I hope this isn't like the 2005 nba finals.

[bayareaspursfan]

Thats when we won game 1 and 2, then the thunder blew us off in game 3 and 4. I hope the history doesn't repeat in WCF against OKC.

[dbreiden83080]

http://cache.ohinternet.com/images/d/d6/Stfu2.jpg

[PÒÓCH]

Different time, different team. The Spurs are a much better offensive machine now. That team was more of a half court team.

[dbreiden83080]

The winning streak talk is getting out of hand.. Just get 1 of these 2 and try and close out in 5...

[ducks]

spurs have a winning streak


















































































lol

[z0sa]

This game feels much more like 2004 to me. Some people brought it up in the Clippers series but they are just not on the level to beat the Spurs, unlike this Thunder team. The whole general mood feels so legitimately unstoppable after these 2 great wins over OKC that I'm afraid a big letdown game here might throw the Spurs a curveball.

The Spurs are by no means out of the series yet and I really hope Pop can dig even deeper to inspire the team to grab that 21st win. It is the hugest game of the season yet, without a doubt.

[KaiRMD1]

It could be like the 2005 WCF if you would like but hey, at least we won the 2005 finals. Tonight's game is gonna be TIGHT!

[td4mvp3]

Thats when we won game 1 and 2, then the thunder blew us off in game 3 and 4. I hope the history doesn't repeat in WCF against OKC.

spurs won the title in 2005.

[Russo21]

The Spurs are by no means out of the series yet and I really hope Pop can dig even deeper to inspire the team to grab that 21st win. It is the hugest game of the season yet, without a doubt.

100% agree

[eyeh8u]

reminds me of 07 when they won the first 2 then the next 2.

[Russo21]

2-0 leads aren't all that. If you all remember 2004...

We need game 3 bad.

[bayareaspursfan]

reminds me of 07 when they won the first 2 then the next 2.

lol

[therealtruth]

Game 3 basically decides the series. It's the most important now.

[Horry Hipcheck]

Apparently Games 1 and 2 meant nothing, and Game 3 decides everything. Let's not forget that the Thunder now have to beat the Spurs 4 times in 5 games - it's taken the Spurs all of what, 40-something games to lose 4 times? They were 3 meaningless, garbage time 3 pointers from a double digit Game 1 win and all of 50 seconds of hack-a-Tiago away from donkey stomping OKC into the ground in Game 2.

We all know Game 3 will be hard. OKC will not roll over and die. If the Spurs are going to lose a game, it seems likely that it would be Game 3. However, I think it's a little premature and frankly insulting to suggest that Game 3 decides anything other than the difference between a 3-0 series lead and a 2-1 series lead. Dramatically different scenarios, to be sure, but not apocalyptic.

[will_spurs]

I hope the history doesn't repeat in WCF against OKC.

Yeah, we would win the series, that would be horrible.

[will_spurs]

Apparently Games 1 and 2 meant nothing, and Game 3 decides everything.

Games 1 and 2 mean nothing indeed, unless the home team loses, which it didn't.

Game 3 doesn't decide everything, but since no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit, it would definitely be good news if the Spurs won.

[Horry Hipcheck]

Game 3 doesn't decide everything, but since no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit, it would definitely be good news if the Spurs won.

There's very little consolation, to me, in that statistic. At any given point, a team could do that. Who's to say OKC wouldn't be the first?

Games 1 and 2 meant plenty, that's why they're played. Pressure's on OKC to defend their home court or be pushed to the brink. Losing Game 3 does little more than erase the possibility of giving fans comfort in knowing the Spurs were up 3-0. Would it be nice? Sure. But OKC still has to win 4 of 5 to take this series. And again, it took the Spurs almost 50 games to lose four times. That statistic, in my mind, is more significant than the prospect of a 3-0 series lead against the ramifications of a 2-1 series lead. But that's me.

EDIT: For clarification, let me just say: My point is, the Spurs are locked in. You don't win 20 games (10 playoffs) in a row without being IN THE ZONE. A loss in Game 3 may give OKC life, but it won't kill the Spurs. Game 2 in particular was a demonstration that the Spurs are simply the better team, and THAT is what defines the series to me - not Game 3. I would love a 3-0 series lead just as much as the next guy because losing 4 times in 4 games is slightly harder than losing 4 times in 5. However, regardless of the outcome tonight, the Spurs will go back to the hotel, make the necessary adjustments, watch the necessary film, and then - and only then - start worrying about Game 4. And they'll look at it the same way whether it's an elimination game or not.

[will_spurs]

Actually, if you want a really meaningful statistic, OKC has to go 4-1 against the Spurs, while their record against us in the past few years is something like 2-10.

[will_spurs]

Actually, if you want a really meaningful statistic, OKC has to go 4-1 against the Spurs, while their record against us in the past few years is something like 2-10.

[Bruno]

I don't really see the point in drawing parallels between what happened 7 or 8 years ago and this year. Unless you believe in some kind of supernatural force that makes basketball history repeat, it's an useless comparison.

Regarding speculations about the rest of the series, there isn't more to say than the obvious: Spurs are up 2-0 which is great but Thunder can still win it.

[capek]

I don't really see the point in drawing parallels between what happened 7 or 8 years ago and this year. Unless you believe in some kind of supernatural force that makes basketball history repeat, it's an useless comparison.

Regarding speculations about the rest of the series, there isn't more to say than the obvious: Spurs are up 2-0 which is great but Thunder can still win it.

The myth of the eternal return!! :spless:

Ah wait, Beno's not walking through that door. So fuck this comparison. Each playoff run is beautiful, and unique, like birds. I'll whoop your mother's ass.

A cookie to whoever knows who I'm quoting above. :downspin:

[Whisky Dog]

Let's see:

2005 Finals: Spurs blew out the defending champions who played terrible basketball on the road the first two games.

2004 West Semi: Spurs blew out a team who had won championships who played terrible on the road the first two games.

2012 WCF: Spurs beat a team who hasn't won anything who played terrific on the road but still lost.

Pretty big differences.

[Jimcs50]

Let's see:

2005 Finals: Spurs blew out the defending champions who played terrible basketball on the road the first two games.

2004 West Semi: Spurs blew out a team who had won championships who played terrible on the road the first two games.

2012 WCF: Spurs beat a team who hasn't won anything who played terrific on the road but still lost.

Pretty big differences.

:toast:toast


These are not your father's Spurs.

This is the Phoenix Suns with defense.

[Leetonidas]

People need to stop comparing this situation to 2004. We're not playing a team with 4 HoFs including Kobe/Shaq. We're not starting Hedo Turkoglu with Devin Brown playing big minutes off the bench, and Rasho Nesterovic isn't our starting big man.

2004 Spurs <<<<<<<<<<<< 2012 Spurs (minus Timmy)

[Budkin]

Game 3 basically decides the series. It's the most important now.

So if OKC wins game 3 after being down 2-0 they take the series? :wow

[housious]

Settle down, clowns.

[Keepin' it real]

I hope this isn't like the 2005 nba finals.

Why not? We won the championship!

[TowelWaver]

The team going up 2-0 has only lost 6% of the time from what I heard on Mike & Mike this morning. Is there a way to query basketball-reference.com or some similar database to find out what exactly those series were where the 6% worst case happened? Clearly 2004 SA-LA and 1995 Houston-Phoenix were two of them. I'd like to get some more historical context for this and (ironically) think reading up on them would help calm my nerves while waiting for tonight's game. Weird, I know.

[ViceCity86]

Thunder's defense is not in the same stratosphere as the 2005 Pistons.

Got me wondering.How would this Spurs offense match up with 2005 Pistons defense