The loser of tonight's game has to go 3-1 over the remaining four games

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

A 2-1 series lead doesn't sound that intimidating but when put in context of having to go 3-1 the rest of the way, it is. I doubt the Heat will go 3-1 against the Spurs if they lose tonight, but I have even bigger doubts that the Spurs could go 3-1 against the Heat if San Antonio lost tonight.


Then again, the 2011 Mavs did it, so anything's possible, and a 2-2 series simply makes it a best-of-3.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Heat have a better chance to go 3-1 than SA does with games 6 & 7 being in Miami.

Very anxious about tonight's game, but a Spurs win would be absolutely epic!

[ohmwrecker]

Must win for the Spurs.

[hater]

as I said tonight's game 3 is a MUST WIN

if Spurs can pull off a small miracle tonight and maybe fueled by home crowd, this series is still very much in play.

But if Spurs lose tonight, it will be over in 5, 6 max. Heat champs

[Beaverfuzz]

Spurs need this game big time. Throw down some confidence and get momentum into game 4. Those two are really must win games IMO.

Never give up, never surrender!

[Sean Cagney]

as I said tonight's game 3 is a MUST WIN

if Spurs can pull off a small miracle tonight and maybe fueled by home crowd, this series is still very much in play.

But if Spurs lose tonight, it will be over in 5, 6 max. Heat champsI agree fully with you.

[BatManu20]

Must win for the Spurs.

[Budkin]

Agreed... Spurs lose tonight this shit is over.

[Arcadian]

Technically, only elimination games can be "must win" games, because you must win them to continue playing.

In a broader sense of "highly important games," that would be every game in the playoffs, even more so the Finals.

Odd games are always particularly important, because they break ties. Game 3 when the series is tied 1-1, Game 5 when the series is tied 2-2, and obviously Game 7 when the series is tied 3-3, are the most pivotal games you can have.

[hater]

If we hadn't gotten blown out and raped in game 2 I might say game 3 is not really a must win. But given the psychological aspects of the momentum and how mentally soft sometimes our players are (see grizz, okc losing series) plus with the confidence the Champs woudl play with, yes, lose game 3 and it's over.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

imo, all 3 next games are must wins, not just tonights

[Knoxxx]

The next game is always the biggest in a series. However, we said the Thunder could never win 4 of 5 against the Spurs and lo and behold they won four in a row.

I believe the Spurs can win 3 in a row against the Heat, but only if two of those are in S.A. I think winning two in Miami would be too much to ask.

So in summary, I think Spurs need to win 2/3 in S.A., then we are in good shape.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

imo, all 3 next games are must wins, not just tonights



If the Spurs win the next two games and go up 3-1 in the series, then Game 5 becomes a "would be very nice to win, but not absolutely essential."


I know fans like to say, "Every game is a must-win," but that kind of trite, cliche overuse of the term really saps it of its meaning.

[spurraider21]

even if we lose game 3 there's a solid chance of winning games 4 and 5 at home which would put us up 3-2. not sure where this "must win" crap comes from, really

[GSH]

Technically, only elimination games can be "must win" games, because you must win them to continue playing.

In a broader sense of "highly important games," that would be every game in the playoffs, even more so the Finals.

Odd games are always particularly important, because they break ties. Game 3 when the series is tied 1-1, Game 5 when the series is tied 2-2, and obviously Game 7 when the series is tied 3-3, are the most pivotal games you can have.

Technically? Technically, fishing is always an option - so I guess no games are really "must win". But if the Spurs want to win their fifth LOB, this one is pretty damned close.

[Budkin]

even if we lose game 3 there's a solid chance of winning games 4 and 5 at home which would put us up 3-2. not sure where this "must win" crap comes from, really

The problem is that Miami is always able to bounce back from a loss pretty easily so if we didn't want to go to a game 7 we'd have to win 3 in a row. A tall task against that team.

[Matty2Cool]

All I want is the Spurs to win the next two. If we lose tonight we're borderline fucked if we lose the next two we are royally fucked. If we go 1-1 next two games then idunnolol.jpg

[ThaBigFundamental21]

So say the Spurs lose tonight, no one thinks the Spurs can take the next two at home and be up 3-2 headed to Miami??? Then it becomes the Spurs need one more win, in Miami. Some faith you idiots have.

[Captivus]

The biggest question is: Were the Spurs lucky to win the first game? This is what the next 2 games will show us.

[spurraider21]

The problem is that Miami is always able to bounce back from a loss pretty easily so if we didn't want to go to a game 7 we'd have to win 3 in a row. A tall task against that team.

what's wrong with a game 7. those are the 2 favorite words of almost any die hard sports fan

[rascal]

Spurs need this game big time. Throw down some confidence and get momentum into game 4. Those two are really must win games IMO.

Never give up, never surrender!

No such thing as momentum in sports. If there was then Miami wins tonight after last games blowout. Or the spurs win game 2 after their game one win. This series can alternate wins all the way to game 7 and no momentum.

[Raven]

when there is a split in the first 2 games, the must win game is always game 4, for both teams.

[Budkin]

what's wrong with a game 7. those are the 2 favorite words of almost any die hard sports fan

Game 7s on the road are almost always won by the home team.

[Horry Hipcheck]

Every game in the Finals is a must win, first of all, because it's the Finals. History favors the Game 3 winner in a 1-1 series, and it puts the Spurs in a good position to either A) close out in 5 or, more likely, B) go back to Miami with a 3-2 series lead. If B turns out to be reality, then Game 6 (historically speaking) is the Spurs' Game 7.

[KaiRMD1]

Hopefully, we don't see appearances from Turnobili or Tony Flopper

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

what's wrong with a game 7. those are the 2 favorite words of almost any die hard sports fan


usually not the favorite words of fans of the two teams involved.

[JR3]

I don't care as long as we get 2 out of the 3 at home.

[TrainOfThought5]

what's wrong with a game 7. those are the 2 favorite words of almost any die hard sports fan

Because we're largely undefeated in these situations... but this aint the Spurs of yesteryear.

[CosmicCowboy]

Over the last 12 seasons the team to win game 3 wins the championship 92% of the time.
The sole team that won game 3 and lost the title was the 2011 heat vs Dallas.

[Beaverfuzz]

No such thing as momentum in sports. If there was then Miami wins tonight after last games blowout. Or the spurs win game 2 after their game one win. This series can alternate wins all the way to game 7 and no momentum.

Your theory would hold true if game three was in Miami. The next three games (which will all be played), are in San Antonio. A Spurs win gains momentum for the next game and so on, until the series shifts back to Miami.

[sananspursfan21]

spurs don't have to go back to miami...

[therealtruth]

Over the last 12 seasons the team to win game 3 wins the championship 92% of the time.
The sole team that won game 3 and lost the title was the 2011 heat vs Dallas.

The Mavs also made some major adjustments post game 3 that helped them not lose the series like starting Barea and not playing Peja. The team that adjusts better is going to win. These teams haven't really played each other much at full strength so game 1 was a feel out game. Game 2 the Heat made their adjustments. It's time for the Spurs to do the same.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

And...........it's the Heat.

[Agloco]

even if we lose game 3 there's a solid chance of winning games 4 and 5 at home which would put us up 3-2. not sure where this "must win" crap comes from, really

It comes from the notion that, after getting blown out and then returning home and losing again, one might find it much more difficult to right the ship.

[Pound the rock]

2 more to go...