In the first quarter, the Spurs' best player was Duncan. He scored 11 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and had 2 blocks.
In the second quarter, the Lakers' best player was Kobe. He scored 9 points, had 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.
In the third quarter, both coaches wanted to increase the intensity of the game. However, they both realized that the intensity was already at its peak. The players had been giving their all in the first half, and any further effort would only lead to an increase in fouls.
When conventional methods failed to stop the opponents, and the coaches issued orders to disrupt the opponent's offensive rhythm, the best option for the players on the court was to foul, preventing the opponents from scoring near the basket.
As a result, the game became increasingly heated, but the score remained close, with the largest lead never exceeding 5 points.
Before the start of the final quarter, He Xi Meng suggested to Popovich again that he should put Ginobili in: "I need an unknown factor to help us break the deadlock…"
"But have you considered that Manu could be our key to breaking through, or he could be the Lakers' key to breaking through?" Popovich retorted.
"Uh…" To be fair, Popovich had a very clear understanding of Ginobili's role. Ginobili was a double-edged sword; used well, he could be lethal, but used poorly, he could self-destruct. However, from He Xi Meng's perspective, Ginobili was slightly more likely to succeed than to cause problems.
If this Game 5 were being played in San Antonio, and the score was tied, He Xi Meng might not have so strongly recommended Ginobili to break the deadlock. This is because the home team always has an advantage. But now, the advantage lay with the Lakers, and as the game wore on, the home-court advantage would only increase. Because He Xi Meng understood this deeply, he strongly recommended Ginobili to take a gamble. They shouldn't wait until the final moments, when the Lakers' home-court advantage became overwhelming, and then try to make a change; by then, it might be too late to adjust effectively…
Perhaps the phrase "home-court advantage" swayed Popovich. With six minutes left in the game, Popovich unexpectedly called a timeout, substituted Elliott, and brought in Ginobili!
This was Ginobili's first appearance of the game, and he entered at such a crucial juncture… One had to admit that sometimes, Popovich was even more daring than He Xi Meng!
"Xi Meng, how should I play now? The coach said to listen to your instructions on the court…" As Ginobili stepped onto the court, he went straight to He Xi Meng, seeking guidance.
He Xi Meng glanced at Popovich on the sideline. Popovich spread his hands and gestured with his mouth, as if to say, "I've handed you the weapon you wanted; it's up to you how to use it!"
He Xi Meng gave Popovich a thumbs-up, conveying "You're ruthless," and then quickly instructed Ginobili: "We need you to help us break through! Tim, David, and I are all being heavily guarded by the Lakers. Bruce isn't a strong scorer, so your task is to be ready to score at any moment! How you score, whether it's by driving or shooting, you'll have to judge based on the situation on the court! Since the coach has entrusted you to me, I'll give you full freedom… Don't feel pressured, play boldly! Even if we lose in the end, the fans won't blame you! Tim is the tallest, he'll handle things…"
Duncan seemed to sense He Xi Meng pointing at him and turned to look, as if asking, "I don't care what schemes you two are cooking up, but you'd better not drag me into it…"
But Duncan was the unquestioned leader of the Spurs. How could He Xi Meng make any moves without involving him? The rookie picked 21st, he was thinking too simply.
On the first possession after Ginobili entered the game, he played too aggressively on defense, falling for Kobe's bait. He failed in his steal attempt, was driven past by Kobe, who then hit a pull-up jump shot for two points.
Popovich, watching from the sidelines, rolled his eyes, but He Xi Meng on the court encouraged Ginobili not to be nervous, to relax, and that they could make up for the lost points.
On the next possession, He Xi Meng used Duncan's high pick-and-roll to force his way into the Lakers' defense. When the Lakers focused on preventing He Xi Meng from passing to Duncan rolling to the basket, He Xi Meng didn't pass to Duncan but instead kicked the ball out to Ginobili on the weak side.
Ginobili received the pass and drove again! The Lakers' defensive attention was either on Duncan cutting inside or He Xi Meng running outside. Most of them overlooked Ginobili, the rookie, believing that Kobe's individual defense would be enough to contain him.
As a result, Ginobili cleanly beat Kobe and then used a snake-like dribble to evade O'Neal under the basket, scoring with his left hand before the Lakers could react.
"Don't underestimate the Spurs' number 20 rookie! This guy is a tough competitor!" Kobe shouted to his teammates after Ginobili received the ball, warning them not to let their guard down against him.
In reality, everyone understood the principle. The question was, comparatively speaking, weren't Duncan and He Xi Meng the bigger threats?
On the next offensive possession, Kobe attacked Ginobili again, but this time Ginobili didn't overcommit. He played solid defense, and Kobe's mid-range turnaround jumper bounced off the rim. He Xi Meng pushed the fast break, employed the same tactic, driving and then passing to Ginobili for a second drive!
The Lakers players had learned from the previous play and tightened their defense, focusing on Ginobili cutting inside. As a result, Ginobili wasn't a simpleton either. Facing the Lakers' heavy resistance, he didn't force a shot but instead passed the ball to He Xi Meng, who had cut along the baseline and was positioned at the left corner.
Receiving Ginobili's excellent pass, He Xi Meng caught the ball and shot, rising up over the lunging Harper, lofting the ball high…
Harper could only watch as the ball flew over his head and then accurately found the net!
Ginobili had lived up to He Xi Meng's trust and recommendation. After coming on the court, he gradually became the Spurs' fourth offensive threat, in addition to Duncan, He Xi Meng, and David Robinson. Moreover, Ginobili was an offensive threat who could initiate plays from the perimeter. With Ginobili's integration, the Spurs' offense became sharper and more aggressive. The Lakers' established defensive strategy of guarding Duncan inside and He Xi Meng outside began to crumble due to the addition of Ginobili, the unpredictable wildcard…