If the Spurs were more concerned with avoiding turnovers at the start of this series in order to turn the Finals into a half court battle, this completely stopped happened on Game 5, where San Antonio became a run and gun team, where they committed a series high of 19 turnovers, but compensated that with an offensive execution. In some "wired" TV segments, Coach Popovich kept saying "don't stop the pace" and "pace, pace, pace". So, it's not a surprise that we had the following sequence of pace in these Finals: 84.19; 82.71; 85.32; 92.22; 93.39!
In order to respond to Miami's small ball, the Spurs responded with a small ball lineup as well, with Manu Ginobili starting for the first time this season! These finals are being amazing when it comes to coach, with both Coach Spoelstra and Coach Popovich to adjust very well after a loss without having to change their structure. Remember last season when Coach Scott Brooks refused to change the Thunder's lineup when it was visible that Oklahoma City couldn't play big against Miami's small lineup?
Game 5 had a bunch of runs made by both teams, but the two important runs were performed by San Antonio: 15-2 at the end of the 1st quarter, transforming a 17-17 tie into a 32-19 score; and a 19-1 run between the 3rd and the 4th quarter, when the score was 75-74 in favor of the Spurs.
San Antonio naturally changed its defensive style, not giving any space to Dwyane Wade and Lebron James, something that gave space to the role players to have good numbers and that indeed happened. Wade and James combined a total of 18 assists, with Miami shooting 11-23 3pts, after a 4-12 3pts performance on Game 4! But the X factor of Game 5 was the fact that both Wade and Lebron couldn't have good individual games, with both of them missing some weird easy shots near the basket.
On the other hand, the Spurs' starting lineup combined to shoot 39-61 (64%) FG! Some of the shots made were contested and incredible ones, but the Spurs also missed some wide open shots as well! In theory, the Spurs by losing the turnover battle (19 vs 15) and getting outrebounded (grabbed just 45% of the total boards) would lose clearly this game, but that did't happen because they shot 66.4 eFG%!
In order to respond to Miami's small ball, the Spurs responded with a small ball lineup as well, with Manu Ginobili starting for the first time this season! These finals are being amazing when it comes to coach, with both Coach Spoelstra and Coach Popovich to adjust very well after a loss without having to change their structure. Remember last season when Coach Scott Brooks refused to change the Thunder's lineup when it was visible that Oklahoma City couldn't play big against Miami's small lineup?
Game 5 had a bunch of runs made by both teams, but the two important runs were performed by San Antonio: 15-2 at the end of the 1st quarter, transforming a 17-17 tie into a 32-19 score; and a 19-1 run between the 3rd and the 4th quarter, when the score was 75-74 in favor of the Spurs.
San Antonio naturally changed its defensive style, not giving any space to Dwyane Wade and Lebron James, something that gave space to the role players to have good numbers and that indeed happened. Wade and James combined a total of 18 assists, with Miami shooting 11-23 3pts, after a 4-12 3pts performance on Game 4! But the X factor of Game 5 was the fact that both Wade and Lebron couldn't have good individual games, with both of them missing some weird easy shots near the basket.
On the other hand, the Spurs' starting lineup combined to shoot 39-61 (64%) FG! Some of the shots made were contested and incredible ones, but the Spurs also missed some wide open shots as well! In theory, the Spurs by losing the turnover battle (19 vs 15) and getting outrebounded (grabbed just 45% of the total boards) would lose clearly this game, but that did't happen because they shot 66.4 eFG%!
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