2013 NBA Finals Game #6
#2 San Antonio Spurs at #1 Miami Heat
Spurs Lead best of seven series 3-2
Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 9:05 pm Eastern, TV: ABC
American Airlines Arena – Miami, Florida
Opening Line: Miami -6 1/2
Current Line: Miami -6 1/2
Opening Total: 191 1/2
Current Total: 191
Opening Money Line: Heat -310 / Spurs +260
Current Money Line: Heat -310 / Spurs +260
The San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat have alternated wins and losses in the 2013 NBA Finals, and the last 4 games of the series have all been decided by double digits. Now as the series switches back to Miami for game 6 Tuesday night and possibly game 7, the Miami Heat find themselves on the brink of elimination for the second time in 3 years in the NBA Finals. They also lost game 6 at home to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. A loss could mean the end of the Big Three era in Miami as Chris Bosh is rumored to be traded with a loss. A San Antonio win would mean an unprecedented 5th title in 14 years for Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan, and 4 titles for Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobli. Reports are Ginobli might retire after the Finals win or lose. Since 2002, the Spurs are 14-2 in potential road closeout games.
In game five, San Antonio jumped out to a 32-19 lead at the end of the first. Miami would cut the deficit to 61-52 at halftime. Miami came back and only trailed by one with 3:05 left in the third. However, the Spurs would close the quarter on a 13-1 run to take an 87-75 lead at the end of the quarter. The Spurs would continue the run in the fourth to go up 96-76 with just under 9 minutes left. Miami would never threaten again, but they did reduce the deficit to 10 points at the end. San Antonio would hold on for the 114-104 win to take a 3-2 series lead. When the NBA Finals are tied 2-2, the winner of game 5 has won 20 of 27 Championships.
The Spurs shot a blistering 60% from the field including 9/22 from 3 point range. San Antonio had 36 rebounds and 18 turnovers while Miami had 34 and 13. The Spurs outscored the Heat 50-40 in the paint.
All five Spurs starters scored in double figures Sunday night. Tony Parker had 26 points and 5 assists, despite battling a sore hamstring. Despite doing virtually nothing during the first 4 games of the series, Popovich inserted Ginobli into the starting line-up for the first time this season, regular or playoffs. The move worked as Ginobli had 24 points and 10 assists. Danny Green continued his hot shooting as he scored 24 points and made 6 3 pointers. He broke Ray Allen’s Finals record for most 3’s in a series. Ironically, Allen was “defending” Green when he broke the record. Green added 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. Tim Duncan had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks. Kawhi Leonard had 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals. The Spurs’ bench scored only 7 points.
LeBron James scored 25 points, but shot only 8/22 from the field. He did go to the free throw line 9 times which was more than the rest of the series combined. James also added 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. Dwyane wade also scored 25 points and added 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal. Allen scored 21 points off the bench. Bosh scored 16 points and added 8 rebounds. no other Heat player scored more than 7 points.
San Antonio is coached by Gregg Popovich. The Spurs are 52-47-2 ATS and the total is 46-53-2 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 coached by Eric Spoelstra. The Heat are 56-46 ATS this season and the total is 51-48-2. 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 4-1 ATS after allowing 100 points or more, in road games and against teams with winning home records, 8-3 against teams with winning records, and overall, 14-6 in NBA Finals games, 4-1 when the opponent scores 100 points or more, 5-13 when the opponent allows 100 points or more, and 4-11 after scoring 100 points or more. The under is 22-8 in this series recently and 12-3 in Miami.
Miami is 4-1 ATS after allowing 100 points or more, 19-7 after a loss, 20-8 after failing to cover, 1-4 in Tuesday games, 0-4 when the opponent allows 100 points or more, and after scoring 100 points or more.
Miami hasn’t lost two straight games since January 8th and 10th. They have alternated wins and losses since game #1 of the Pacers series in the Eastern Conference Finals. I think Miami wins to force a game 7 with LeBron in assassin mode much like he was when the Heat were down 3-2 to the Celtics last year in the ECF. OF course the heat would go on to win the series against the Celtics and then beat the OKC Thunder in the Finals.
