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Showing Original Post only (View all)LeBron James leads 3rd team to his 4th title. [View all]
Lakers, LeBron James win NBA championship with dominant performance in Game 6
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/10/11/lakers-heats-nba-finals-game-xxx/
Los Angeles defeated Miami 106-93 in Game 6 on Sunday, outlasting the plucky underdogs to claim their 17th championship in franchise history. James secured the fourth title of his illustrious career, leading a third different team to the crown after previously winning with the Heat in 2012 and 2013 and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. The 35-year-old forward, who finished with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.
Some stories are more complicated than others, and Game 6s was simple: The Heat simply ran out of gas after a valiant performance in Game 5. Miami shot just 13-38 (34.2%) in the first half as Los Angeless defense flew around the court and prevented clean looks from beyond the arc. The Lakers held an insurmountable 64-36 lead entering the break, and their small fan section, composed of wives, girlfriends and children, spent most of the second half cheering expectantly.
The Lakers closeout win, which sealed a 16-5 run through the playoffs, was aided by a starting lineup change. Coach Frank Vogel electing to start guard Alex Caruso in place of center Dwight Howard, who scored just two points in 15 minutes in Game 5. Caruso started just two games all season, but his insertion provided cleaner matchups with the Heats starting lineup, which features four perimeter players and center Bam Adebayo. Although the Lakers used this lineup for just 12 total minutes in the playoffs entering Sunday, the versatile and hard-nosed group overwhelmed the Heat with its collective speed and discipline.