2013 NBA Finals: Game 5 Adjustments

by Rodney Fisher

Game 5 adjustments for 2013 NBA Finals

If this 2013 NBA Finals series has proven anything, it is that coaching plays a huge role in determining a win. Both Eric Spoelstra and Greg Popovich have had to make the right adjustments to give their team the winning edge causing the back-and-forth see-saw of wins and losses. What adjustments in Game 5 should the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs make to get a win?


The Miami Heat will have to continue to change their offensive game plan in order to free LeBron James and Dwyane Wade up. In Game 3, the San Antonio Spurs defense was daring James to shoot and blocking his entry into the paint were he can become the finisher we love the see and the passer he wants to be. In Game 4, Coach Spoelstra made the decision to allow LeBron to handle the ball more instead of setting the screens. James, along with the "Big Three", found their shooting touch from the perimeter. These are shots that the Spurs dared them to take in previous games, but that plan backfired.

Defensively, the Heat will have to continue to clog the passing lanes. They did a good job in Games 2 and 4 of intercepting the pass on the pick and roll and pressuring the ball handlers of the Spurs. This caused a combined 34 turnovers, a 17 per game average. The Heat are at their best when they can use their speed in the fastbreak. They have done a good job of defending Tim Duncan so far, but they have really keyed in on Manu Ginobili staying out of the paint. When a player is struggling to score the best thing you can do is pressure him to shoot the ball more. In Game 5, they will have to figure out how to slow down the Spurs Three-point shooting. They have shoot 50% or more from Three-point range in the last two games.

The San Antonio Spurs will make adjustments defensively. They will have to stop allowing LeBron and Wade to shoot at will from the perimeter. In Game 5, they will have to force the ball out of their hands and make the other guys beat them. They can not allow James, Wade, and Bosh to score 85 points.

Offensively, the Spurs have to shoot the three-pointer more. This has been the most effective and accurate shot for the team. The Young Spurs (Leonard, Neal, Green) are the three you need to score well. With the Miami Heat's attention on keeping Tony Parker out of the paint, the Young Spurs should be able to light it up from the three-point line. See Game 3 for a reference.

Look for Coach Popovich to use a different line-up in Game 5 replacing Thiago Splitter with Boris Diaw more. Splitter has become a turnover liability that counters his size on the defensive end.

We all thought Pop was a huge advantage for the Spurs over a young coach like Eric Spoelstra, but this series has seen both make equally good adjustments from game-to-game.




Follow Rodney Fisher on twitter @RodneyRFisher