Game 6 will need to be a bounce-back game, too, and the Heat will be in a similar situation as they were in 2010 when they trailed Dallas 3-2 and went home for Game 6 and lost by 10 points.
But that was before LeBron James had erased everyone’s doubts. That was before the best season of his career, which happened this season. He has a spry Dwyane Wade playing alongside him again (both had 25 points in Game 5), and they have been able to channel desperation into success.
Can they do it again?
My take is that they will do it once — on Tuesday.
And then we get the best two words in sports: “Game Seven.”
“You just go play Game 6,” Popovich said. “There’s no Magic to it. It’s basketball. It’s not that complicated. Both teams will compete their fannies off. Players will play well or poorly. Coaches will try to help them as much as possible, and the best team will end up winning.
Brace yourself, and expect the unexpected.
We have a heck of a finals on our hands, and we should all appreciate what we’re watching — especially the Game 5 resurgence of one of the greatest players of the past decade, Manu Ginobili.
Chris Sheridan is publisher and editor-in-chief of SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.