2013 NBA Finals Game #5
#1 Miami Heat at #2 San Antonio Spurs
Best of Seven Series tied 2-2
Sunday, June 16, 2013, 8:05 pm Eastern, TV: ABC
AT&T Center – San Antonio, Texas
Opening Line: San Antonio pick
Current Line: Miami -1 1/2
Opening Total: 188
Current Total: 188
Opening Money Line: Spurs -110 / Heat -110
Current Money Line: Heat -120 / Spurs +100
The Miami Heat’s Big three finally showed up Thursday night. Consequently, Miami looked like the team that won 66 games in the regular season including a 27 game winning streak. The Heat routed the San Antonio Spurs 109-93 in game four to even the NBA Finals at 2-2. The teams have alternated wins and losses, and now the series becomes a best of 3. The last 3 games in the series have been decided by 16 points or more. In fact Miami has alternated wins and losses for their last 11 games. Neither Miami nor San Antonio have lost back to back games since early January or late December respectively.
In the first half Thursday San Antonio jumped out to an early 10 point lead, but Miami would come back and take a 10 point lead with round seven minutes left in the half. The Spurs would close the half on an 11-2 run to end up tied at 49 going into the locker room. Tony Parker was questionable heading into the game with a strained hamstring. He would play and score 15 points in the first half.
In the third quarter, Miami would play with more defensive intensity that led to fast break chances off forced turnovers. Miami would take an 8 point lead, but would end up leading 81-76 at the end of the third. In the fourth with LeBron on the bench Maimi would break the game open. They were up 11 before LeBron entered the game with about 6 minutes left. The Heat would go up by 15 after Lebron entered the game.
The Heat shot 52.9% from the field including 4/12 on three pointers. Miami made 15 of 17 free throws. San Antonio shot 44.3% from the field including 8/16 from 3 point range. The Spurs missed 8 of 31 free throws. The biggest differecne was San Antonio had 19 turnovers that led to 23 Miami points. Miami had 41 rebounds and San Antonio had 36.
While Lebron James ended up with 33 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, 9 of his points came in garbage time when the game was decided. He was averaging around 17 points in the first 3 games of the finals. Dwyane Wade had easily his best game of the playoffs as he has been a battling a bruised knee bone since late in the regular season. Wade scored 32 points, and added 6 rebounds, 6 steals, and 4 assists. Chris Bosh scored 20 points and added 13 rebounds. The Big Three combined for 85 of Miami’s 109 points. Ray Allen added 14 points off the bench.
Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 20 points and 5 rebounds. Parker would not score in the second half. He looked exhausted and tentative and would later admit doctors told him his hamstring could tear at any time. Parker also added 9 assists and 4 rebounds. Gary Neal scored 13 points off the bench Kawhi Leonard added 12 points and 7 rebounds. Danny Green scored 10 points, and added 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Manu Ginobli has done almost nothing in the Heat series, and there are rumors the 35 year old might retire after this series.
Miami is coached by Eric Spoelstra. The Heat are 56-45 ATS this season and the total is 50-48-2. Miami is outscoring teams 97-88 in the playoffs. Miami is shooting 47.2% from the field and 35.6% from 3 point range. Miami makes 76.4% of their free throws. The Heat average 37.4 rebounds per game and give up 39.6 Miami opponents are shooting 42.9% from the field and 32.5% from 3 point range. The Heat average 20.3 assists, 8.1 steals, 5.6 blocks, and 13.5 turnovers per game. Miami forces 16.6 turnovers per game.
In the playoffs, forward LeBron James is averaging 26.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He won his fourth MVP award. Guard Dwyane Wade is averaging a playoff career low 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He is battling a bruised knee that won’t heal until the offseason. Forward/center Chris Bosh averages 12.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game. He sprained his ankle in the Indiana series but struggled badly with Indiana’s big men David West and Roy Hibbert. Guard Ray Allen averages 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. Point guard Mario Chalmers averages 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1 steal per game. The breakout star of the playoffs for Miami has been Norris Cole. The point guard is averaging 7.1 points a game. Forward Shane Battier didn’t play much in the Indiana series because the heat had to play bigger line-ups but he could be a key piece against the Spurs with his defense and timely shooting. Chris anderson is averaging 7.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game. Udonis Haslem averages 6.3 points and 3.9 rebounds. Mike Miller and Rashard Lewis could also see some time in the rotation.
San Antonio is coached by Gregg Popovich. The Spurs are 51-47-2 ATS and the total is 45-53-2 this season. San Antonio is outscoring teams 102-92 in the playoffs. The Spurs are shooting 46.9% from the field and 36.2% from 3 point range. The Spurs make 76.1% from the free throw line. San Antonio averages 42.9 rebounds and give up 45.6 per game. Spurs’ opponents are shooting 42% from the field and 33.6% from 3 point range.The Spurs average 23.6 assists, 8.3 steals, 5.4 blocks, and 12 turnovers. San Antonio forces 14.2 turnovers per game.
In the playoffs, Tony Parker is averaging 23 points, 7.2 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Duncan is averaging 17.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Forward Kawhi Leonard is averaging 13 points, and 8 rebounds. Manu Ginobli is averaging 11.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. Guard Danny Green is averaging 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Gary Neal, Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter, Matt Bonner, and Cory Joseph make up the rest of the rotation.
Miami is 5-1 ATS on 2 days rest, 6-2 in NBA Finals, 21-7 in road games, 20-7 in Sunday games, 5-2 against Western Conference teams, 15-6 against teams with winning home records, 0-7 after a win, 0-5 after a cover, and 0-5 after a straight up loss by 10 points or more. The under is 22-7 in this series recently and 10-4 in San Antonio. Thursday’s win was only the fourth win all time in San Antonio for the Heat.
San Antonio is 4-0 ATS after a loss, failing to cover, and after a double digit home loss, 15-5 on 2 days rest, 16-6-1 after a double digit loss, 7-3 against teams with winning records, and overall, 13-6 in NBA Finals games, and 7-19 after the opponent scores 100 points or more.
Both teams have to treat this like a game 7 as neither wants to go back to Miami down 3-2. I know Miami hasn’t won 2 straight since the Bulls’ series in the second round. But I just think they take care of business tonight. If Parker is playing tentatively for fear of further injury, then San Antonio’s chances decrease even more. Duncan is Duncan and is one of the most consistent players in the league. It is amazing at 37 he is still putting up the kind of numbers he is. San Antonio needs to get something from Ginobli. Green and Neal have been fantastic in this series. It all comes down to Miami’s defensive effort. If they play like they did in games 2 and 4 then Miami is almost unbeatable.
