Game 7 isn’t strictly about LeBron James.

He’ll play a major role and his team absolutely needs him to have a great game, but the NBA Finals aren’t about one man. That won’t stop fans and many members of the media from going after the four-time MVP if the Miami Heat come up short in their effort to win their second consecutive title. But it shows that many people have missed the overwhelming theme of the series: Teams, not individuals, win championships. The team that has played harder and smarter – minus a little Heat luck in Game 6 – has been the winner through the first six games. That won’t change in Game 7.

James won’t beat the Spurs by himself as Tony Parker won’t beat the Heat by himself.

Both men will take the lead for their teams, but a one-man show probably won’t happen. It’s the beautiful thing about this year’s NBA Finals; it’s truly about team. Sure, you have to watch the games to understand that as much of the media fascination is still focused on James’ legacy and future if the Heat lose tonight. Looking at it from that perspective makes James someone that should be admired even more than he already is. His game is worshipped, but he does a pretty good job of staying focused and dealing with the pressure of being LeBron James.

The guy doesn’t get a break.

Every play is magnified and examined. Every success is measure up against Michael Jordan, the best to ever play. And each failure is overplayed and exaggerated as if his career is filled with personal and team success. It’s an impossible situation, at least viewing it from the outside. James, however, keeps it in perspective and accepts the scrutiny as a piece of a bigger blessing, which says a lot of LeBron James the man.

“Yeah, it is what it is,” James said. “That's okay. It won't stop me from loving the game, playing at a high level, doing it for my teammates, putting that uniform on.

“First of all, I mean, I'm blessed, man. I don't even know how I got here. I wasn't supposed to be in the NBA, if you go by statistics and things growing up where I grew up. Every time I go into my locker room and see the "James" on the back of an NBA jersey, I'm like wow, no criticism can deter me from playing this game because of that. I'm not supposed to be here. The fact that I'm doing what I'm doing and doing it for my teammates, it's all that matters.”

These types of things get lost in the immediate result, and subsequent fallout, of the game.

Before the game begins people are ready to pounce, preparing their best jokes or criticism of the league’s best player. It doesn’t matter that Dwyane Wade is hurting. It doesn’t matter that Chris Bosh is, for the most part, ineffective. It doesn’t even seem to matter that the Spurs are a great team.

Only James and what the win or loss means for him and his legacy.

It’s more pressure than I’ve seen any other athlete deal with. But I don’t feel sorry for James; I respect him. Like he said, considering his circumstances growing up, well, it could be a hell of a lot worse than one game for the NBA championship.