NBA Finals: 3 things you need to know about Game 5
They said "Not one, not two..." but the Miami Heat's Big Three may finish up their four-year tenure together with "just" a pair of titles. On Sunday, Miami will look to become the first team in league history to erase a 3-1 series deficit in the NBA Finals.
"If anybody can do it, it's us," Chris Bosh said after the San Antonio Spurs handed the Heat their hats for the second straight outing in Game 4.
Well, the Spurs may have something to say about that, especially on their home court, where they're 10-2 so far in the playoffs after going 32-9 at the AT&T Center during the regular season.
The Heat put their entire season on the line Sunday at 8 p.m. on ABC. Here are three things you need to know.
Vivrant Thing
Vivrant may not be a real word, but it's difficult for the words we currently have in the English language to accurately describe just how phenomenal the Spurs' offense has been over the past two games. Consider how their numbers in this series compare to the numbers they and the Heat posted before this series:
| Segment | Heat D-Rating | Spurs O-Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Season | 102.9 | 108.2 |
| Round 1-3 | 105.3 | 111.2 |
| Finals | 119.2 | 119.2 |
As the difficulty has been ratcheted up, the Spurs have answered by getting better and better, something that didn't seem possible to this degree. Point to occasional lethargy on the part of the Heat, or the effect of four years of extreme exertion, or simply the supernatural basketball power that is Gregg Popovich.
Whatever is at the root, just be sure you're taking notes, because this has been incredible.
It Ain't My Fault
The Miami Heat spent most of the season being sure to rest Dwyane Wade plenty, lightening his load after three long runs to the finals and hoping he'd remain in peak form through the end of the season. He played in just 54 games, totaled his fewest minutes ever (excluding the lockout-shortened season).
It seemed to have worked for most of the playoffs, with Wade averaging 18.2 points on 50.8 percent shooting through 19 games. In Game 3, however, he put up 22 points but got torched on defense, and Game 4 saw him shoot 3-of-13 for just 10 points while again looking disinterested at times on defense.
It's worth noting, however, that Wade's long-term success has been largely predicated on proper rest and Games 3 and 4 came with quick turnarounds. The samples are small, but Wade has seen a slight bump in offensive efficiency with extra rest.
| Stat | 1 Day Rest | 2+ Days Rest |
|---|---|---|
| MPG | 34.4 | 34.9 |
| PPG | 17.5 | 19.0 |
| RPG | 4.1 | 3.6 |
| APG | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| TOPG | 2.6 | 2.8 |
| TS% | 55.1% | 59% |
| +/- per 48min | +2.3 | -1.2 |
The Heat have to hope the extra day off does him good, because it's clear now that LeBron James is unable to do this without help, especially on the defensive end (though the Heat's offense has also performed well below their established standard).
Find A Way / Bling, Bling
Here is a full list of teams that have come back from 3-1 series deficits in the NBA Finals:
No, not a single one of the 31 teams to have fallen behind 3-1 have ever come back to win the NBA championship. Only two have even managed to force a Game 7 and, what's worse for Miami, teams down 3-1 playing on the road for Game 5 have gone just 6-9.
So not only do they have to find a way to stop the Spurs' juggernaut - which seems impossible as it is - they have to do so three times in a row, flying in the face of history.
Meanwhile, the Spurs have the chance to win a title with their Tim Duncan-Gregg Popovich combination 15 years after they first hoisted the Larry O'Brien trophy together. In year 17 together - and their 12th season with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili also in the fold - the Spurs have already won four rings, been to nine conference finals and six NBA Finals, haven't missed the playoffs and haven't won fewer than 50 games in a full season.
A fifth ring would be quite the feather in Duncan's cap, solidifying him as a top-10 player all-time and providing a great opportunity to go out on top at age 38. Not that he's saying he'll do that...or that he won't.
Series at a Glance
Game 1: SA 110, MIA 95 (Spurs lead series 1-0)
Game 2: MIA 98, SA 96 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: SA 111, MIA 92 (Spurs lead series 2-1)
Game 4: SA 107, MIA 86 (Spurs lead series 3-1)
Game 5: @ SAS, Sunday, June 15, 8 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 6*: @ MIA, Tuesday, June 17, 9 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 7*: @ SAS, Friday, June 20, 9 p.m. ET, ABC
Note: The theme of the sub-headings was "hip-hop songs from 1999," the first year the Spurs won the NBA Championship with the Duncan-Popovich pairing. (NSFW refresher: Vivrant Thing, It Ain't My Fault Pt. 2, Find A Way, Bling, Bling)