The San Antonio Spurs beat the defending champion Miami Heat 114-104 in Game 5 in San Antonio, to take a 3 games to 2 lead in the NBA Finals. The Spurs’ Manu Ginobili started his first game of the season, and responded with by far his best game of the playoffs. He scored 24 points, and dished out 10 assists. Now the NBA Finals moves back to Miami for Game 6, and if necessary, Game 7.
With San Antonio scoring 114 points, Ginobili wasn’t the only Spur to have a big night. Danny Green not only matched Ginobili’s 24 points, but also broke the record for most 3-pointers made in a single NBA Finals. The old record was 22, held ironically by the Heat’s Ray Allen, who watched his record be broken. Green now has 25 3-pointers through 5 games, with at least one more game to go. He had 6 threes in Game 5, and is now an amazing 25-38 (65.8%) from 3-point land in the NBA Finals. Some players can’t shoot that well from the free throw line.
Every starter on San Antonio scored at least 16 points, and the team not only cracked the 50% shooting barrier, but they shot 60% for the entire game. Tony Parker actually led the Spurs in scoring, with 26 points. Miami only shot 43% from the field, and while LeBron James scored 25 points, he only shot 8 of 22 from the field. Dwyane Wade added 25 points and had 10 assists for the Heat.
Ginobili’s performance came as a big surprise to many, including me, because he had averaged only 7.5 points per game in the first 4 games of the Finals, and was shooting a miserable 34.5%. If promoting a reserve into the starting line-up as a reward for poor play, was Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich plan to get Ginobili jump-started, he’s a genius. One more game playing like that, and there’s a great chance that the San Antonio Spurs will win their 5th NBA Championship.
However, the Heat respond to losses with double digit wins, including after every loss in the playoffs this year. They will regroup, and win Game 6, because it’s an even-numbered game. The Spurs have won Games 1, 3 and 5, and the Heat have won Games 2 and 4. I know that’s too simplistic, but that’s the way it’s gone so far. Each team has made the right adjustments after a loss, and then won the next game. I don’t expect James and Wade to allow consecutive losses for the Heat, especially now that they are back in Miami. But if the Heat do win game 6, will the Spurs respond with a win, like they did after losing Games 2 and 4?
This NBA Finals has been a battle between past champions, with Duncan leading the Spurs with 4 titles, and Wade having 2 of his own in Miami. Duncan at 37 years old, and Ginobili at 35, are closer to the end of their careers, than Wade and James, who are 31 and 28 respectively. This could be the last chance for the Spurs to win another title, with Duncan, Ginobili and Parker all together. James has plenty of time to win more titles, even if he leaves Miami.
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Sports With Frank Thomas
