Spurs beat Heat 114-104, take 3-2 Series lead

Manu Ginobili wasn't playing well in the playoffs. I was ready to give up on him and the media was asking questions. So what does Gregg Popovich do? He starts him and gives him more playing time. It was a great strategic move and puts another example to put up there on why Pop is a great coach. With the Heat trapping Tony Parker and helping on Tim Duncan when he gets the ball in the post, putting Ginobili on the floor opening things up for the Spurs offense. It countered the small ball Miami was going to with Mike Miller starting and Ray Allen seeing more playing time. It was a great tactical move by Pop. With the Heat switching on every pick, Ginonili and Parker attacked whoever Miller was guarding (and later Norris Cole when he entered the game) making Miller switch onto them. The Spurs would then run clear outs and let Parker or Ginobili go to work. 

It helped that Ginobili got going. He was still struggling from 3-PT range (1-4), but had an overall great game (24 PTS, 8-14, 10 AST). He played 33:00, which was 4th in minutes played in Game 5 for the Spurs and the most minutes Ginobili has played in a game all season. 

The Heat got good production from there Big Three+...LeBron James 25 PTS, 6 REB, 8 AST); Dwayne Wade 25 PTS, 4 REB, 10 AST; Chris Bosh 16 PTS, 6 REB; Allen 21 PTS, 4-4 3PT.  They forced 18 turnovers from the Spurs which got the Heat 16 more shots (86-70). For the first time in the series the Heat out-shot the Spurs from 3-PT range (11-23 vs. 9-22). They scored 104 points....and the Spurs still won. 

Looking closer at the box score, both Allen (7-10) and Bosh (7-11) shot well, but James struggled (8-22) and Wade shot under his playoff average (.455 vs .476). The thing was that both players were getting inside; it wasn't a matter of them settling for outside shots and not making them. Wade didn't shoot a 3-pointer in the game and James was 2-4, but the Heat shot .430 overall.  The Spurs have thrown different bodies at James.  In Game 5 it was Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and Borris Diaw taking turns trying to keep him in check.

Meanwhile the Spurs were busy carving up the Heat's defense. They jumped out to a 32-19 lead, shooting .611 for the quarter. My thought process at the time was no way they could keep that up for the game. By halftime the Spurs actually increased their shooting to .618, but the Heat had cut the lead to 61-52. I remember thinking that the Spurs were playing at a 122 point pace...that's a lot of points!  Can they possible put up that kind of numbers against this Heat defense?

Spurs did slow down, but not by much. They ended up shooting .600 for the game and scored 114 PTS. I never would have thought the Spurs could beat the Heat giving up 18 turnovers and losing the offensive rebounding battle (5-12). Three of the four starters (Duncan .700, Parker .714, Leonard .750) shot over 70%. Ginobili shot .571 and Green rounded out the starting five with .533 shooting. I know that sportscasters are criticizing James game today, but some blame for the loss has to go to the Heat's defense. The Spurs made some tough shots, but a lot of baskets were made right at the rim or on open jumpers.  

Everyone knows by now that Green set a NBA Finals series record with 25 three pointers...and we still have at least one more game to go. Allen, ironically had the record of 22, which he set in 6 games. Green has been making threes even when the Heat are trying to run him off the line, so it amazes me how many times they are letting him have open looks. I keep waiting for him to have an off shooting night....maybe the Heat are too...but it hasn't happened yet. The question is whether Miami is going to keep the strategy of trapping Parker and switching everything or will they come up with a new wrinkle for Game 6?

For Heat fans, the question is can do put it together for two consecutive games, something they haven't done in this, or the previous series against the Pacers.  They obviously have the physical talent, but can they put forth the effort.  Can Spoelstra find a counter that can neutralize Ginobili's insertion into the starting lineup?  Can James revert back to "Cleveland mode" and take over a game when the Heat need him too?  Will Wade, Bosh, and Allen continue to play well?  Will one of the bench players step up? 

Lots of questions for the Heat right now...but there will be more questions about their heart (especially towards James) if they lose this series.

For the Spurs, there's only one overall question...can they figure out how to get one more win?