At Peace with the Current Situation Heading into Game 5 of the 2013 NBA Finals

[J.T.]

I called Spurs in 6 and am sticking to that prediction. I didn't think we had a realistic shot at sweeping the three home games to begin with... the Spurs and the Heat are pretty even when it comes to home and road records, so I figured if we got one of their home games, they'd get one of ours. I do expect the Spurs to win Game 5, but this series thoroughly pisses me off. The Heat are very good, and when they get you to play their game they can run away with it. We've seen it in Game 2 and Game 4 where if the Spurs choke away just a couple possessions at the right time, they'll lose. To beat the Heat, they have to be on point at all times and never let off the gas. Hard to do when your best player is hurt and clearly couldn't finish the game in top form.

Like timvp I think the extra rest between now and the next game is a huge break for the Spurs. If Parker was to tweak his hammy, he picked the right game to do it in with Green and Neal beating the Heat by themselves and no real need to re-enter the game. I liked how Parker played on one day of rest last night. He should be able to sustain himself the rest of the series, but going hard and winning Game 5 is an absolute must. We can't go into the game thinking, oh Green, Neal and the rest of the shooters will man up and deliver another great game. The Heat just put together a pretty solid game from their best players. Now the Spurs have to do the same. I don't think we can reasonably expect a 30-point game from Ginobili like the Heat got from Wade, but even double his current production would be fantastic. I can't be happy until this series is over, win or lose. The days between games are so damn stressful. Hopefully the Spurs win a well played game on Sunday and can carry that kind of solid execution and teamwork back to Miami. That would be the most ideal situation. I would rather they NOT blow out the Heat if possible, because when Miami's in that "Damn, they whooped our ass" mode, they tend to return the favor next game. Extremely nervous about Game 5, but the Spurs have a few things working in their favor.

Spurs in 6.

[michaelwcho]

When great players like LBJ and Wade are hitting everything, you just have to tip your hat to them. They're great players. They don't embody all the virtues of basketball that I personally esteem, like teamwork, well-honed skills, and dead-eye shooting, but in this NBA, with these rules, they are great and can be awesome at times. For as well as they played on offense, it was really the turnovers and bad Spurs offense that doomed us. Somehow, the team has to prepare for Miami's A-game pressure and find a way to get decent shots. Take away a few turnovers and turn them into possessions and the team would have been within striking distance. Have a good plan B to change up the flow of the game and give those thoroughbreds a chance to remember they sometimes can't shoot straight. I know, easier said than done. That team's stacked and, as odd as I find their inconsistent effort level, has heart when it matters.

[mercos]

Miami played extremely well, but had to keep their starters in till the end to get a blowout. I completely agree with Timvp that this was the only big adjustment Miami had left to make. I think the quiver is now empty. Pop can now adjust, and Miami has nothing left to change. The Spurs played awful in the second half and only lost by 16. I still think San Antonio is a better team. That doesn't mean they will win, but I think they should be favored in game 5. Neither team seems able to put up back to back good performances in this series. The first team to accomplish that feat will win the series.

[Budkin]

The last game of the year, probably the last Finals game in San Antonio in God knows how long. No doubt in my mind we win. No doubt.

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

Good post! Granted I'd hate losing to Miami, I can't stand that organization and especially LeBron, they're ruining basketbal. However, regardless what happens, I'm proud of this team. How this oranization has been run is magnificent. Parker and Ginobili were late draft picks, and they literally took rejects from Cleveland and Charlotte and are turning them into players that are having an impact in the Finals! No doubt I'm proud of this team and I'll always be thankful to be a fan of this team, not a bought dynasty with overhyped and overrated drama queens.

[Capt Bringdown]

Not at peace. Pop panicked from the get-go over Miami's small ball. This one will haunt us.

[Bill_Brasky]

Learn to finish in the lane.

Be patient with the ball. Miami cheats on D. If you're patient you wiwll get good shots.

Box the out. If Tiago goes soft again there's a certain huge black man sitting on our bench who can come in for a few spot minutes and nig it up under the rim to get a few boards.

[Capt Bringdown]

Maybe we could study the tapes of how Indy was able to score in the paint? Seems to be a mystery for the Spurs.
Live and die by the 3 - I think we could do better against a Miami team that has such a big hole in the middle.

[Darius McCrary]

Did Parker get some kind of injection on his injury? I still can't make sense of him coming out fine, seemingly going out of his way to use as much energy as possible in thw first half, then being gassed. Maybe he knew the medicine would wear off and tried to milk his temporary pain relief for all it was worth.

[tuncaboylu]

The winner of Game 5 will win the championship.

Nothing lost yet.

[Rapper]

Spurs in 6.period.end of story

[DPG21920]

Winner of game 3 in a 1-1 series wins the series over 90% of the time. Beating MIA 3 straight, let alone even B2B was probably not reasonable. Win game 5 and you are in the exact situation that anyone who thought the Spurs could win would be in.

Spurs also have a much higher ceiling IMO for improvement this series.

[tesseractive]

I was disheartened in the aftermath of the loss. Like Game 2, the Spurs had a chance to really take command -- only to let it slip through their fingers. However, after stepping back and taking a bigger picture look at these Finals, I'm at peace as a Spurs fan.

The Heat had everything going for them in Game 4. They had the emotional/motivation edge after getting blown out in Game 3. They went ahead and made their one series-altering adjustment they could make by starting a small lineup. Their Big 3 all played damn well. The Spurs turned it over 19 times and couldn't get an offensive rebound against their small ball unit -- which is at least partly bad luck. Parker was dealing with a new injury ... and just as important, the rest of the team was on edge not knowing how much Parker could do. You combine all of that and the Spurs shouldn't have been even as close as they were.

Game 5 will be a different story. The extra day of rest is huge (HUGE) for the Spurs. This time, they will have the emotional/motivation advantage. Parker will be healthier and the rest of the team will know better what to expect. Lineup-wise, the Spurs will make their counter-adjustment by starting a smaller lineup (whether that is Diaw, Neal or Ginobili in place of Splitter). I'm confident Duncan will play better. There's no way Ginobili has a worse game. Parker should also be better. Could Miami's Big 3 be better than they were in Game 4? Doubtful.

You add it up and the Spurs will have their chance to go up 3-2. Maybe it doesn't happen but everything is aligning for a much better chance than they had in Game 4.

If the Spurs can get Game 5, then -- IMO -- the pressure shifts to the Heat. The Spurs get two chances to win a game in Miami. All things considered, that'd be a great place to be in.

NBA championships are fvcking hard to win, especially for a team that on paper fits no historical mold. Big picture, there's nothing to be upset about regarding where the Spurs find themselves right now. Sure, getting an early knockout punch in Game 2 or Game 4 would have been fantastic but the Spurs remain right there with a legit opportunity to go up 3-2.

Now is not the time to lose hope; the fun is just beginning.

Believe.

[J_Paco]

I'm totally at peace as well because of the level of opponent the Spurs are facing. Miami is like no other team they've ever faced in the Finals, so being 2-2 with them is an achievement within itself at this point. Yet, I know the guys in that locker room wouldn't be pleased with 2nd place. They've gotta turn up the intensity to 100 and leave all the court Sunday night.

Sid-note: The only things I found really discouraging about last night was Tiago Splitter's horrendous play (ala last year's WCF), Manu's seemingly complete ineffectiveness, the team's inability to outrebound Miami's smallball line-up and giving up way too many easy transition points.

Maybe we could study the tapes of how Indy was able to score in the paint? Seems to be a mystery for the Spurs.
Live and die by the 3 - I think we could do better against a Miami team that has such a big hole in the middle.

Splitter has underperformed all playoffs and hasn't really given Timmy much support. If he was even giving the team his modest regular season numbers (with crisp passing and great screens) this could be 3-1. Instead he's dogging it and playing like a total wimp. Needs to somehow find himself, start pump faking and give the team and Pop something.

[Legacy]

Man, this place is a MAD HOUSE. Once again, the series is tied 2-2, and... WTFever... doesn't matter to 'em. It's definitely time for an extended ST viaggio... I don't care if we win game 5 or not (well, of course I do, but ya get it). It is complete insanity up in here.

Thanks for a FINALLY positive post, BTW, timvp.

I am so outta' here, lol.

[Legacy]

Spurs in 6 was my original prediction, BTW. Sticking to it.

Ciao! Ciao!

[phxspurfan]

Let us all rememeber we took 6 games to get by the Sonics with Jerome James (lol), the Suns with beasting Amare, the Nets in 03 (wtf how did that take that long) and the Warriors this year. We took 7 games to get past the CP3 Hornets, and Pistons in 05 and may take 7 here. And even that is no guarantee, seeing as how this year's Heat is way better than any of those clubs we faced before. I agree with OP, this is a good position to be in, considering we stole that first game. That was the huge game. We are very much still in the driver's seat and I trust in the Spurs' ability to make some adjustments and bounce back with the game 5 win.


Now OTOH, if they lose game 5, holy cow meltdown city.

[spurs10]

Thanks timvp! Post of the year! I wonder if we should play their game going small from the start? I could see Diaw instead of Tiago perhaps, but wonder about a really small lineup. For all the reasons you mentioned, Spurs fans should be feeling great going into game 5 of the Finals with a great chance to go up 3-2. This rest will be HUGE!!!

[#1spursfanNvegas]

thank you for the very smart and objective statement sir. 1 game at home, 2 games away. The FiNALS is just starting at this point.

[allansy20]

Thanks for this Timvp. This was just what I needed so as not to feel too depressed and regain optimism! Go Spurs Go! We'll get game 5!!

[Horse]

We came out like it was still game 3. Then those ing refs showed up, the bosh flop, bs fouls on Duncan. Nobody seemed to notice mike miller elbow kahwi right in the head before he blocked his shot. It changed the whole game and they lost their aggression, then Tony wasn't the same in the 2nd half. We can still do this!

[SouthernFried]

1 win in Miami, 2 wins in San Antonio, and 1 more win in Miami.

It's all going according to plan...as long as they win Sunday

Thursday was a "must win" for Miami, and they played like it. If they lost, it was all over. They just wanted it more.

Sunday is a "must win" for San Antonio. Letsee what happens

[JRHernandez88]

Why wouldn't you be? We're 2-2 against the reigning champs and best player on the planet. We blew them out once and already know we can win on their home floor. This is the NBA Finals people, this is not supposed to be easy. We're actually in a good position. Just have to take care of business tomorow and we're right where we need to be. Did you all really think we weren't going back to Miami? We just needed to steal 1 in Miami then get 2 @ home. Then it's money time, got to win on their home floor for the ring, what champs do. Got to beat the best to be best. I want the Heat @ full blast; at their best.

[RD2191]

Why wouldn't you be? We're 2-2 against the reigning champs and best player on the planet. We blew them out once and already know we can win on their home floor. This is the NBA Finals people, this is not supposed to be easy. We're actually in a good position. Just have to take care of business tomorow and we're right where we need to be. Did you all really think we weren't going back to Miami? We just needed to steal 1 in Miami then get 2 @ home. Then it's money time, got to win on their home floor for the ring, what champs do. Got to beat the best to be best. I want the Heat @ full blast; at their best.

The Heat at their best would assrape the Spurs by 30 every game.

[SpursOwn]

In