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NBA Finals 2013, Spurs vs. Heat Game 6: Gregg Popovich's decisions under microscope after loss

2013-06-19T12:06:43Z

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will be in the Hall of Fame one day, but following his team's 103-100 Game 6 loss in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat and some questionable decision-making down the stretch, he may get a fair share of criticism over the next two days.

More: Spurs fans can find more at Pounding the Rock Heat fans should check out Hot Hot Hoops

Manu Ginobili found himself in the rare position of needing to defend his head coach for sitting Tim Duncan at the end of regulation and Tony Parker at the end of overtime, and did so vehemently as soon as he was asked about the late-game substitutions.

"We were so close to winning it," Manu Ginobili said in the media room following the game. "It's one of the many things I'll be thinking [Tuesday night]. We got a great coaching staff, great coach. If he did those subs, I'm very sure he thought about it and had many great reasons to do it. He wanted size on the defensive end."

The criticism will keep coming over the next 48 hours, but in Popovich's defense, San Antonio turned the ball over late, made costly defensive errors on rotations and failed to match the Heat's energy at the end of the game. It wasn't his fault alone. Coaches get a lot of blame when things go wrong, and it's easy to make the right decisions with the ability of hindsight.

At some point, the players have to take responsibility to close the game out.

The numbers tell more of the story. San Antonio shot a dismal 35 percent in the fourth quarter while Tim Duncan, who single-handedly dissected the Heat defense through three quarters, didn't register a field goal in the final 12 minutes. The Spurs went just 1-of-6 from the three-point line and appeared to run out of steam as the quarter wore on. The Heat shot 65 percent from the field and scored 14 points to the Spurs' 12 in the paint after the San Antonio dominated the game in that area in the first half, 32-12

The Spurs had all of the momentum and missed 1-of-2 free throws twice in the final minute of the game to give the Heat life and open the door for an improbable comeback.

But Pop will get all of the criticism. That's how life as an NBA head coach goes sometimes. But for this coach in this situation, it's unprecedented. Going into the Game 6, San Antonio was 14-2 in elimination games. The letdown from losing the way they did is likely immeasurable.

How does a coach possibly get his team ready for a Game 7 after having the championship slip from their grasp?

"I get 'em on the bus. It arrives at the ramp over here. We get off the bus. We go on the court and we play. That's how we get ready," Popovich said poignantly when asked the same question.

"I'm devastated,"added Ginobili. "There's no Game 8. We're gonna have to play our best game. Shoot better, less turnovers in my case. There's no secret recipe for bouncing back."

As bad as things look for the Spurs after a devastating win, they'll still have a chance at redemption in a Game 7. How they respond is anyone's guess. But as good as the Game 6 was, there's nothing like a Game 7.

"It was by far the best game that I've ever been a part of," said LeBron James.

(Quotes via NBA Live Streaming)

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NBA Finals 2013, Spurs vs. Heat Game 6: Miami caps wild OT finish with 103-100 win

2013-06-19T04:21:56Z

The Miami Heat took advantage of Ray Allen's miracle corner three-pointer at the end of regulation and used the overtime frame to lock down the San Antonio Spurs and extend the NBA Finals to a Game 7 with a 103-100 win on Tuesday night at American Airlines Arena.

More Spurs angles at Pounding the Rock Heat news at Hot Hot Hoops

Allen's three-pointer came with five seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. After a LeBron James miss, Chris Bosh grabbed an offensive rebound and found Allen, who hit the stepback three in the right corner to tie game.

The Heat were actually down five only a handful of seconds earlier, but James hit a clutch three-pointer with 20 seconds remaining to keep the Heat's hope alive and pull the team within two. Kawhi Leonard failed to secure the game for the Spurs at the line after a quick foul, allowing the game-tying sequence.

Overtime came down to the final play as well. Down one, the Spurs had a chance to take the lead again. Manu Ginobili appeared to get hit as he drove the lane in the final seconds and turned the ball over before Allen sank two free throws to extend the lead to three points with 1.9 seconds remaining. On the next play, Danny Green launched a desperation three-pointer that Chris Bosh blocked to secure the win.

The Spurs had dominated the game through the first three quarters, leading by 10 points after the third quarter. But James, who struggled mightily in the first three quarters, took over in the fourth. He led from the front on offense and defense, serving as the catalyst for easy looks for his teammates. Miami went on a 20-7 run to take a three-point lead with five and a half minutes remaining.

The reigning MVP finished with 32 points on 11-of-26 shooting, and added 11 assists and 10 rebounds to notch a triple-double. James' dribble penetration and the attention he drew in general freed up Mario Chalmers to finish with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting.

Tim Duncan led the way for San Antonio, despite doing most of his damage in the first three quarters, finishing with 30 points and 17 rebounds. Parker finished with 19 points and eight assists.

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Spurs vs. Heat score update, NBA Finals Game 6: Tim Duncan goes off to give San Antonio 50-44 lead at half

2013-06-19T02:16:52Z

Tim Duncan was otherworldly in his mastery of all aspects of the game to help lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 50-44 halftime lead in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday night.

More: Spurs fans can find more at Pounding the Rock Heat fans should check out Hot Hot Hoops

Duncan's extraordinary first-half line consisted of 25 points, eight rebounds and one steal.

Despite the Heat to shooting 42 percent from the field, the Spurs forced six Heat turnovers and kept their opponents out of the paint. If Miami wants to close the game out, they'll have to rely less on outside shooting (they're currently 5-of-10 from beyond the arc) and attack the basket.

LeBron James finished the first half with nine points and five assists. Mario Chalmers led the way for the Heat in the scoring department and finished with 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

Our own Rodger Sherman previewed Game 6 and, as always, asked the right questions beforehand. Here's a quick look back at them:

1. Can anybody stop the rain?

Green only took one shot in the first quarter as the Heat keyed in on him early. But he hit his first look of the second quarter early on. Still, he's been a relative non-factor through the half. The good news for him is that his teammates have picked him up. Will he rekindle some of his Finals magic to cap off an amazing series?

2. Do we see the same lineups?

Small ball continued on Tuesday, with Mike Miller drawing the start again for the Heat. After a quiet Game 5, he got himself going by hitting his first three-pointer of the night from the wing. He was a non-factor after that in the first, and was a victim of this unfortunate attack from Leonard:

On the other side, head coach Gregg Popovich rode the hot hand and stuck with Manu Ginobili, who's also struggled to this point. This game has been all about stars, as Duncan and James are serving as catalysts for both offenses.

3. Can the Heat guard everybody?

Not Tim Duncan.

In Game 6, the Heat have effectively taken Danny Green out of the game, but the Spurs adjusted by pounding the ball inside to Duncan and Leonard. Their ability to adjust behind the brilliance of Popovich is keeping them alive.

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NBA Finals 2013, Heat vs. Spurs Game 3: LeBron James stifled

2013-06-12T12:00:07Z

To say LeBron James struggled in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night doesn't do justice to what took place on the floor over those 48 minutes. The world's indisputable best player struggled with every aspect of his game, and it raises the question:

How did the San Antonio Spurs manage to slow him down?

More: Visit Hot Hot Hoops for additional Heat coverage Visit Pounding the Rock for additional Spurs coverage

"We've done a great job helping each other on team defense," San Antonio Spurs guard Danny Green said after the game. "But obviously we know what kind of player LeBron is. We know he's not at his best right now. He missed a lot of shots he normally makes. We're sure in Game 4 he's going to come out a lot different."

The strange stat line for James begins with just 15 points on 7-of-21 shooting from the field while going just 1-of-5 from the three-point line. Incredibly, he didn't get to the free throw line all night, the first such instance since December 2009.

What will he need to do to be better in Game 4?

"I got to be better," James remarked after the game. "If I'm better, we're better. I'm putting it on my shoulders."

That's the kind of statement that causes one to think that San Antonio might have awakened a sleeping giant in James. But for a player who shot 57 percent during the regular season, to turn in a 33 percent performance on the game's greatest stage will make some eyes pop.

The Spurs stifled James defensively and bothered him throughout the night, taking him out of his comfort zone by challenging him inside. Every time he got the ball in the post, San Antonio keyed in on him and forced the ball out of his hands. When he did shoot, his looks were especially bad and of the low-percentage variety:

(Via NBA.com/stats)

James was 2-of-14 from outside the paint. None of his other looks came easily as he the Spurs were flawless in their rotations and contested nearly everything. Despite all of that, his teammates aren't worried about his ability to bounce back and become himself again.

"He'll make the adjustment and he'll be his normal great self," added Dwyane Wade.

Danny Green, who finished with a game-high 27 points for the Spurs, may have given James and the Heat some bulletin board material with a parting shot:

It's not just us stopping LeBron," he said. "He's kind of stopped himself out there and we're getting a little lucky."

(All quotes via NBA live streaming)

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NBA Finals 2013, Heat vs. Spurs Game 3: San Antonio crushes Miami in historic 113-77 win

2013-06-12T03:37:32Z

The San Antonio Spurs started the second half dominating on both ends of the floor and never looked back as they prevailed over the Miami Heat, 113-77, in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at AT&T Center on Tuesday night.

The Spurs couldn't miss on what was a magical evening in San Antonio. They shared the ball with ease and executed flawlessly throughout the game to give themselves high-percentage looks throughout the night.

Danny Green continued his incredible run through the postseason and finished with 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field to lead all scorers. Gary Neal added 24 points off the bench and made things relatively easy for the Spurs' stars as they got plenty of rest.

Kawhi Leonard (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Tim Duncan (12 points, 14 rebounds) each notched double-doubles as the Spurs totaled 29 assists on 43 field goals and turned the ball over just 13 times.

For the Heat, San Antonio's aggressive defense stifled LeBron James and held him to just 15 points and 11 rebounds on 7-of-21 shooting. Dwyane Wade finished with 16 points and five assists. Chris Bosh was just 4-of-10 from the field and finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Mike Miller's outstanding 5-for-5 three-point performance got lost in the fray by the Spurs' performance.

The first half was an effective chess match that saw each team counter the other's best shot. For the Spurs, it was stellar defense on Wade and James that forced them out of easy looks inside. They rotated and put several bodies on James down low and forced him to kick the ball out to the outside. Miller kept them in the game and hit three of his long-range looks in the first 24 minutes.

In the third quarter, the defensive domination and flawless execution continued as San Antonio held the Heat to just 19 points and forced seven turnovers that resulted in six easy points and helped extend the lead to as much as 21 points.

The fourth quarter was a proverbial victory lap for San Antonio. The Spurs got the opportunity to rest a hobbled Tony Parker for the final 12 minutes while Green and Neal personally dissected Miami's defense from the outside. Midway through the fourth quarter, Miami threw up the white flag and sat their starters as the Spurs continued to crush their spirits.

It was the third largest margin of victory in NBA Finals history. The Spurs's 16 three-pointers set a record for the most in a finals contest. Miami is 5-0 after losses in the NBA Playoffs -- all of those wins coming by double figures.

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Heat vs. Spurs score update, NBA Finals Game 3: Gary Neal's buzzer-beater extends San Antonio 1st half lead, 50-44

2013-06-12T02:20:26Z

Gary Neal hit a clutch three-pointer from the wing as time expired in the first half to give the San Antonio Spurs a 50-44 lead over the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals at AT&T Center on Tuesday night.

Tony Parker also connected on a three-pointer one play earlier to help the Spurs finished the half on a 6-0 run to steal the momentum going into the tunnel.

More: Visit Hot Hot Hoops for additional Heat coverage Visit Pounding the Rock for additional Spurs coverage

The Spurs kept LeBron James and Dwyane Wade out of the paint and forced them into taking perimeter jump shots while taking away their lanes. The game plan was clear from the onset, and it proved to be effective in giving San Antonio the lead at the half. Mike Miller was 3-for-3 and knocked down two of his attempts in the second quarter to keep the game relatively close.

Tim Duncan continued to showcase his timeless talent as he led the way for the Spurs with 10 points and seven rebounds. Tony Parker initiated the offense and found his teammates early and often and totaled seven assists while scoring six points. The Spurs had 13 assists on 19 baskets.

San Antonio shot a blazing 61 percent in the first quarter, including 2-of-3 from the three-point line. Duncan got off to a hot start, scoring six points on 3-of-6 from the field in 11 minutes. They jumped out to a four-point lead in the first 12 minutes,which could have been larger if they had not committed four turnovers and allowed Miami to score four points off those giveaways.

James was relatively quiet early as he got a feel for the game. Obviously, he can do whatever he wants on a basketball court, and he's letting the game come to him to decide whether he'll serve as a primary scorer or facilitator. Miami shot 43 percent from the field, but the encouraging sign for them through the first quarter was the fact that they only committed two turnovers and managed to match the Spurs in rebounding as both teams had eight apiece.

The second quarter began with the heat going nearly four minutes without a score and featured a lengthy Spurs' run that saw them jump out to a lead as large as eight, but Miami went on a 12-1 run to tie the game at 44 points apiece before Parker's three-pointer extended the lead back to three.

SB Nation's own Rodger Sherman explored three good questions worth revisiting in this Game 3 preview:

The Big 1, the Big 2, or the Big 3?

Yes, LeBron is LeBron, but the other two players of Miami's star trio have to play well for the team to find success at AT&T Center. Wade started off with eight points to lead all scorers in the fist quarter, while Bosh struggled to a 1-for-5 start and totaled just three points in the first frame while committing two turnovers during that same stretch.

So far, it's been the Big 2, and that means that if Bosh isn't going to step up and get himself going with easy looks inside, then it will put more pressure on the perimeter players to hit open shots.

Will Danny Green come back to Earth?

Danny Green has been the Spurs' X factor in the first two games and he's picking up right where he left of. Going back to Game 2, he's been an unstoppable force from beyond the arc, going 10-for-16 in his first NBA Finals. He's doing it when his team needs him, as he gave the Spurs valuable momentum in the first half on Sunday before hitting another one to extend the lead to six at the 6:45 mark.

If Duncan and Parker can play up to their capabilities, they will no doubt have a real chance at winning the game if Green continues his other-worldly shooting exploits.

Who wins the turnover battle?

So far, the Heat have won the battle of giveaways with six to the Spurs' eight, but they're losing the proverbial war as they haven't capitalized by turning those into high-percentage transition baskets. Take that away from Miami, and they lose something that they normally do as well as any team in the NBA.

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Karl Malone leaves Michael Jordan off his all-time starting five

2013-06-05T02:06:31Z

Karl Malone doesn't think that Michael Jordan deserves to be on the NBA's all-time starting five, despite the Bulls' legend being the near unanimous pick for most people's greatest player of all-time.

More: Check out further reaction to this story at SLC Dunk

The Mailman joined "The Dan Patrick Show" on Tuesday to talk all things NBA when the topic of who to start an all-time greatest team with came up. Malone, who notably played in Jordan's shadow for the majority of his career, curiously named Oscar Robertson, John Stockton, LeBron James, Scottie Pippen and Bill Russell as his go-to squad while leaving No. 23 off of it.

The strangest part of his argument is that he named another member of the famous Chicago Bulls' teams from the '80s and '90s not named Michael Jordan. He went on to say that his reasoning for naming Pippen as opposed to Jordan was that the former was putting up team-highs in nearly every category before Jordan arrived.

It's flawed logic at best, because Jordan led the team in those same statistics when both were the best two players in red and black for a number of years.

But more than that, there has to be some animosity on the part of Malone for Jordan being almost single-handedly responsible for leaving his career devoid of an NBA title. The Bulls defeated Malone's Jazz in consecutive NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998.

That has to sting to this day, and as evidenced by his ludicrous slight, it clearly does.

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Pacers vs. Heat Game 5, NBA Playoffs 2013: Time, TV schedule and more

2013-05-30T21:30:06Z

The Miami Heat will have home-court advantage once again after falling to the Indiana Pacers in Game 4. What will now be a de facto three-game series is set to begin on Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena.

More: Pacers fans should head over to Indy Cornrows Heat fans should check out Hot Hot Hoops

As with any game featuring the reigning MVP, all eyes will be on LeBron James, who will look to lead his hungry squad to a commanding 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Pacers did their job and made things difficult for the defending champs, who shot just 39 percent from the field in Game 4.

At home, however, it could be a different story for Miami. The Heat went 37-4 at home during the regular season and averaged seven more points per game than they did on the road (106.4 vs. 99.4 ppg). They remained relatively stable on the defensive end, as well.

Game Info: Thursday, May 30, 8:30 p.m. ET | National television: TNT | Odds according to OddsShark: Miami -7.5

Here are three questions that will go a long way towards determining what happens in Game 5:

1. Did the Pacers awaken a sleeping giant?

In Game 4, defense was the name of the game for the Pacers, who found ways to slow down the world's best player. Team defense and physical play didn't necessarily stop LeBron, but it slowed him down just enough. That let the Pacers take advantage of their superior size and force Miami out of the paint to take more contested jumpers.

That could serve as either a blueprint for success or, worse for the Pacers, cause James to turn his game up another notch. It's hard to argue that the Pacers could improve much after holding him to just 1-of-6 shooting in the post. He finished Game 4 with 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting, but his fourth-quarter performance before he fouled out suggested that he had a short memory.

In the final frame, he scored eight points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field. He picked things up on the other end of the floor as well, with one block and one steal. If he can build on that momentum early on in Game 5, it could be a long night for Indy.

2. Will Roy Hibbert repeat his dominant performance?

The Pacers' big man is the ideal counter to what the Heat do well. Where Miami has a speed advantage and is outstanding in transition, the Pacers slow the game down and can play through their man in the middle.

That's their identity, and their trust in Roy Hibbert resulted in an outstanding performance from the former Georgetown star. He totaled 23 points and 12 rebounds on Tuesday night.

3. Can both teams tune out the officials?

The officiating was the story of Game 4, and that's a bad sign considering how good a series this has been. The fact that James, a player notoriously good at staying out of foul trouble, collected four personal fouls in the fourth quarter alone says a lot about the inconsistency in that area.

Joey Crawford was unusually bad, even for him, and cost fans a finish for the ages. But the two teams that had to suffer the effects of his blatantly bad game were the Heat and the Pacers. Will there be any more signature moments ruined by the boys in grey?

Let's hope not.