is amazing, yet matter how good you are, without a deep supporting cast, you can only get so far. This brings to forefront the effectiveness of the Miami Heat bench. Miami carefully plugged the holes in their team with position players that could easily be starters elsewhere in the league. They added Ray Allen’s shooting and experience along with Chris Anderson’s adept rebounding and intensity off the bench. Combine these two with Udonis Haslem and Shane Battier and you have a solid bench that expertly complements the Heat starters.

The bottom line is this: the Miami Heat were the best team of the 2013 NBA regular season. They currently have the leagues’ number-one player. They were built brick-by-brick to go up against any team, no matter what style or stature of play. As long as Miami’s Big Three put up the stellar postseason minutes they are capable of, they should be able to not only hold off San Antonio, but maybe put the team out to pasture.

Prediction: Heat in seven.

Show your love for the Heat with Miami Heat Eastern Conference Champs Gear from Fanatics. And, when the series is over, be sure to come back as we’ll have all the Miami Heat Champs Gear as soon as the final buzzer sounds on the 2013 NBA season.

In Duke’s 7th straight appearance in the NCAA Lacrosse Tournament, the seventh-seeded Blue Devils defeated #1-seed Syracuse and won their 2nd College Lacrosse Championship in school history. The 16-10 win was the biggest margin of victory for the Blue Devils this postseason, who up until Monday’s finals match had only a two-goal win against Cornell as their largest margin. Duke, who took their first lead of the match in the third quarter, never looked back and by the early fourth quarter were already up 13-7. Celebrate the greatness that is the 2013 College Lacrosse Tournaments with Fanatics and our collection of Duke Lacrosse Champs Apparel. We have all the Duke Champs T-Shirts and Hats, so you can represent in true Blue Devils Lacrosse Championship style.

After 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears, Pro Bowl Linebacker Brian Urlacher has retired. Celebrate the heart of the Bears defense and an all-over All-American with Fanatics and a Brian Urlacher Jersey or T-Shirt.

Time Capsule: Brian Urlacher

In high school, Urlacher spent time as a running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and defensive back. Yet, when he went to college at the University of New Mexico, Lobos head coach Dennis Franchione converted Urlacher to linebacker. During his junior year of college, Urlacher led the nation in tackles (178) and set a New Mexico Lobos school record for most tackles in a single season.

Brian Urlacher was picked 9th overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2000 NFL Draft. Urlacher was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2005, the same year the Chicago Bears had the fewest points allowed by any defense.

Urlacher finishes his professional football career with some astounding highlights:

8-time Pro Bowler

5-time All-Pro

2000 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

2005 NFL Defensive Player of the Year

NFL 2000s All-Decade Team

Chicago Bears career tackles record

Honor this moment with Chicago Bears faithful and NFL fans of all ages with Fanatics and our Brian Urlacher Collection.

On the third Sunday in June, we celebrate the contributions that fathers and father figures alike make to children around the world with the holiday of Father’s Day. Fanatics is here to help every child, spouse and loved one find that perfect Father’s Day Gift for the dad in their lives. Shop our immense collection of Men’s NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA gifts and more, and make this Father’s Day one he’ll remember forever!

The Origins of Father’s Day

You could say that the mother of Father’s Day was Sonora Louise Smart Dodd. Sonora was the daughter of William Smart, a sergeant in the Union Army during the Civil War. When she was 16, Sonora’s mother passed and she was left, with her father, the task of raising her five younger siblings. Sonora held her father in great regard and was emotionally moved while hearing a church sermon about the newly recognized Mother’s Day. Sonora acted swiftly to get a day of honoring for men recognized and thus the first Father’s day was founded in 1910 in Spokane, Washington. It wasn’t until 1972, that President Richard Nixon signed into law a permanent U.S. Father’s Day to be observed on the third Sunday of June. Celebrate with great College Father’s Day Gifts from Fanatics, and show your dad that you’ve got an historic admiration for him.

What do I get Dear Ol’ Dad?

Most dads probably don’t even want much of anything on Father’s Day. Maybe a kind, simple gesture and some relaxation time is all they require. But, if you really want to show the father or husband in your life you truly care; you’ll get him a gift he’ll treasure always. We have the ultimate collection of sports gifts for men, so you can show dad you know him best!

Here’s a list of some great Father’s Day Gift Ideas for the sportsman in your life:

1) College Watch: Let dad show off his almumnus spirit and relive the glory days of youth with a College Watch in every style imaginable.

2) Sports Cufflinks: There’s no better way to put that team style finishing touch on a suit than with Sports Cufflinks. Give dad a pop of class and team spirit with NFL, College or MLB Cufflinks.

3) Performance Polo: Speaking of style, what father wouldn’t look good in a Performance Polo? Fanatics has the best Performance Polo Shirts by brands like Nike, Cutter & Buck, Antigua and more, so dad won’t have to sweat too much when he’s on the golf course or on the couch.

4) College Football Jersey:
Spend Sunday, June 16 in the front yard with a pick up game of two-hand touch. Let dad look official on Father’s Day or any gameday this year with a college football jersey.

5) NFL Hat: Father’s Day is in June and the sun is high in the sky, so shield dad from the rays in team spirit with an NFL Hat from Fanatics. Whether dad prefers a golf visor or fitted cap, we have all the teams, styles and sizes to make this Father’s Day a great day to wear a hat.

No matter what gift you go with this year, Fanatics is here to wish all dads out there a Happy Father’s Day with our ultimate assortment of Father’s Day Gifts in every sport, league and team imaginable.

Shop all Leagues Father’s Day Gifts for Men: NFL – MLB – NHL – NBA.

Every year, on the final Monday in May, we Americans take time to honor those who have fallen while serving in the United States Armed Forces. In conjunction with Memorial Day, New Era and the MLB honor servicemen and women with their “Stars & Stripes” program, which pays tribute to the the Armed Forces with special commemorative and patriotic hats that are worn by MLB players on Memorial Day. Fanatics joins in this salute to the troops with our collection of MLB Stars and Stripes Hats for everyone.

The Stars and Stripes program, which is in its sixth-year, will be altered for 2013, as there will be two different styles of hats worn by MLB players. The Memorial Day cap will consist of the USMC digital camo pattern; while the different stars-and-stripes hat the players will wear July 4, will be unveiled at a later date.

It’s not just on their heads that Major League Baseball will be saluting the troops though, but also on their chests, as they will be wearing special USMC digital camo Memorial Day Jerseys on May 27. Fanatics will have these MLB Memorial Day Jerseys as soon as they are in stock.

This year, join Fanatics and Major League Baseball in saluting the troops with MLB Stars and Stripes Gear for the entire family. Our patriotic collection includes the New Era Memorial Day Hats as well as all the best MLB Stars and Stripes T-Shirts and Apparel.

Celebrate with Fanatics as we bring you all the best Louisville NCAA Basketball Champions Gear, including Louisville Cardinals Champs T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Hats and more!

It’s been 27 years, but your Louisville Cardinals are NCAA Basketball Champions once again. The Cardinals defeated the Michigan Wolverines 82-76 to claim their first NCAA basketball Championship since 1986. This latest win makes Louisville three-time champions and further cements their legacy in the pantheon of NCAA Basketball history. Celebrate with Fanatics as we bring you all the best Louisville NCAA Basketball Champions Gear, including Louisville Cardinals Champs T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Hats and more!

Cardinals Flyin’ High

To say the Louisville Cardinals Basketball team is good is a terrifying understatement. Louisville has been to the NCAA Tournament an astounding 30 times out of the last 37 years. They’ve been to 26 Sweet Sixteens and 10 Final Fours. They are also tied with legendary basketball powerhouses Indiana, Duke and Kansas with three National Basketball Championships apiece. In fact, only four schools have more NCAA Basketball Championships than Louisville: Duke (4), UNC (5), Kentucky (8) and UCLA (11).

The numbers are surely astounding. Louisville is 5th in all-time NCAA Tournament appearances with 39. Their 69 NCAA Tournament wins puts them in sixth-place nationally. And, their 10 Final Fours put them at 5th-most of all college basketball teams. Let’s not forget to mention, Louisville is your 2013 College Basketball Champions. Grab a piece of this moment in time with Louisville NCAA Champs Apparel from Fanatics and show off your Cardinal devotion in a Louisville Champs T-Shirt ot Hat today!