At the end of the day...

[boutons_deux]

The best effect for this kind of win is restoring the Spurs' confidence, battered by that losing streak a few weeks ago, getting man-handled by the Grizz, getting punked by 2 game-winning Grizz 3Gs, esp Randolph's fluke 3G.

If Tony's jumper is back, if Pop keeps Blair out, puts Matty in the doghouse for defensive screw-ups, keeps giving minutes to Tiago, we'll be OK. And Manu's brace seems to be a little smaller and his arm is probably getting a little better every day.

I don't see how getting Tiago and Tim to keep out of each other's way is so damn hard to do for these two vets.

[igruex]

Manu said "We didn't show a champion's heart. We just got lucky" I think that's pretty clear. Manu also said MEM played way better. I don't know if he's just being plain honest, he's calling out his team or he's trying to put the pressure on MEM, something like "we just got lucky and won, now if you don't get game 6..."

[widowmaker]

A blowout also means the Spurs main players get rest before game 6. What happened is the Grizzlies took the Spurs best shot and barely got beat by a shot that never should have happened had they wisened up a beat.

But all the credit in the world to Gary Neal, he saved the Spurs.

Go talk about the lakers somewhere else mother er this is a spurs forum. Don't worry about what the spurs are doing worry about ur own team.

[will_spurs]

In 2004, you're also talking about the Lakers going up 3-2 on the Spurs with that win. The Spurs win last night only saved them from getting eliminated. The win didn't even put Memphis on the brink. It's not just the homecourt/on the road part. Last night's win was great for the Spurs. But I just don't see it as demoralizing at all for the Grizz. They're still up 3-2. They still get to play the next game at home. To me, they're still playing with house money. The Spurs haven't even put the Grizz on the brink of elimination yet.

If Spurs win game 6, it's a different story. I don't see any damaged psyche or confidence in the Grizz because of last night's game.

I think the implications are obvious: winning game 5 on the road and the job was done. Now of course they go back home and it's not strictly a must-win game, since there's always game 7, but the psychology element is that it's not the way they will look at it. Game 6 IS actually a must-win for both teams, because going back to SA for Game 7 is the last thing the Grizz want. So that will put pressure on them to close out for the first time in this series. Let's see if the same blood run in their veins as in Neal's.

[spursfanincolorado]

The best effect for this kind of win is restoring the Spurs' confidence, battered by that losing streak a few weeks ago, getting man-handled by the Grizz, getting punked by 2 game-winning Grizz 3Gs, esp Randolph's fluke 3G.

If Tony's jumper is back, if Pop keeps Blair out, puts Matty in the doghouse for defensive screw-ups, keeps giving minutes to Tiago, we'll be OK. And Manu's brace seems to be a little smaller and his arm is probably getting a little better every day.

I don't see how getting Tiago and Tim to keep out of each other's way is so damn hard to do for these two vets.

This -

A few missed threes on game one (Battier) and game three (ZBo) and the Spurs could be up 3-1 or 3-2.

Do they deserve to be leading based on the way they have played? NO, of course not. I hope they can stay alive and play lights out and bring it back to SA for the close out...

[rascal]

A blowout is better. That would mean the spurs were playing better. The spurs still need to play better than they did in the last game if they want to get both games.