Let's be optimistic here and discuss why the Spurs have a big chance in game 2

[DarrinS]

I think he yanked Birdman when he saw how easily Duncan made him look really really bad.

He had scored two baskets right before he went out. With him on the bench, there was no big out there to clean up their bricks. Dude is pretty adept at getting those garbage putbacks.

[Marcus Bryant]

Most likely the Heat come out overly aggressive to start Game 2. Expecting that they build a 10, perhaps a 15 point lead in the first half, and are ahead by 10 at the half. Spurs bide their time and keep the game from getting totally out of hand. Spurs start chipping away in the 3rd and then take over at the midpoint of the 4th.

While perhaps the Heat had some fatigue coming off the ECF and now have had a couple days to rest and make adjustments after Game 1, perhaps the Spurs were a little rusty in the first half of Game 1 and will do likewise. Consider the impacts of the Heat fatigue going away and the Spurs' rustiness going away a push.

The bottomline is that the Spurs are much better at executing on offense and defense than the Heat. They don't get rattled. Miami, imo, relies heavily on talent and turning up aggression in spurts on the defensive end.

Miami has not had to defend an offense as good as the Spurs in this postseason. Plus their frontcourt is overrated, not to mention that when you have a methhead in your bigman rotation you are in a bad way to start with.

[Marcus Bryant]

Also maybe Kawhi drops a couple corner 3s and Miami misses a couple they hit in Game 1.

[Obstructed_View]

All of this ^

As expected, Duncan and Splitter both are getting whatever they want in the post. So much so, that several times they received the entry pass near the rim are elected to up-fake. The only problem was there was nobody home. They both could've had about 2-3 easy dunks each, if they would've simply went up strong the first time. The point is as stated above, the Spurs should get their share of low post scoring if they simply are conscious enough to take advantage of the obvious mismatch.

Duncan and Splitter clearly didn't expect to be that open. The adjustment for game 2 should be exactly what you said, go up strong.

[tlongII]

Duncan is why you might win this. After all these years he's still a great big man. One of the best I've ever seen.

[Obstructed_View]

Oh . tlong got hacked.

[KaiRMD1]

If the spurs can take care of the ball as well as they did in game 1 that could spell trouble for the heat

[Blind Witness]

I have a feeling the Heat are going to double hard when it goes into the post.

[skulls138]

The Spurs might turn it over some more but not that much. I think they are going to go inside more. I see Tim and Tiago getting more touches. The Heat look like they feast on perimeter ball. Time to post Timmy, feed Tiago and open up the rest of the floor for everyone else.

[pikkiwoki]

In the history of the NBA Finals, only two teams ever have taken Games 1 and 2 on the road: the '93 Bulls and the '95 Rockets.

If the Spurs were to take Game 2, I would have no words. It would be historic.

Sorry, ain't happening. We'll just have to be satisfied with the split and go to work from there.

[skulls138]

In the history of the NBA Finals, only two teams ever have taken Games 1 and 2 on the road: the '93 Bulls and the '95 Rockets.

If the Spurs were to take Game 2, I would have no words. It would be historic.

Sorry, ain't happening. We'll just have to be satisfied with the split and go to work from there.

Why say sorry when the game hasn't even been played yet? Why not wait and see? I think its do-able myself.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

There's got to be some way to take advantage of a team that is rushing and hurrying to try to score as many baskets as early as possible (which I'm sure the Heat will do.) Must be some method of using your opponent's strength against them, but I can't think of it.

[jstep13]

All I'm hoping is for the game to be close in the 4th quarter because as we have seen,anything can happen. I have a feeling though the refs will do everything possible to ensure the Heat get this win

[Spurs21Fan4Ever]

I honestly think SA will win tomorrow. Both teams sucked on Thursday, but the Spurs sucked because of rust while Miami sucked because of fatigue. Given that, I think the Spurs have a much better chance at playing a lot better tomorrow than Miami does. Spurs will shoot a lot better, and they may even increase the defensive intensity. With Miami's fatigue, I can't see them shooting any better than they did on Thursday. Spurs missed a lot of layups and wide open shots on Thursday.

I know a lot of people are expecting LeBron to score a lot more, because apparently him scoring few points on Thursday was a sign of him deferring. In all actuality, the reason he didn't score much was because of who was guarding him, and that was Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi will also be guarding LeBron in game 2 and he know has a game of experience to help him improve his defense for game 2. I'm predicting the Spurs to win tomorrow night!

GO SPURS GO!!!

[$pursDynasty]

The Spurs have to withstand the initial emotional blitz of a desperate and talented team. We will have to withstand the initial 6 minutes just like we did in that first game in Memphis and those games at Golden State. If we can withstand the initial barrage, the pressure on the Heat will skyrocket the weak will collapse, and the Spurs will get closer to hoisting the

[Kidd K]

look at the lower right. understand the table first it's confusing when you first look at it.

What table? Lower right? Not sure what you're referring to. I didn't see a table or links to anything in your OP.

[100%duncan]

What table? Lower right? Not sure what you're referring to. I didn't see a table or links to anything in your OP.

Sorry for not putting it up on the OP. Here it is.

Teams in the Spurs' position have a .188 winning percentage in Game 2. Hopefully we can buck the trend.

From mysanantonio.com:

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

I suspect the main reason that the road victor in Game 1 is only 8-8 in the Finals is simply because it was a lesser team than the one that had homecourt advantage. Prime example that comes to mind is the 2001 Sixers-Lakers, the Sixers won Game one but then lost the next four to the Lakers.

[Venti Quattro]

I suspect the main reason that the road victor in Game 1 is only 8-8 in the Finals is simply because it was a lesser team than the one that had homecourt advantage. Prime example that comes to mind is the 2001 Sixers-Lakers, the Sixers won Game one but then lost the next four to the Lakers.

1991 Bulls lost Game 1 to LA and won the next 4.

[milkyway21]

optimistic

, hmmn

[Venti Quattro]

Sorry, ain't happening. We'll just have to be satisfied with the split and go to work from there.

Spurs need to go for a 2-0 lead at all costs. They won Game 1, why not try winning Game 2 too, right? To put things in perspective, only three home teams have swept the middle three games since the Finals switched to a 2-3-2 format in 1985.

2004 Pistons
2006 Heat
2012 Heat

[100%duncan]

Spurs need to go for a 2-0 lead at all costs. They won Game 1, why not try winning Game 2 too, right? To put things in perspective, only three home teams have swept the middle three games since the Finals switched to a 2-3-2 format in 1985.

2004 Pistons
2006 Heat
2012 Heat

Agreed. The "trend" is so overrated IMHO. And the Spurs is a team that CAN definitely change that, but let's see if they WILL.

[Kidd K]

Sorry for not putting it up on the OP. Here it is.

Thanks. They did flash a stat about recent history where of the last 6 times it happened, it was 3-3 though. I didn't see exactly what the stat was (the time period and stuff), but it was 3-3 for game 2. Maybe that included home teams too though over last 6 years.

[100%duncan]

Thanks. They did flash a stat about recent history where of the last 6 times it happened, it was 3-3 though. I didn't see exactly what the stat was (the time period and stuff), but it was 3-3 for game 2. Maybe that included home teams too though over last 6 years.

The 18% was the winning percentage in game 2 road teams have in the finals after winning game 1.

[100%duncan]

Thanks. They did flash a stat about recent history where of the last 6 times it happened, it was 3-3 though. I didn't see exactly what the stat was (the time period and stuff), but it was 3-3 for game 2. Maybe that included home teams too though over last 6 years.

The 18% was the winning percentage in game 2 road teams have in the finals after winning game 1.