Should Pop play the big 3 limited minutes for Game 1?

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

I foresee a 2004 Pistons-Lakers kind of series.

Spurs will be the underdog, but will surprisingly cruise to lopsided wins over Miami.


Spurs in 5.

[lefty]

Im glad Brazil is not coaching the Spurs

[Brazil]

Im glad Brazil is not coaching the Spurs

I was not fishing guys like you Lefty... I'm disappointed tbh

[Aztecfan03]

With all the rust, a loss in game 1 is pretty much a given.

Why not surprise the Heat with bringing the big 3 off the bench two, three minutes per quarter ? Our bench almost defeated the Heat in their house with no big 3 at all maybe we can pull a win like that.

It's all benefits tbh, more rest, less injury risks, same outcome...let's get ready for game 2.

So you want them to still be rusty in game 2?

[ElNono]

good job Brazil

[Captivus]

Spurs will sweep!!!

[hooperflash]

Come and Get It!

[Brazil]

So you want them to still be rusty in game 2?

not rusty they will play a healthy 10 mn just the necessary to get back into game shape

[mando6599]

With all the rust, a loss in game 1 is pretty much a given.

Why not surprise the Heat with bringing the big 3 off the bench two, three minutes per quarter ? Our bench almost defeated the Heat in their house with no big 3 at all maybe we can pull a win like that.

It's all benefits tbh, more rest, less injury risks, same outcome...let's get ready for game 2.

No offense, but that's gotta be the dumbest thing I've read in a while. Really? REALLY?? I think we actually have a better chance of winning game 1 than game 2, but you're willing to "risk" not getting injuries for the chance at being ready for game 2? And how does NOT playing our Big 3 and starters get off the "rust"?
Our bench hasn't even played like that game in November in many weeks! You're talking Patty, Nando, Bonner, Blair, and now Baynes, who's not even played the Heat at all, ever, to "compete" with the Heat? On top of all this nonsense, Stern would then fine the Spurs the O'Brien Trophy itself! He would just declare the Heat the de facto champion by default! Malarkey! I call your bluff! You have to be joking, right?

mando

[Budkin]

[timtonymanu]

How about not play them? We almost beat Miami the first time, tbh.

[dbreiden83080]

Lebron said he is 50 times the player today he was in 2007..

So maybe the Heat come out flat and disinterested on Thursday....

[Brazil]

No offense, but that's gotta be the dumbest thing I've read in a while. Really? REALLY?? I think we actually have a better chance of winning game 1 than game 2, but you're willing to "risk" not getting injuries for the chance at being ready for game 2? And how does NOT playing our Big 3 and starters get off the "rust"?
Our bench hasn't even played like that game in November in many weeks! You're talking Patty, Nando, Bonner, Blair, and now Baynes, who's not even played the Heat at all, ever, to "compete" with the Heat? On top of all this nonsense, Stern would then fine the Spurs the O'Brien Trophy itself! He would just declare the Heat the de facto champion by default! Malarkey! I call your bluff! You have to be joking, right?

mando

[ElNono]

[CosmicCowboy]

Lebron said he is 50 times the player today he was in 2007..

So maybe the Heat come out flat and disinterested on Thursday....

LMAO

Still remember him mailing it in for game 4.

[gnsf0946]

No offense, but that's gotta be the dumbest thing I've read in a while. Really? REALLY?? I think we actually have a better chance of winning game 1 than game 2, but you're willing to "risk" not getting injuries for the chance at being ready for game 2? And how does NOT playing our Big 3 and starters get off the "rust"?
Our bench hasn't even played like that game in November in many weeks! You're talking Patty, Nando, Bonner, Blair, and now Baynes, who's not even played the Heat at all, ever, to "compete" with the Heat? On top of all this nonsense, Stern would then fine the Spurs the O'Brien Trophy itself! He would just declare the Heat the de facto champion by default! Malarkey! I call your bluff! You have to be joking, right?

mando

[Bobby Peru]

only chance spurs have is if Lebron is hurt.

Heat in 5

[Brazil]

Bobby Peru

[m33p0]

What kind of losing coaching mentality is this? You're just going to act like a defeat in a game in a best-of-7-series is affordable, no big deal?

By the way, take Pacers-Heat as an example of how a loss in Game 1 can ultimately define or determine the entire series outcome.

9 days of rest in between playoff series, and someone wants the Spurs to play the Big 3 for limited minutes only, for the sake of more rest and less injury risk?

Really?

hook, line and sinker.

[Splits]

IMO I would say since there are 3 days off between games 1 & 2 you play all the big 3 in those two games and try to steal one on the road. Since there's only 2 games off between the next 3 games and one of those days is a travel day, play Duncan & TP in game 3, TP & Manu in game 4, and Duncan & Manu game 5 (if necessary) to give each of them some rest. If it goes back to Miami (highly doubtable, we'd probably sweep with this strategy) then you probably play all the big 3 in games 6 & 7 since it is, after all, the Finals, tbh.

[Marcus Bryant]

Play to win you effing communist.

[cutewizard]

By the way, can Aaron Baynes play in the Finals??

just asking

[Splits]

By the way, can Aaron Baynes play in the Finals??

just asking

Can? Yes. Will? No.

[cheguevara]

By the way, can Aaron Baynes play in the Finals??

just asking

Play to win you effing communist.

[timmy2003]

Spurs need to take game 1