Wednesday will either be like the '04 Game 6 vs. Lakers or '05 Game 5 vs. Pistons

[SpurPadre]

In both past scenarios, the Spurs came off crushing losses and either responded with their tails between their legs ('04 Game 6 vs. Lakers) or with all heart and glory ('05 Game 5 vs. Pistons).

I know the latter was after the series was tied 2-2 but losing in a Finals game by 31 points had to set some serious doubt within the team, especially after losing the previous game in blowout fashion and the fact that the next game would still be on the road.

As for the '04 Lakers series, we all know full well how devastating Game 5 was and the Spurs proceeded to roll over in Game 6 with only Devin freakin' Brown of all people showing some real heart (despite the fact that they had cut a big lead to 6 in the third, the game was never really in doubt).

So, it's with those two past games, I see a good chance we'll see one of these scenarios playing out on Wednesday. One reason to think we'll come out like we did against the Pistons back then was because of the post-game comments I heard tonight and while that's just gamesmanship, it's comforting to hear the Spurs are pissed and pumped for Game 6.

Question is: who will be our Robert Horry THIS time around? We shall see.

[TDMVPDPOY]

paragraphs man, i aint reading that shit

[T Park]

Except game 5 wasn't an elimination

Horry ain't walkin through that door...

[mexicanjunior]

Game 5 against the Pistons doesn't seem like the same scenario...even if the Pistons won that game, we were going home for 2 games to close the series. Eventhough the game was VERY important, it was not an elimination game and didn't have the same "do or die" pressure that game 6 had in 2004 against the Lakers. Apples and oranges...

[SpurPadre]

paragraphs man, i aint reading that shit


You either have a really short-attention span or think a message board should abide by formal writing rules. Either way, it's ridiculous for you to nit-pick how a post is laid out on a Basketball board. But I'll amuse you, I made some edits.

[SpurPadre]

Game 5 against the Pistons doesn't seem like the same scenario...even if the Pistons won that game, we were going home for 2 games to close the series. Eventhough the game was VERY important, it was not an elimination game and didn't have the same "do or die" pressure that game 6 had in 2004 against the Lakers. Apples and oranges...

Just trying to be positive man. My main point is how we responded after facing adversity we had not faced until then. On that basis, I think both games are suitable to compare Wednesday's game to as possible outcomes.

[Sean Cagney]

We lost both game 6's in those years bro....... So that is not what I want to look at there to say the least.

Both would be a game 6, this is not game 5 at Detroit at all because we had two at home like someone said! Game 6 in LA FORGET it we stayed close but had no shot at the end, I hope this is not the case this year but it sure does feel the same as 04 for some reason! I hate it but it's true.

[mexicanjunior]

Just trying to be positive man. My main point is how we responded after facing adversity we had not faced until then. On that basis, I think both games are suitable to compare Wednesday's game to as possible outcomes.

Also, 2004 and 2005 Duncan were so much better than this version...we don't have that same type of rock to rely on anymore in the post. I am hard pressed to see how this team would even compete on the same level as that 2005 team.

That said, anything can happen injury wise to possibly bail us out...I guess we could factor into the current 2% that Durant, Westbrook or Harden will come down with a torn ACL or something and swing the series.

[SpurPadre]

We lost both game 6's in those years bro....... So that is not what I want to look at there to say the least.

Both would be a game 6, this is not game 5 at Detroit at all because we had two at home like someone said! Game 6 in LA FORGET it we stayed close but had no shot at the end, I hope this is not the case this year but it sure does feel the same as 04 for some reason! I hate it but it's true.


I know there are some obvious differences in the stakes of each of those games but from a contextual standpoint, I'm looking at how our team responded after pretty crushing types of losses. It's gonna be hard as hell on Wednesday but I think we'll respond the same way we responded in Game 5 against the Pistons: some guy on our team other than the Big 3 will come up huge because it's just due to happen. It's not out of the realm of possibility that a Gary Neal or Danny Green will hit 3 clutch shots that may wind up being the difference in the game.

[ViceCity86]

Thunder are better than 04 Lakers and possibly better than 05 Pistons.
2004 2005 Duncan>>>>>>>>>>>>>>2012 Duncan
2004 2005 Parker just like 2012 Parker-still chicken shit
2005 Manu>>>>>>>>2012 manu
2004 2005 defense>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>2012 defense
2004 and 2005 Spurs are better teams.

[Sean Cagney]

I know there are some obvious differences in the stakes of each of those games but from a contextual standpoint, I'm looking at how our team responded after pretty crushing types of losses. It's gonna be hard as hell on Wednesday but I think we'll respond the same way we responded in Game 5 against the Pistons: some guy on our team other than the Big 3 will come up huge because it's just due to happen. It's not out of the realm of possibility that a Gary Neal or Danny Green will hit 3 clutch shots that may wind up being the difference in the game.

Maybe.......

[Sean Cagney]

Thunder are better than 04 Lakers and possibly better than 05 Pistons.
2004 2005 Duncan>>>>>>>>>>>>>>2012 Duncan
2004 2005 Parker just like 2012 Parker-still chicken shit
2005 Manu>>>>>>>>2012 manu
2004 2005 defense>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>2012 defense
2004 and 2005 Spurs are better teams.

Naw Thunder are not better than the Pistons that year, I will never ever give you that, but like you said the Spurs then are not better now! 05 they had Barry to bail them out when PARKER TURNED PUSS as he does! Then again they had Horry too and a PRIME TIM! Manu was unbelievable that year, huge difference! That 05 Spurs team beats any on this list, unfortunately they are not the 05 Spurs anymore nor the team that won with their D FIRST AND BOWEN!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

OP - decent point, but sadly more likely to be 2004 all over again. And fucking Fisher is there too. Fucking Spurs kryptonite, that guy... :pctoss

[Budkin]

The Spurs simply dont deserve to win this series. I would love to see them pull it out but I think their balls are gone now.

[Obstructed_View]

Well, Robert Horry scored 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to save the day for the Spurs. It'll be interesting to see if anyone has that kind of heart on the team anymore.

[spurspokesman]

Well, Robert Horry scored 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to save the day for the Spurs. It'll be interesting to see if anyone has that kind of heart on the team anymore.

Jax and manu says hello.

[sehui]

Jax and manu says hello.

Manu doesn't count because he's a main cog in our offense. We need someone else to step up. Jax might as well not count either, as Manu and Jax are the ones regularly stepping it up.

If like a Neal, or Green, Tiago, hell Patty Mills or James Anderson can go big in game 6, we'll go leaps and bounds.

If not, we need solid play from our big 3, and NO MISTAKES. A perfect game. We need to emulate those good stretches in game 5 for a whole 48 minutes.

[TampaDude]

Just STOP TURNING THE GODDAMN BALL OVER and we'll be fine.

[miss paxton]

OP - decent point, but sadly more likely to be 2004 all over again. And fucking Fisher is there too. Fucking Spurs kryptonite, that guy... :pctoss

Yes, I was thinking last night that this is what makes a potential series loss (especially if it's a backdoor sweep) so irritating to me. Fisher is already a significant part of two of my worst playoff memories ever, 2001 and 2004 (2001 is the only time I've ever been completely disgusted by this team in two decades or so of watching, but I really hated the way team "responded" in game 6 in 2004, as if the series was already over). If the backdoor sweep happens, then Fisher gets to be all smug and likely take credit for his stabilizing influence and causing OKC to believe that being down 0-2 was nothing to worry about because once you get in this team's head, it's over. There are certainly a lot of nightmarish similarities to 2004. I will say that last night's loss didn't seem as mentally devastating as 2004's Game 5 . . . or at least, that it shouldn't. But if they can't recover, I just honestly dislike Fisher so much for what he represents (though I try not to dislike him as a person) that I can't root for OKC. If it weren't for him, I might be able to--I can give them credit for being a really good, tough team that is certainly looking like a champion, but with Fisher there, it just sours them for me, fair or not.

[TampaDude]

Yes, I was thinking last night that this is what makes a potential series loss (especially if it's a backdoor sweep) so irritating to me. Fisher is already a significant part of two of my worst playoff memories ever, 2001 and 2004 (2001 is the only time I've ever been completely disgusted by this team in two decades or so of watching, but I really hated the way team "responded" in game 6 in 2004, as if the series was already over). If the backdoor sweep happens, then Fisher gets to be all smug and likely take credit for his stabilizing influence and causing OKC to believe that being down 0-2 was nothing to worry about because once you get in this team's head, it's over. There are certainly a lot of nightmarish similarities to 2004. I will say that last night's loss didn't seem as mentally devastating as 2004's Game 5 . . . or at least, that it shouldn't. But if they can't recover, I just honestly dislike Fisher so much for what he represents (though I try not to dislike him as a person) that I can't root for OKC. If it weren't for him, I might be able to--I can give them credit for being a really good, tough team that is certainly looking like a champion, but with Fisher there, it just sours them for me, fair or not.

DFish is getting number six this year. Book it. His success is karma for all the hell his daughter went through.

[SpurYank]

Wednesday's game will be like Wednesday's game. Mark my word.

[forgotmypassword]

Thunder are better than 04 Lakers and possibly better than 05 Pistons.


Had to make my first post just to say this is a terrible statement. Both of those teams would have this Thunder team waving their white panties by the second half.

[z0sa]

If it compares to the past at all, this will be 2004 all over again. It's uncanny how similar the two runs are. At the same time, if the Spurs manage to pull off a big Win in Game 6, then it will be new territory completely.

[cheguevara]

If it compares to the past at all, this will be 2004 all over again. It's uncanny how similar the two runs are. At the same time, if the Spurs manage to pull off a big Win in Game 6, then it will be new territory completely.

unfortunately is time to face the facts. Parker is mentally defeated, Duncan looks drained, Pop is lost.

this is a perfect recipe for a flameout game a la game 6 in Memphis.

[SPurs206]

Stop relying on history we're in 2012. We're here to make history.

[Keepin' it real]

In both past scenarios, the Spurs came off crushing losses and either responded with their tails between their legs ('04 Game 6 vs. Lakers) or with all heart and glory ('05 Game 5 vs. Pistons).


Wednesday will be like 2001 Game 4 @ the Lakers. Here's a link (http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200105270LAL.html), in case you need a reminder.

Believe me -- as someone who just dropped major coinage to attend all three home games of the WCF, I would love to see the Spurs fight and win -- but as my name indicates, I have to keep it real.

[hater]

This whole series seems to me more like the Spurs vs. Pistons 2005 Finals.

If you remember, Spurs completely destroyed the Pistons the first 2 games, everyone thought it would be a short series. And the next 2, the Pistons destroyed the Spurs. Game 5 was the Horry game, which is similar to game 5 last night and Harden.

Game 6 will also be like that game 6 where the Spurs could not close the Pistons in their home court. These young OKC Thunders will struggle to close out the Spurs.

This series had 7 games written all over it, just like that 05 series did.

So yes, let's hope history does repeat itself. If not, oh well, jump on the San Antonio Thunder bandwagon.

[hater]

The ghosts of the 2005 Pistons will take over the bodies of the Spurs tonight.
Book it.

Anybody remember how that game 6 went in detail?