Spurs-Heat Recap: Miami Too Hot for San Antonio

The San Antonio Spurs came into Sunday's game at Miami as the number-three seed in the Western Conference. The Heat entered clinging to the eighth seed in the East.

 

San Antonio believes they can knock off Phoenix and Dallas en route to the Finals. Miami believes that D-Wade and a healthy Shaq can vault them to top of the standings.

 

So which team is being honest with itself, and which is living a fairytale?

 

After watching Miami's convincing 100-85 victory over San Antonio, let's just say it was hard to tell who was the 3 and who was the 8.

 

On the very first play of the game, Shaq went right at Duncan and dropped in a hook. That set the tone early, as Miami wasn't afraid to get physical with San Antonio. The Spurs were hesitant to double team O'Neal with all the three-point firepower on the Heat roster, so Shaq (7-11 FG, 7 REB, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 16 PTS) was able to have his way in the post. Whenever the Miami offense stalled in the first three quarters, Shaq was able to get position down low or collect offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive.

San Antonio did a solid job limiting Dwyane Wade early in the game. Bruce Bowen was determined not to let Wade get to the hoop, and the star guard didn't hit his first field goal until very late in the first half.

But Wade's lack of punch didn't doom the Heat. He racked up seven assists for the game, and helped the rest of his teammates contribute on offense.

Udonis Haslem (5-10 FG 8 REB 10 PTS) hit four of his first five jumpers, all in the first quarter. Jason Kapono (4-8 FG 1-2 3-FG 11 REB 13 PTS) forced a few shots, but he hit his open looks and buried a pretty fall-away over Robert Horry.

More impressive was the fact that Kapono was much more aggressive attacking the glass than Bruce Bowen, Manu Ginobli, or Brent Barry. In fact, Miami grabbed 46 total rebounds (a championship number) compared to San Antonio's 31 (a lottery number).

Gary Payton (3-6 FG 0-1 3FG 1 REB 1 AST 2 TO) got into the lane a few times against Tony Parker's nonexistent defense during Miami's 17-1 first-quarter run. For the most part, though, Payton was slow on offense—and he made a number of bad passes, including a drive-and-kick to nobody midway through the first half.

The stars of the game for the Heat were Alonzo Mourning, Antoine Walker, James Posey, and the recently acquired Eddie Jones. They were instrumental in the early 17-1 run, and helped Wade blow the game out of San Antonio's reach in the fourth quarter.

Jones played ten years younger than his age, hitting all four of his shots, both his 3's, and all four of his free throws. Walker didn't force a single perimeter shot, and on one fourth-quarter possession bowled over Horry on his way to the hoop. For the game, he went 4-8 from the floor, hit two of five three-point attempts, and gathered in four rebounds.

Though Wade was limited to one bucket in the first half, he exploded in the fourth quarter, blowing past Bowen to the rim, stepping back to hit perimeter shots, and spinning into the middle of the floor for his patented mid-range jumper. He was remarkable in the clutch, going 7-10 from the field for 18 points to close the game—and has clearly emerged as the best crunch-time player in the league.

When San Antonio Had the Ball

On San Antonio's first possession, Tim Duncan went hard at Udonis Haslem for a bucket and a foul. Unfortunately for the Spurs, that was one of the few times Duncan was aggressive in the game.

Because of Shaq's bulk, Haslem's technique, Mourning's athleticism, and even Antoine Walker's quick hands, Timmy D wasn't able to get into any offensive rhythm at all. He didn't help himself by missing six of his eleven free throw attempts. Overall, Duncan tallied 4-10 shooting, 11 rebounds, and two assists.

With Duncan struggling, San Antonio got help from Manu Ginobli (10-16 FG 4-8 3FG  3 REB 1 AST 1 STL 1 BLK 26 PTS) and Tony Parker (8-19 FG 2 REB 5 AST 2 TO 1 STL 20 PTS). Ginobli posted 17 of his points in the first half; Parker contributed 12 in the second.

Both guards took advantage of Gary Payton's defense, beating the old Glove off the dribble or losing him on screens. Even I was getting dizzy watching Ginobli spin into the lane again and again as he made difficult shots look effortless.

Despite Ginobli and Parker's valiant efforts, though, the Spurs couldn't muster a charge on offense. Bruce Bowen (0-5 FG 3 REB 1 AST O PTS) was scared to take open shots. Michael Finley (2-9 FG 1-7 3FG) wasn't so hesitant, but he couldn't put the ball in the basket.

Brent Barry (4-7 FG 3-6 3FG) was the only role player who found a shooting groove—but he also turned the ball over four times, including a pair of careless traveling violations. (And this guy used to be a point guard?) Barry played no defense outside of breaking up one lazy entry pass, and generally hurt the Spurs with everything but his marksmanship.

Robert Horry also provided little on offense: no points, and two missed 3's.

Francisco Elson (2-2 FG 4 REB 4 PTS) was active on defense and around the basket, out-quicking Shaq to a few rebounds and layups.

Fabricio Oberto (2-4 FG 6 REB 2 AST  3 TO 1 STL 4 PTS) showed incredible energy around the hoop, collecting three offensive boards and scoring on spinning layups down low. If he'd cut down on the turnovers, I might have joined Bill Walton in calling him "Fabulous Fabricio!"

Jacque Vaughn missed an open jumper but was able to drive by Payton for a layup and foul in his limited playing time.

Late in the game, when Wade was on the floor and Payton was on the bench, San Antonio went more than six minutes without a field goal. Wade shut down Parker by swatting away back-to-back layups, while Jones and Posey locked down Ginobli and Finley. The defensive stat line for Jones, Posey, Walker, and Mourning reads 15 REB 3 STL 2 BLK...but it doesn't tell you about the proper defensive rotations, the textbook closeouts, or the hands up on defense.

Miami's defensive effort, combined with Wade's incredible fourth quarter display, is the reason the Heat won the game—and the reason the Heat will be a team to watch in June. With Wade becoming more and more unguardable in the clutch, and Shaq starting to round into shape, Miami will be the squad nobody wants to play in the postseason. Add in Jason Kapono's shooting, Udonis Haslem's rebounding, James Posey's defense, Antoine Walker's versatility, Alonzo Mourning's post play, and Eddie Jones' intensity (what a shrewd pickup for the Heat!) and it's hard to imagine that Miami won't be able to compete with the best in the West.

As for San Antonio: They are alarmingly soft compared to past Spurs teams. They may be able to out-finesse Phoenix, but they won't knock off Utah, Dallas, or even possibly Houston until Tim Duncan starts taking over games like he used to.  And unless Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, and Michael Finley find Eddie Jones' fountain of youth, 2007 will be another disappointing year on the Rio Grande.