Big 3 will play tonight

[Jimcs50]

Therefore the Spurs lineup/minutes should be a gametime decison.

Chicago's game at Indiana should be over by the Spurs tip at Phoenix.

If the Bulls lose, the Spurs can get HCA throughout the playoffs just by winning their last two.

If the Bulls win, they just have to beat Cleveland at home tomorrow to clinch no matter what the Spurs do.

In other words the Spurs will know whether both of their last two mean something, or mean nothing, before the first one even starts. No excuses at that point.

Good point. Spurs have HCA locked up against everyone else. But I still think Manu needs to play both games

[coyotes_geek]

So there is absolutelly ZERO reasons to play the Big 3 tonight we won´t need to keep peace with them, i think they won´t even be in the Finals.

Truth is Chicago faces Indiana and Cleveland, that means that if they are gonna loose, they loose today, meaning the Spurs will have to play the Big 3 on both games of the back-to-back (not an option).

I would say, let´s try to win out with our bench. Call up Cory Joseph to fill in for injuried Neal and let Mills start, i wouldn´t play Manu or TD for a second.

I agree with you about how it's not important to scoreboard watch the bulls. But I still think you play the big 3 tonight just to keep them in sync. I get the arguement for not playing them tonight, but after last year's debacle I think the Spurs really want to set a good tone in Game 1 and that gets a little harder if the big 3 hadn't played in 5-6 days.

I'd think the Big 3 play 20-25 minutes tonight and then come home.

I also think James Anderson better rest up tonight because he's going to play 48 minutes tomorrow night.

[LongtimeSpursFan]

For someone as smart of Popovich, he'd be really stupid to play the big 3

• in a meaningless game
• in the last week of the season
• against the same team
• in the same arena

where his stupid decision to play the big 3 cost the team so dearly last year. He's been an overprotective mother when it comes to injuries all freakin' season. So why choose now to be all macho about it? Wow, what a mind job.

Because if the Spurs dont play their first playoff game until Sunday then that will have given the BIG 3 six days off and that is too much time between games. Play them 20-25 minutes against Phoenix then send them home for couple of days rest.

[Dr Cox]

They will play tonight but I dont see them playing long, I know TP said that they needed to play some so it might just be a for a quarter or maybe even part of two.

I can't see them play much longer than that.


I would love to see Joseph called up and Leonard and Green sit out against GSW.

[lcroock]

I think the Spurs will end up playing Denver and not Utah in Round 1. #1 vs #2 best offensive teams based on PPG.

Can somebody confirm that if Utah and Denver finish tied (which is likely since Denver plays at OKC) that Denver will be #8 because Utah won the season series.

[TimmehC]

Spurs aren't going to call Joseph up. The Toros are in the D-League finals right now.

[Keepin' it real]

Because if the Spurs dont play their first playoff game until Sunday then that will have given the BIG 3 six days off and that is too much time between games. Play them 20-25 minutes against Phoenix then send them home for couple of days rest.

I understand the "stay in rhythm" aspect, but don't you see the irony here? Pop sat the big 3 at times when he arguably shouldn't have (during the regular season when the Spurs had yet to secure a playoff spot or HCA) to give them rest and avoid injury.

But now that they have clinched HCA, they have the opportunity to give the big 3 a week's worth of rest and avoid injury, but Pop is choosing to play them???? This makes absolutely no sense, given Pop's goals of rest/health.

Worst case scenario if they rest the entire week is that they'll be rusty in the first half of game 1. That's a much better alternative than Tim, Tony or Manu being out due to injury in a meaningless game (such as PHX 2011).

[Mal]

They will today, because Pop cant leave them for couple days without training. They need to stay in game rythm.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isnt there a rule, that guys, who arent traveling with team for road game, cant train at home ? There was something earlier in the season with TJ Ford being sent to D-league only to train. Pop cant afford it.

Plus PHX isnt physcial team. This game will be shootaround.

[Mixability]

Damn, I will be very worried during every second they're on the floor.

[loveforthegame]

I can understand wanting them to play a few minutes but I'm going to be a wreck the whole time they're on the floor.

Please no injuries. Please.

[Mugen]

They will today, because Pop cant leave them for couple days without training. They need to stay in game rythm.

Correct me if I am wrong, but isnt there a rule, that guys, who arent traveling with team for road game, cant train at home ? There was something earlier in the season with TJ Ford being sent to D-league only to train. Pop cant afford it.

Plus PHX isnt physcial team. This game will be shootaround.

I counted 4 wrongs, tbh.

[Keepin' it real]

Coach Pop and Spurs Nation are so consumed with thoughts about injury that an injury is all but assured. See: the law of attraction. For our sake, let's hope Neal's injury will suffice.

[spursfanincolorado]

Man I hope this doesn't bite them in the ass

I think you all are being overly superstitious or something...

The reality is they are gonna play a number of games in the playoffs and I haven't heard of players being outfitted with their bubbles.

Get real!

They can tweak an ankle getting outta the tub! Slip coming off the bus...

I know, that never happens. Just like Manu's injury last year. No one figured it would either.

They are professional athletes.

We aren't talking about going to Afghanistan and taking a short day trip in the shit!

Injuries will happen, you play reasonable minutes you rest those who need it and play.

[Jimcs50]

Coach Pop and Spurs Nation are so consumed with thoughts about injury that an injury is all but assured. See: the law of attraction. For our sake, let's hope Neal's injury will suffice.

self fullfilled prophesy

[SpurinDallas]

I'm gonna ask my curandera Guadalupe to light a candle tonight. I don't want to give the Spurs ojo

[Keepin' it real]

I'm gonna ask my curandera Guadalupe to light a candle tonight. I don't want to give the Spurs ojo

[Fireball]

Good joke.

I try my best

[GinobiliForTres]

Spurs aren't going to call Joseph up. The Toros are in the D-League finals right now.

San Antonio Spurs ‏ @spurs
Spurs recall Cory Joseph from the @austintoros.

[TampaDude]

Tonight, against PHX, Ginobili will collide with Parker late in the 1st quarter, giving both of them a concussion and Parker will fall on Duncan's leg, blowing out his knee. Spurs will get swept by Utah.

How's that for a reverse jinx?

[DesignatedT]

[DBMethos]

Tonight, against PHX, Ginobili will collide with Parker late in the 1st quarter, giving both of them a concussion and Parker will fall on Duncan's leg, blowing out his knee. Spurs will get swept by Utah.

How's that for a reverse jinx?

[TVI]

what's the difference betw getting hurt tonight and getting hurt in game 1?

If getting injured is a forgone conclusion, nothing, but since it's not, it's a matter of Risk vs. Reward. Last two games = moderate risk, little reward. 1st game of the playoffs = moderate risk, much higher reward.