Over the last three days, their was talk of the Heat regaining control of this series. In addition, Manu contemplating his retirement after four subpar performances. Manu was once a magician with the ball and turning flops into an art form. He gave fans two emotions: amazement and boiling hot resentment.
He was part of perhaps, the best group of basketball players (Andreas Nocioni, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino, Fabricio Oberto and Walter Hermann to name a few) to ever come from the country of Argentina. A country best known for corned beef, Eva Paron, economic turmoil, Argentinian soccer (including the colorful Diego Maradona), and the best soccer player in the world, Lionel Messi. Internationally, he was a superstar who won the highest accolades that Euroleague, FIBA and the Olympics had to offer since he first showed up in 1995 at the tender age of 17.
Yet, it seemed though he had seen better days as Manu looked more and more closer to retirement than someone who could help the Spurs go over the hump to capture their 5th NBA Championship. His shots that once tickled the twine at any time, were hitting the rim or just falling very short. His dazzling passing vision looked as though they were covered in cataracts. To put it simply, Manu was heading to the end of the NBA line.
Tonight, he gave the world, a performance that was beautiful to watch. It made us remember why we loved watching him play every single night. He was put into the starting lineup in what may have been the his final game in a Spurs uniform, since Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City.
It was a risky gamble by the Spurs, but it paid off in more ways than one. Manu started off by hitting his 1st shot, a three point shot, which got him going for 26 points. He was fitting passes into tight windows for easy buckets, which led to 10 assists. Overall, Manu was just incredible but the question is, Will he have enough in the tank to push the Spurs over the top for their 4th NBA Championship with Parker and Duncan? Only time will tell.......
Not to be outdone, Danny Green continued his hot shooting where he made six three point shots on the way to a 24 point night along with 3 blocks. Not only that, but he broke the All Time NBA Finals three point field goals record, which was set by Ray Allen in the 2008 NBA Finals. He came out firing along, which keeping the Heat defense honest and scrambling alongside Manu. Not bad for a guy, who was waived by two teams and seemed ready to play overseas.
Together, these two alongside Tony Parker's 25 points, Kawhi's defense (3 steals) and Tim Duncan's all around performance (17 points, 12 rebounds and 3 blocks) helped power the Spurs to victory. While shooting an out of this world, 60% against a Miami Heat team that keeps the lid on the basket. It was a night eerily similar to Game 3 but the Spurs will take it as the scene shifts to Miami for Games 6 and 7.
As for the Heat, they will need clamp up the Spurs 3pt. shooting, which has proven to be handful. In addition, they will have to contain Tony Parker, which at this point, is easier said than done. They must make the appropriate adjustments if they want any chance at defending their NBA championship.Otherwise, Miami will face the prospects of an unrelenting Summer of uncertainty where anybody and anything is on the table.
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