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NBA Finals -- Manu's monster game gives Spurs 3-2 lead By Rodene Ivan B. Cortes PhilBoxing.com Tue, 18 Jun 2013  NEW YORK -- Finally, the search for Manu Ginobili has ended. After a lackluster NBA Finals series where he tremendously underperformed, shooting only 34.5 percent from the field and averaging just 7.5 points through four games, Ginobili made a triumphant return in Game 5 and scored 24 points and 10 assists as the host Spurs destroyed the Miami Heat, 114-104, Sunday night at the AT&T Center in downtown San Antonio Following Game 3's 109-93 defeat, Spurs head coach Gregg Popivich tweaked his starting unit and inserted the struggling Ginobili in place of 6-foot-11 Tiago Splitter, who gave San Antonio a more traditional big line-up with 7-foot-center Tim Duncan manning the power forward slot. Popovich's gamble paid off as Ginobili made 8-of-14 field goals while San Antonio's small ball lineup allowed the offense to convert 60 percent of its field goals and 40 percent of its 3-point shots. Given up for dead, Ginobili resurfaced and gave the Heat defense fits with his circus shots and play making skills. But in the end, it took a village for the Spurs to take a 3-2 series lead and inch a game closer to their fifth NBA title since 1999. Tony Parker had 26 points and five assists while Tim Duncan added 17 markers and 12 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard chipped in 16 and eight boards and Danny Green continued with his phenomenal 3-point shooting, making 6-for-10 above the arc for 24 points. Green now has a total of 25 threes in these Finals, easily breaking the previous record of 22 that former Celtic and current Heat Ray Allen set in the 2008 NBA Finals. "When Manu plays like Manu Ginobili we are a very different basketball team," coach Popovich told ABC-TV. "Coach Popovich wanted to play, from the very beginning, four smalls, I needed it. I needed to play like the game was coming to me and I was being able to attack the rim, get to the free throw line and make a couple of shots. To feel like I really helped the team...it was a much-needed moment in the series," Ginobili told reporters during his post game press conference. The Heat didn't go down easy. They sliced a 17-point deficit down to one in the third quarter and they came back from 20 down to within nine late in the fourth quarter. But they couldn't get over the hump as the Spurs had an answer at every perilous turn. With their defense bleeding an uncharacteristic 114 points, the Heat offense also faltered, creating a dangerous combination that led to Game 5's fall. LeBron James had a solid 25 points six rebounds and eight assists while Dwayne Wade ad 24 points and 10 dimes and Chris Bosh added 16 and six boards. But despite shooting 47.8 percent from 3-point range, thanks to Allen's four triples, the Heat only shot 43 percent from the field overall. "They continue to have great starts. We continue to start slow. Can't really explain it right now. We just dug ourselves into a very big hole. We're going to see if we're a better ball club, and if we are better prepared for this moment." Wade told NBA.com. Game 6 is Tuesday night, while Game 7, if necessary, is Thursday night also at the American Airlines Arena in Miami. (RIBC) Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rodene Ivan B. Cortes.  |
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