SAN ANTONIO — For one year, the excruciating memory ate at their souls. Some Spurs said they got over their gut-wrenching 2013 Finals collapse to the Heat in a matter of days. Or weeks. Or months.
But really, the cleansing came Sunday night.
After withstanding a blistering start by the Heat, the Spurs regrouped and played exactly like what they are: a model franchise, the epitome of the word "Team," the whole so much greater than the sum of the parts. Miami, the two-time champ, could depend on a mental edge against almost any team.
But not San Antonio.
The Spurs not only denied the Heat the chance to become the fourth franchise to three-peat, they humiliated them in the process, claiming a 104-87 Game 5 rout for the franchise's fifth NBA title, all since 1999.
The Spurs can never get back last year's loss. But they can never be denied this year's victory, either.
Tony Parker struggled with his shot? No problem. Manu Ginobili was magnificent off the bench, scoring 19 points. Kawhi Leonard, who had to have become a household name, added 22 points and 10 rebounds and was named the Finals MVP. Patty Mills, banged in 3s all game and scored 17 points. Tim Duncan was Tim Duncan with 14 points. Oh, and Parker? He started 1-of-11 shooting, finished 7-of-18 with 16 points.
For the Heat, LeBron James was again a virtual one-man show. He scored 31 points and got precious little help.
Tim Duncan hugs former teammate David Robinson after the final horn in San Antonio.Photo: Reuters
"I got over it probably in about two or three days," Leonard said. "I have fun playing the game."
There it was on national television for all the world to see: James huddled with his Miami teammates. He spoke of forcing a Game 6. He implored his mates, "Follow my lead."
And they did.
For a quarter.
James, as promised, broke from the gate early, changed his approach and held nothing back. For seven minutes, Game 5 was a replay of those two Spurs blowouts in Miami with the roles reversed. With James scoring at will and dominating in every way, the Heat bolted to a 22-6 lead.
And that start made another promise from a Heat Big Three member, Chris Bosh, seem prophetic.
"We're not going down," Bosh said at the morning shootaround. "Plain and simple we're going to win this game."
Photo: Reuters
By halftime, the Spurs were up seven. And that was with the starting backcourt of Danny Green and Parker going scoreless, shooting 0-of-11.
But the Spurs had Leonard and Ginobili combining for 29 points. Duncan was pivotal inside and rang up eight points.
"We improved on defense and played tough and moved the ball," Ginobili, who started the second half and who had electrified the crowd with a driving dunk 2:45 before halftime, said at halftime. "The offense had become stagnant."
The Heat threw everything they had in that first quarter but the Spurs took their best punch. Coach Erik Spoelstra benched struggling point guard Mario Chalmers in favor of Ray Allen. And while it allowed James to guard and frustrate Parker, it depleted the Heat's bench. Still, up 16 points after seven minutes, the move looked brilliant.
Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan can barely contain themselves as the clock ticks toward the final horn.Photo: Getty Images
Especially with James being everything he promised.
"It starts with me," James said before the game while predicting a quick start. "It's kind of like feel the game out, see how the game plays out first and go from there. Obviously, that hasn't resulted in good things for us this series thus far so I'll probably change my approach tonight."
James poured in 20 points in the first quarter, 12 in leading that 22-6 surge. At the outset, the Heat got help from Allen and Wade. And lots of help from the Spurs who missed 11 of their first 12 shots.
"I believe in our guys, I believe in our group," James said. "I need every last one of them to be great. Everyone needs to play a big part."
And most did. For a quarter.
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