What is the story about?
Three down and one more to go until the Western Conference Finals.
Victor Wembanyama made amends for getting ejected two nights earlier with his rampage in the pivotal fifth game of the series against Minnesota. The team’s 3-point shooting also helped them race out to an early lead and control of the boards assisted in keeping it.
The Timberwolves didn’t roll over for as long as they could, but their half-court offense was derailed and an inability to score on second chances never let them take control
from the Spurs.
Observations
- Efficiency is not the gold standard in the playoffs because defenses are at a much higher level than the regular season and referees are allowing more contact. Still, Randle has been awful in major part due to San Antonio‘s pressure and half of his baskets came in garbage time. The sagging off gets his head, and he still tries to take highly contested shots. After this game, he’s now made 26 shots against 18 turnovers in this series.
- The Spurs had an answer for Minnesota’s big runs because their offense had more layers and they were mentally tougher. On top of that, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper deserve credit for being critical in the takeover going into the fourth.
- The Wolves didn’t get the memo that you don’t bait great players. They tried to get physical, and even tried bush league tactics with Wemby, and that played right into his hands because he took it out on the rim, and his massive tentacles were the main reason the Wolves were ineffective in the lane.
- Naz Reid told the press before the game that the Timberwolves wanted the Spurs at full strength. That resulted in the Spurs outscoring them by 32 in the lane.
- The Timberwolves’ three-big lineup usually features Jaden McDaniels with one ball handler, which limits playmaking, but the defense is sharp. This lineup is supposed to be a big advantage, and was one that Reid mentioned before the game, but it was getting run off the floor in the third quarter without McDaniels.
- Anthony Edwards has been the leading scorer in this series (24.5 before Game 5), shooting decently in the lane, yet has been a marksman from outside. The Spurs held him this time to a good game, not a great one. He’s been the only one who has been consistently able to bend San Antonio‘s defense, yet their team looks ordinary when he’s not going wild.
- The Spurs’ eyes light up whenever Mike Conley is in the game because he can’t guard like he used to. Coach Chris Finch doesn’t have someone like Spurs associate head coach Sean Sweeney in his ear to tell him to play one of his younger, more athletic players (Jaylen Clark).
- There’s an old saying about coach Dean Smith being the only person who could shut down Michael Jordan, and some of that may be true to a degree for Mitch Johnson. Wembanyama had 18 points through 12 minutes in the second quarter before taking a brief rest when keeping him on the floor could’ve sent the Wolves deep into the depths of Tartarus earlier. In fairness to Luke Kornet, he was sharp in this spurt.
- Teams that win Game 5 after being tied 2-2 advance 81.5 percent of the time.
