Unfortunately, the extra day off will probably work in the Heat's favor.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

The Miami Heat were just coming off of a series that went 7 games while the Spurs came into Game One on 9 days' rest.

Now that that game was over, the ideal thing - from the Spurs' perspective - would have been to resume the series as soon as possible, thus following up on the Heat's fatigue and the Spurs' comparative rest from having played only one game in 11 days.



Unfortunately, that extra day of rest (Game Two isn't until Sunday) will let the Heat rest more, thus reducing their fatigue and negating the advantage that the Spurs may have held from a physical-rest standpoint.

[313]

Nonetheless we should still have the fresher legs if it comes down to it in the fourth.

[hooperflash]

We'll see .

[admiralsnackbar]

Wade's knee isn't going to heal with an extra day of rest.

[BatManu20]

Yea the NBA's scheduling for the Finals is terrible imo.

[TheGreatYacht]

One thing that I've always hated about the NBA is that they ALWAYS have to make sure that they have a game on Sunday. ABC broadcasts usually MUST have a game scheduled for Sunday at whatever cost. The two day rest can also benefit the Spurs because the big 3 can go in at 110% and try to steal game 2. If game 2 comes down to the wire again, I'll feel a bit more comfortable knowing that our big 3 are well rested. I rather have a two day rest in the middle of a road trip but OP you do have a point.

[100%duncan]

Says who?

[SuperDave]

I think it works in the Spurs favor. In fact I think it's pretty much ideal. Get a game to knock off the rust, followed by an extra days rest. Manu and Tim need the extra rest more than any other important player on the court. The Spurs should be at their physical peak for this one, and that's more critical for us than them.

[G-Nob]

Spurs control their destiny. There's no defensive game plan for organized chaos.

#ihope

[DarrinS]

Were they tired from their blowout win of the Pacers? Or, were they tired trying to defend the Spurs?

[Poolboy5623]

Maybe the spurs wont be so rusty, for game 2?

[Duncan2177]

It doesn't matter anyway the heat lost home court advantage. :rolleyes

[Budkin]

The Spurs won't play as badly as they did in Game 1... oh yeah, and they won game 1. The Heat are exhausted period.

[Obstructed_View]

The Spurs got the same rest, plus they got the nine days off beforehand. The Heat definitely needed the time off more than the Spurs did, but it's not really in their favor.

[z0sa]

It is better for San Antonio.

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

WHO CARES? WE ARE THE BETTER TEAM.

[xellos88330]

"Young Heat are tired." "Old Spurs had rust in their arthritic joints." If you ask me its a wash.

I think that the Heat will get their shit together for game 2 at least offensively. Defensively it could be pretty tough to guard the Spurs and their never ending list of options for a single play.

Considering that the Heat look to only be slashers and shooters, it is much easier to set up a defensive game plan. IMO, the Spurs are wearing the Heat out. Maybe not so much the Heat stars, but the role players were having issues knocking down shots. Simple reason for this is, it is difficult to shoot with tired legs. The Spurs have shown excellent conditioning at all positions. Dwight Howard said that the Lakers size would tire out the Spurs. Didn't happen to the tune of a very expensive broom being handed to them. Warriors thought their effort (and being God's team) would wear out the Spurs. It didn't. Memphis thought their aggressive and hyperactive defense would wear out the Spurs. Sweep. Now you have the Heat... tired legs from previous series, or tired legs from running with the Spurs?

[KaiRMD1]

Spurs can use the extra day to work on what they did wrong while the heat can work on David stern

[dbreiden83080]

It is going to be a long series no matter what IMO. Even if the Spurs go up 2-0 Miami is not getting swept they will come to SA and win some games. They are the champs for a reason..

[nkdlunch]

It is going to be a long series no matter what IMO. Even if the Spurs go up 2-0 Miami is not getting swept they will come to SA and win some games. They are the champs for a reason..

if we go up 2-0 a sweep is a real possibility. The mental aspects of a playoff series are not to be ignored. See Fisher's .4 shot :(

[DesignatedT]

Same was said about the 9 days.

[HI-FI]

at this point, i worry the most about Stern's obvious hand and Wade's knee. Wade's knee is less of a concern, because while I'm sure he'll receive some extra "rest" for it, I think he needs serious surgery on it. even if officiating turns into a 2006 joke, I feel the Spurs are still primed for that and will adjust.

It will probably be a long series but I feel good about our team. We won that first game while being very rusty, and this Spurs team has been hitting extra gears and cylinders throughout their series, so there is a room for lots of improvement. Just need to stay healthy and hungry out there imo.

[milkyway21]

no excuses anymore