2012 NBA Finals

2012 NBA Finals
source
Year	2012
Team1	Miami Heat
Team1 coach	Erik Spoelstra
Team1 owner	Micky Arison
Team1 conf	Eastern
Team1 conf rank	2nd
Team2	Oklahoma City Thunder
Team2 coach	Scott Brooks
Team2 owner	Clay Bennett
Team2 conf	Western
Team2 conf rank	2nd
Mvp	LeBron James
Hofers	LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden
Announcers	Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, Mark Jackson
Network	ABC
Dates	June 12–21, 2012
Location1	American Airlines Arena, Miami (1, 2, 3, 5)
Location2	Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City (4)
Officials	Dan Crawford, Joe Crawford, Monty McCutchen, Ken Mauer

2012 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2011–12 season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat defeated the Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder four games to one. LeBron James of the Heat was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP), securing his first championship after previous losses in the 2007 NBA Finals and 2011 NBA Finals.

Background

The series featured a clash between the star-laden Miami Heat, led by the trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh—often called the "Big Three"—and the youthful core of the Oklahoma City Thunder, built around Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. The Heat, coached by Erik Spoelstra, were seeking redemption after falling to the Dallas Mavericks in the prior year's championship. The Thunder, under coach Scott Brooks, were making their first Finals appearance since the franchise relocated from Seattle and were originally the Seattle SuperSonics. The playoffs were preceded by the 2011 NBA lockout, which shortened the regular season to 66 games. Miami entered as the second seed in the East after finishing behind the Chicago Bulls, while Oklahoma City was the second seed in the West behind the San Antonio Spurs.

Series summary

The series was played in a 2–3–2 format, with the first two games in Oklahoma City. The Thunder won Game 1 at home, but the Heat captured the next four consecutive games to secure the title. Game 1 was a high-scoring affair won by the Thunder, 105–94. Miami then evened the series with a 100–96 victory in Game 2. The series shifted to South Florida for the next three contests, where the Heat took command. They won Game 3, 91–85, and Game 4, 104–98, to take a 3–1 lead. Miami closed out the championship in Game 5 at American Airlines Arena with a 121–106 victory, clinching the franchise's second Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, following their 2006 win.

Game summaries

*Game 1: At Chesapeake Energy Arena, the Thunder's trio of Kevin Durant (36 points), Russell Westbrook (27 points), and James Harden (21 points off the bench) overpowered the Heat. Despite 30 points from LeBron James, Oklahoma City's fourth-quarter surge secured an 11-point win. *Game 2: Miami evened the series behind a pivotal fourth-quarter performance from LeBron James, who recorded a triple-double with 32 points, and key plays from Dwyane Wade. The Heat defense contained Kevin Durant late to preserve a four-point victory. *Game 3: In a defensive struggle in Miami, the Heat held the Thunder to 37% shooting. Chris Bosh came off the bench to score 10 points and grab 11 rebounds, while LeBron James led all scorers with 29 points in a six-point win. *Game 4: Mario Chalmers scored 25 points for the Heat, and LeBron James added 26 despite suffering from cramps late in the game. A crucial three-pointer by James Jones helped Miami withstand a 43-point effort from Kevin Durant. *Game 5: The Heat clinched the title in a blowout, shooting 52% from the field. LeBron James posted another triple-double (26 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds), and Mike Miller came off the bench to hit seven three-pointers. The Thunder were led by Kevin Durant's 32 points.

Rosters

Miami Heat

The championship roster was headlined by future Hall of Famers LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. Key contributors included point guard Mario Chalmers, forward Shane Battier, and center Udonis Haslem. The bench featured sharpshooters Mike Miller and James Jones, along with defensive specialist Joel Anthony. The team was constructed by team president Pat Riley and owned by Micky Arison.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder's core consisted of future MVP winners Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden, who was the Sixth Man of the Year that season. The starting lineup included defensive stalwart Serge Ibaka and center Kendrick Perkins. Key reserves were guard Daequan Cook and forward Nick Collison. The franchise was owned by Clay Bennett and general manager Sam Presti.

Aftermath

The victory cemented LeBron James's legacy, earning him his first championship and Finals MVP honors. For the Miami Heat, it began a run of four consecutive Finals appearances, including back-to-back titles after winning the 2013 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. The loss prompted the Oklahoma City Thunder to trade James Harden to the Houston Rockets before the next season, altering the trajectory of the franchise. The series is remembered for the ascendancy of LeBron James and the contrast between the experienced Miami Heat and the young Oklahoma City Thunder.

Category:2012 NBA Finals Category:National Basketball Association finals Category:Miami Heat Category:Oklahoma City Thunder Category:2012 in sports in Oklahoma Category:2012 in sports in Florida Category:June 2012 sports events in the United States