Is Game 3 a must win?

[siraulo23]

Winner of game 3 wins the series IMO. Lets see how this team responds, its gonna be a long 3-day wait for ST but it's good for the spurs.

Lets see what Pop comes up with next game

[GSH]

Nobody ever lost a series 2-1.

[davidbowie]

YES TBH

[PopTheGOAT]

I will still believe Spurs in 7 if they lose game 3, but I said Spurs in 6, so Spurs win game 3 to me.

[Darius Bieber]

Nobody ever lost a series 2-1.

Spurs lost a series 2-0.

[BillMc]

Winner of game 3 wins the series IMO. Lets see how this team responds, its gonna be a long 3-day wait for ST but it's good for the spurs.

Lets see what Pop comes up with next game

No but one of Games 3 or 4 would allow us to take back homecourt.

[Ditty]

No, but we need to win the way we have been winning all year. Playing excellent defense. We shot well in game one and we destroyed them. Kawhi has to be better also on offense. I hope this game has awaken up a sleeping giant. Tim needs to realize that this getting close to end. Fucking bring it!

[Big Dog]

Thunder win 98-92 to set up a pivotal game four.

[Budkin]

We just need one of Game 3 or 4.

[SnakeBoy]

It's a must win unless they lose, then game 4 is a must win, and so on until one team has won 4 games.

[tmtcsc]

Uh, no.

[T Park]

I can see them winning the next three.

They played a D- game tonight and still almost won, while the Thunder played about as well as they can.

[ElNono]

We're going to get butchered by the refs in Meth City... but, no, it's not a must win game... one of the next two is, though.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

Have the spurs ever won a series trailing 2-1 . I can't remember

[siraulo23]

This '16 team is coming off their first lost in the POs and just gave away their HCA. I wanna see how they respond tbh, they're gonna come out focused so if OKC still wins game 3, its a strong sign that this team is maybe not good enough this year

[Mugen]

Have the spurs ever won a series trailing 2-1 . I can't remember

2008 Hornets & 2014 Mavs

[larrychen21]

OKC won't win another single game this season. Plain and simple.

[Darius Bieber]

Have the spurs ever won a series trailing 2-1 . I can't remember

In 2008 when the Spurs came back from being down 0-2 against the NO Hornets and Mavericks in the championship run of 2014.

[Horry Hipcheck]

No. It feels like one, right now, but it's not. If they lose Game 3, though, Game 4 becomes a must win. Needing Game 5 to cut the deficit to 2-3 going away to OKC would be disastrous.

[timtonymanu]

As long as the Spurs can get a split. But yeah, I would rather they be up 2-1 after Friday.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

2008 Hornets & 2014 Mavs

Current spurs were even down 3-2 to the mavs and fought through adversity. This ain't the mavs tho

[Darius Bieber]

legit question, how many playoffs series have the spurs won after being down 2-1. Obviously the '14 Mavs series is one

08 against the Hornets. They were down 0-2.

[deibero]

Vs new orleans, down 2-0

[ViceCity86]

Just a split

[Horry Hipcheck]

Current spurs were even down 3-2 to the mavs and fought through adversity. This ain't the mavs tho

Never down 3-2 against Dallas, except in 2006. Spurs trailed 2-1 after 3, but won Games 4 and 5, lost 6, won 7.

[TheGreatYacht]

Hope Ken Mauer and Mark Davis both step on an HIV infected needle in Methlahoma

[DAF86]

No, but if the Spurs are so much better, as many here seem to suggest, they should take game 3 in definitive fashion.

[baseline bum]

Current spurs were even down 3-2 to the mavs and fought through adversity. This ain't the mavs tho

Nah, they were up 3-2 in 2014.

[timtonymanu]

Current spurs were even down 3-2 to the mavs and fought through adversity. This ain't the mavs tho

They were down 3-2 against the Hornets in 08.

[spurtech09]

Spurs got this :)

[baseline bum]

Hope Ken Mauer and Mark Davis both step on an HIV infected needle in Methlahoma

Not gonna happen, oklahoma can't afford those kind of designer drugs and are stuck with that crystal.

[Mugen]

Current spurs were even down 3-2 to the mavs and fought through adversity. This ain't the mavs tho

Nah, they never trailed to the Mavs 3-2.

[Floyd Pacquiao]

Kawhi's legacy dictates on how he performs in games 3 and 4. Will he shrink or rise

[DenialTwist]

Every game is a must win. If the spurs lose games 3 and 4 in OKC they are fucked. Plain and simple.

[YGWHI]

Nobody ever lost a series 2-1.
Sarcasm?

In last playoffs the Spurs were 2-1...Also, 2-0 against OKC in 2012

[Kawhitstorm]

Have the spurs ever won a series trailing 2-1 . I can't remember

Being down 2-1 to an inferior opponent isn't a big deal: the 2015 Champions were down 2-1 to BOTH the Grizz/Cavs.:lol

[Spurs 4 The Win]

Have the spurs ever won a series trailing 2-1 . I can't remember

Yes, NO 2008, Mavs 2014 (shouldve been 2006 also)

[Kawhitstorm]

Kawhi's legacy dictates on how he performs in games 3 and 4. Will he shrink or rise

Kawhi plays well on the road, he had that epic game against the Grizz in Memphis (Gm 3 aka the only close game of the series).

In 2014, he outplayed LeBron in Miami after the Heat tied the series 1-1 w/ Kawhi being a non-factor at AT&T.

Even last season, he showed up in Gm 2 (Doc doubled him the rest of the way after he murder 'em at AT&T)

[Keepin' it real]

Game 3 will be the freshest and most rested the old big 3 will be for the rest of the series, so yeah, they need to get it done.

[jdelar03]

OKC won't win another single game this season. Plain and simple.

This to be honest spurs roll and dont look back maybe lose 3 games rest of the playoffs

[SpursforSix]

Every game is a must win

[kobyz]

We talking about a naive Pop and Kawhi led team, a mentally weak team, i have hard time seeing them coming back if game 3 is another loss...

[Russ]

Spurs lost a series 2-0.

Against the John Havlicek Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference First Round circa 1977 as I recall.


Nah, they were up 3-2 in 2014.

But they lost Game 3 on the road to go down 2-1 though . . .

[Mal]

One game in OKC is a must win. Doesnt truly matter if this is 3 or 4.

[peacemaker885]

For a team that doesn't need any more motivation, I say yes.

[MultiTroll]

We're going to get butchered by the refs in Meth City... but, no, it's not a must win game... one of the next two is, though.
You don't think the media expose of botched end of game 2 calls will have the NBA saying hmmmn we better lay off the rigging temporarily, at least in Game 3?

I have virtually no faith in NBA *integrity* but I thought we might get a break in Game 3. Get at least semi fair reffing.

[NameLess Scrub]

Yes.

Losing could be devastating.

Stupid Thunder, always with a talent's chance of beating the Spurs.

[.G.]

They're all must wins.

I just hope they play with a bigger sense of urgency, greater focus than what I saw from G2. LMA aside, lackadaisical performance.

And for fucks sake, Duncan HAS to start finishing at the rim.

[TheRemix]

They're all must wins.

I just hope they play with a bigger sense of urgency, greater focus than what I saw from G2. LMA aside, lackadaisical performance.

And for fucks sake, Duncan HAS to start finishing at the rim.
The wheels...they're coming off

[Spur|n|Austin]

We just need one of Game 3 or 4.

This.

Thinking the Spurs go 2-0 in Methlahoma is unrealistic. A split is fine by me.

[Horse]

OKC won't win another single game this season. Plain and simple.
Damn right!:ihit:ihit:ihit

[.G.]

The wheels...they're coming off

Looks like it. Duncan is a rare breed when it comes to competitors, though, and I choose to believe that he'll find a way to affect this series on the offensive end.

[spurs10]

They're all must wins.

I just hope they play with a bigger sense of urgency, greater focus than what I saw from G2. LMA aside, lackadaisical performance.

And for fucks sake, Duncan HAS to start finishing at the rim.
Very eloquently expressed. I concur completely "for fucks sake" Timmy needs to make his lay-ups.

[.G.]

Very eloquently expressed. I concur completely "for fucks sake" Timmy needs to make his lay-ups.
Sometimes I think that missed layup in G7 of the 2013 Finals fucked with his psyche.

[313]

I can see them winning the next three.

They played a D- game tonight and still almost won, while the Thunder played about as well as they can.
"Played about as well as they can" lol they did enough for a win on the road, I'll give em that. I think OKC capable of putting up a lot more than 98 points though :lol

[313]

Against the John Havlicek Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference First Round circa 1977 as I recall.



But they lost Game 3 on the road to go down 2-1 though . . .
No it was against the Kevin Durant OKC Thunder in 2012. Back door sweep style.

[TheDoctor]

The wheels...they're coming off

Or the NBA started doing PEDs tests.

[T Park]

"Played about as well as they can" lol they did enough for a win on the road, I'll give em that. I think OKC capable of putting up a lot more than 98 points though :lol


They would be if they had any consistent scoring outside of Durant and Westbrook, and also a bench.

[T Park]

The wheels...they're coming off



If the wheels are coming off how did he outplay Adams in the second half on the birds and defensively?

I'll wait.

[MaNu4Tres]

If series is tied, all odd number games are must wins.

They have to win tomorrow night.

[DMC]

None of them are. They didn't win last year and yet here they are.

[DaBears]

I dont know what is going to happen. All i though is that the SPURS need come punch them in the mouth 1st, like they did in gm 1... If not and OKC hits 1st, i can assure everyone it will be a uphill battle the whole night, where the SPURS will need to play catch up throughout the whole game. But what do i know! I am just your average run of the mill "Silver & Black fan from birth".. Lets kick some OKC porn stash wearing dumb as "Waiters" ass, all over that bird stain of a town..

LONG LIVE THE :claw!!

[tholdren]

Nope - Each game is just another game.

[GSH]

Nobody ever lost a series 2-1.

Spurs lost a series 2-0.


It actually took me a couple of days to realize what the fuck you were talking about. They lost a series after being up 2-0, you goofy bastard. :lol


There's no "must win" game for a team, until the other team has 3 wins. It's that simple.

[Darius Bieber]

It actually took me a couple of days to realize what the fuck you were talking about. They lost a series after being up 2-0, you goofy bastard. :lol


There's no "must win" game for a team, until the other team has 3 wins. It's that simple.

Oh yeah, my bad. Should have said "Spurs lost a series after being up 2-0" - referring to 2012 OKC. (The infamous backdoor sweep)

[Dex]

Nobody ever lost a series 2-1.

/endthread

[Spurtacular]

I don't think Game 3 is must win. But Games 3-5 are must win 2 of 3, imo.

[TheRemix]

If the wheels are coming off how did he outplay Adams in the second half on the birds and defensively?

I'll wait.
Of course he's great defensively and can hold his own against the likes of Adam.

I'm referring to the fact that he blows wide open layups. It's tough to see

[T Park]

Of course he's great defensively and can hold his own against the likes of Adam.

I'm referring to the fact that he blows wide open layups. It's tough to see


In one game, not consistently

[Seventyniner]

It actually took me a couple of days to realize what the fuck you were talking about. They lost a series after being up 2-0, you goofy bastard. :lol

There's no "must win" game for a team, until the other team has 3 wins. It's that simple.

Actually I thought he was talking about the days of best-of-three series. Example: the Spurs lost to the Rockets in 1980 2-1.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1980-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-spurs-vs-rockets.html
(http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1980-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-spurs-vs-rockets.html)
And a 2-0 loss to the Celtics in 1977:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1977-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-spurs-vs-celtics.html

Those are the only best-of-threes in Spurs history as far as I can tell.

[.G.]

Duncan's been shooting ~50% within the restricted area in 6 PO games. Limited shots, too.

[TheDoctor]

Duncan's been shooting ~50% within the restricted area in 6 PO games. Limited shots, too.

Yeah, he's been awful. Really showing his age offensively.

[.G.]

Yeah, he's been awful. Really showing his age offensively.

For years now many posters have said that it's painful to watch Duncan work in the paint. I can't be willfully ignorant anymore.

Him and Parker are basically in the same boat now, offensively speaking, because as Parker recently stated, it's imperative that they hit the few shots they're given.

Perhaps Duncan's focus should strictly be defense and rebounding where he can really impact the game.

Defer those touches to Kawhi, who by comparison is hitting ~80% within the restricted area.

[TheDoctor]

For years now many posters have said that it's painful to watch Duncan work in the paint. I can't be willfully ignorant anymore...

I can say that has specifically been this year tbh. Isn't that he was in his prime years and imposed his will offensively when he wanted, but he could take over a game every now and then. Timmy was a beast vs the Clippers last Playoffs.


...Perhaps Duncan's focus should strictly be defense and rebounding where he can really impact the game.

That possibly could be it. Or most likely the product of several correlated things like:
1) Age, less strong.
2) Health, Both knees are hurting now.
3) Focus, defense and rebounding are his priorities.

[.G.]

That possibly could be it. Or most likely the product of several correlated things like:
1) Age, less strong.
2) Health, Both knees are hurting now.
3) Focus, defense and rebounding are his priorities.

Agreed on his performance in last year's PO, it was very surprising to me.

Sean Elliott has joked about Duncan's ability to jump over a phone book for some time now. Almost eeriely prophetic. Duncan can only fight gravity for so long.

[SASdynasty!]

The only must-win in the NBA playoffs is when you're already down 2-0 (or an elimination game, obviously). Every other scenario has been rebounded from.

[sexinthatsx]

Absolutely.

[InRareForm]

just need a split tbh..