How Important is Game 1?

[Kori Ellis]

I don't think they have to win Game 1. But I think they have to get a split and not get crushed in either of the first two games.

[bigfan]

To win one of the first two is very important. To win the first game takes the wind out of the sails of the home team. It sure would be nice if we can win that first one.

[Teal Street]

So if you loose games 1 and games 2 how important is game 3?
insert 4 Championship response here>

[honestfool84]

So if you loose games 1 and games 2 how important is game 3?
insert 4 Championship response here>

and



and you would have to be an insane moron to think the spurs will lose two vs the hornets

[Teal Street]

and



and you would have to be an insane moron to think the spurs will lose two vs the hornets

insanity is not understanding you do not have home court advantage.

[honestfool84]

insanity is not understanding you do not have home court advantage.

and y'all don't have:
any hardware or any playoff experience past the first round


maybe this is why you think y'all will win - you don't understand HCA doesn't mean jack to the spurs

[Deimosfobos]

Wining game 1 is huge... specially in this series. We have to make a stance and prove them we can take it on their floor.

NO is playing great BBall atm, we need to destroy their confidence.

If we don't win the first game, we still have really good chances if we win game 2, but if we don't win either... I think we are doomed.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

spurs have lost more than enough GAME 1s - and look how they turned out

so I went back over the last 6 seasons to check this out. The Spurs played 18 series and lost game 1 5 times. Of those 5 times, they actually came back to win the next 2 games and the series 4 times. So I guess you are right -- in the recent past, the Spurs have been able to come back from a game 1 loss much more often than teams in general.

[Teal Street]

and y'all don't have:
any hardware or any playoff experience past the first round


maybe this is why you think y'all will win - you don't understand HCA doesn't mean jack to the spurs

And you guys have never made it past the second round the year after receiving such hardware. Expect it.

[honestfool84]

so I went back over the last 6 seasons to check this out. The Spurs played 18 series and lost game 1 5 times. Of those 5 times, they actually came back to win the next 2 games and the series 4 times. So I guess you are right -- in the recent past, the Spurs have been able to come back from a game 1 loss much more often than teams in general.

yes.
except i was too lazy to look that stuff up.



but i did try.

[FromWayDowntown]

insanity is not understanding you do not have home court advantage.

Oh I'd generally agree with this -- and Spurs fans who think that this is going to be some sort of cakewalk or that getting one of the first two is a done deal are delusional.

But I'll also add a fact.

Since 2003, the Spurs have not had home court advantage in only 2 of the 16 series they've played. But they've won both of those series. They're 12-2 in series in which they have had HCA and 2-0 in series in which they have not had HCA. It's not a huge sample, mostly because the Spurs have been so good of late that they've rarely faced a series without HCA, but it does suggest that in those rare cir stances when it's come up (both times against the Suns) the Spurs have been able to take care of their business and get early wins to steal back HCA.

[Scola Trade]

Game 1 is important not for our team itself, but to kill the Hornets confidence.

[honestfool84]

i still think game seven is the most important game

[FromWayDowntown]

n/m

[JamStone]

Not as important as the game that gives either team 4 wins in the series.

[honestfool84]

And you guys have never made it past the second round the year after receiving such hardware. Expect it.

y'all have NEVER made it out of the second round. no ifs, ands, or buts.

[BiZNicK]

i still think game seven is the most important game

I doubt the Hornets are THAT good.....

[honestfool84]

I doubt the Hornets are THAT good.....

as the spurs drive for five, they will obliterate their opponents in five games.

[BiZNicK]

as the spurs drive for five, they will obliterate their opponents in five games.

That's more like it.
lol

[Deuces88]

Spurs are gonna win game 1, sending a message. That message will say:

"We ain't f*ckin Dallas"

Spurs will win game 2 which sends a second message which will say:

"There is a reason we're the god damn champions"

Game 3 and 4 are up in the air. If Spurs want to finish it, they will.

[Avitus1]

I think game 1 sets the tone for the entire series, however if Spurs dont win its not the end of the world. I do think they need to win one of the first 2 NO games.

[michaelwcho]

Ok, but that stat is a little misleading. The better team usually has homecourt for game one and usually wins; if the hometeam wins game one this number goes up over 90% I believe; also, if the road team wins I believe the number is somewhere around 57%, or only a little better than a tossup.

I wonder if they have that stat broken down by record differential. For example:

If the home team wins 20 more games than the visitor, and wins game 1:
99%

If the home team wins 10 more games than the visitor, and wins game 1:
90%

etc...

That would be very illuminating.

[DieMrBond]

If the Hornets win game 1, their heads will get even bigger. Thats a bad thing, giving more confidence to that group.

However, the Spurs don't need it to win the series.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

I think if the spurs win game 1 they will end up sweeping them.

[m33p0]

winning game 1 on the hornets' own floor will be likened to a heavyweight boxer sending a haymaker squarely on the jaw of the opponent. put them on their heels early and keep up the pressure. spurs did the same last year when duncan stole HCA advantage from the suns on game 1. hopefully, no blood this time.