48MoH: The pressure mounts the longer it goes

[Blackjack]

The pressure mounts the longer it goes
by Andrew A. McNeill



Here’s a riddle for you: lots of folks are saying that the San Antonio Spurs need to win Game 6 tonight in San Antonio and end the series, because if it goes to Game 7 in Dallas, all the pressure will be on the Spurs. But by saying that, aren’t they putting all that pressure on the Spurs to win tonight instead?

I’ll let you ponder that for a minute.

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[Obstructed_View]

If the Spurs don't feel some pressure and take the game seriously, they'll end up getting blown out again and away home court advantage. The reason the Mavs played better is because they're actually under real pressure because their season ends if they don't win.

[Blackjack]

Appropriate fear; the Spurs had it when they won three straight.

[Obstructed_View]

Appropriate fear; the Spurs had it when they won three straight.

And seemed to suffer from inappropriate nonchalance in game five.

[Blackjack]

Yup. They were clearly comfortable and fully aware they had a Game 6 at home; it's playing with fire.

[FromWayDowntown]

inappropriate nonchalance

Nice. Exactly right.

[Spurminator]

There has been way too much talk about how dire the 3-1 deficit was for the Mavericks, based on only 8 out of 180 or whatever winning after trailing 3-1.

Thing is, that 180 includes a lot of blowout series where the teams weren't even close. The Mavericks and Spurs are at best even, or the Mavs are arguably the better team overall. So in that kind of situation the chances are a lot better for the trailing team. It's rare that the underdog actually mounts the 3-1 lead.

Which is why playing so nonchalantly and waving the white flag so early in Game 5 still irks me, and I hope it doesn't come back to bite us.

We are the underdog until we win the 4th game.

[manu the best]

.. the spurs play better when they are under pressure .. remember during the end of the season .. when parker was out .. they played like champions when they played the cavs, lakers, orlando and celtics ..

BELIEVE

[slayermin]

Playoff pressure is the drug of choice for our clean living Spurs.

[DubMcDub]

There has been way too much talk about how dire the 3-1 deficit was for the Mavericks, based on only 8 out of 180 or whatever winning after trailing 3-1.

Thing is, that 180 includes a lot of blowout series where the teams weren't even close. The Mavericks and Spurs are at best even, or the Mavs are arguably the better team overall. So in that kind of situation the chances are a lot better for the trailing team. It's rare that the underdog actually mounts the 3-1 lead.

Which is why playing so nonchalantly and waving the white flag so early in Game 5 still irks me, and I hope it doesn't come back to bite us.

We are the underdog until we win the 4th game.

I think the Spurs win tonight, but this is an excellent post. Very astute.

[m33p0]

If the Spurs don't feel some pressure and take the game seriously, they'll end up getting blown out again and away home court advantage. The reason the Mavs played better is because they're actually under real pressure because their season ends if they don't win.

if that's how they feel then they don't deserve the game and the series and will deserve all the ridicule that will definitely be thrown their way.