Random Thoughts After Sleepless Night

[GrandeDavid]

I just don't see ANY team bouncing back from that loss. Just absolutely brutal tbh.

I tend to agree with LJ. But I don't want to sugarcoat it. The loss was brutal, but it wasn't unprecedented. See it from the other side as well. Miami, in a desperation home game, was down "only" ten to start the 4th, not 16 with under four minutes left. They rally to take the lead only to have Tony Parker, who had had a poor shooting night, hit two huge baskets. End of the day the Heat have the ball in their arena with a chance at a two possession game to tie and send to OT (or win in regulation had the Spurs missed one more free throw). So what happens? Arguably the best player on the planet cans a three.

And while I would say that I disagree with Pop's subs utions and do not deny that the Spurs choked, the three to send it to OT was made by the greatest three point shooter of all time. Then the Spurs still have some seconds left to win it in regulation and OT, and we get terrible shots by both Parker and Manu.

In other words, it sucked but there have been far greater collapses. Yes, this cost them the championship, but at least there's another game. There is not way the Spurs lay down tomorrow. I'm not saying they win, but I give them a decent chance. Lay down and go into the fetal position they will not do.

[Darius McCrary]

I'm actually not worried about Manu. He's at peak health, didn't play much minutes, and can't play any worse.

I just can't stop being terrified of the energy left in Duncan and Parker's legs. I can see us hanging in the first, and fading badly in the fourth.
If only Pop had a solid rebounder on the floor whenever both kawhi and Duncan sit. It's the times when Duncan and Kawhi are on the bench that really kill us, I'd like to see some actual numbers. But when those guys are on the bench, we are defending Miami well...but we can't seal the deal with rebounding. Furthermore the offense turns into a stagnant turnover fest.

Happened in games 4 and to a lesser extent game 5 too.

[polandprzem]

I don't see it. Manu for once is already talking defeat post game. Parker is obviously tired. Duncan rehire his knee.

If they win it'll be a miracle.

wtf?

Where is spurs got it cause Miami will not make any adjustments?

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Manu sounded more depressed after Game 4, tbh.

Mikefinger: Manu on his mental state: "Still down. After a blow like that, it's not easy to get back up."

[polandprzem]

-Damn that stings.

-I love Manu and I still want him back next year but watching the tape makes it difficult not to be mad at him. If he dies during warmups of Game 6, the Spurs win by 15 to 20 points. He was literally the best player on the Heat last night.

-I'm slowly growing more confident about Game 7. The Spurs were the better team last night. And really, that's probably the first time I've felt that way all series. Game 1 was won due to fluke low turnovers. Game 3 was won with fluke three-point shooting. Game 5 was won with fluke 60% shooting. Last night the Spurs were just better. Let's hope that is a good omen.

-Any other team in the history of the world would be toast mentally. But not these Spurs. Their greatest gift is the mental toughness forged through years of fighting arm in arm. They will bounce back.

Believe.

Well spurs were better but they lost. They lost in the column and they were hit by a mental loss.

In the press conference I still saw fire in TD and Pop, but it's time for Miami to be better team and win on their court.

It's not like 2005 where we had HCA. Now Wade is gonna bounce back and also those all Chalmerses will be fired up.
this . Where is the room for improvement?

I don't know. Esp with tanks being empty after game 6. Pop will give them as much rest as possible. But Miami is more athletic and can survive more.

[MmP]

I've never heard Manu this down tbh

[Ozballer]

Odds against the Spurs....however, SA will bounce back if they can compete throughout game 7. If, they find themselves in the game half way qtr 3, GAME ON. Miami has shown that they are gassed and can only play in spurts. Despite the loss, San Antonio finally appeared to dominate Miami in the series. The Spurs looked in control of their own destiny and on a mission. They blew game 6. They will not blow it twice if, they can re zone and MIA throws them a bone in game 7 (very likely).spurs in a nail biter

[hommeaetage]

Can someone tell me how many times have the Spurs used this lineup that started the 4th? Not only it was moronic, that was just downright arrogant

[BatManu20]

Mikefinger: Manu on his mental state: "Still down. After a blow like that, it's not easy to get back up."

Manu needs to stop being such a pussy. He's always been sensitive, which is fine, but your franchise, that is paying you millions of dollars to play basketball, (millions that you don't deserve) is counting on you to step up when it counts. Your teammates are counting on you. The entire city of San Antonio and Spurs fans everywhere are counting on you. Stop acting like a , and WIN ONE MORE ING GAME. You can redeem EVERYTHING with just one more win. Focus and let's go.

[8FOR!3]

I just don't see ANY team bouncing back from that loss. Just absolutely brutal tbh.

We're not just any team...

[baseline bum]

This is the most mentally tough team I've ever seen. It's the trait they've leaned on to get to this point. Physically, this is a 50 win out in the first round team. Mentally they have championship mettle, determination and belief.

I'm coming to your side on the mental, but I'm really worried about the physical. With a short turnaround time and Tim playing 45 minutes I'd be worried even had he not injured his knee. And Tony looked completely gassed, like he had nothing to give by the last half of OT. I really think a win is going to have to take one of Manu's 10 greatest performances, some hot shooting from the three, and Tim and Tony with some reasonable health and stamina. And no more Tiago Splitter; he's just too much of a liability because he won't keep the damn ball high. What I would give for him to have a training session with Andrew Bynum today. The one thing I love so much about Bynum is that he never takes the extra dribble, never brings the ball low when you get him the ball at the basket.

[baseline bum]

But if they somehow find a way to pull Game 7 off, it will further cement this as possibly the greatest upset in Finals history.

[Salty]

Physically there's doubts, but nobody except for the Spurs know the extent of their fatigue. Therefore it's pointless to speculate about it.

Good news is that it sounds like the Spurs are gonna come into Game 7 fired up. They know this is their last chance.

[Keepin' it real]

Good news is that it sounds like the Spurs are gonna come into Game 7 fired up.

[soxxx]

I think the Heat will be tired to, Lebron has looked exausted, especially last night. Wades limping again...

[baseline bum]

Physically there's doubts, but nobody except for the Spurs know the extent of their fatigue. Therefore it's pointless to speculate about it.

Good news is that it sounds like the Spurs are gonna come into Game 7 fired up. They know this is their last chance.

It was pretty easy to see how fatigued they were last night and with a short turnaround time it's not some huge leap.

[phxspurfan]

My own random thought: LeBron actually looked pretty badass as he was going at it without the headband. Maybe he should lose the headband and just play better and without all the primadonna bull for a whole season and see how it feels.

[Agloco]

I've never heard Manu this down tbh

We've never seen him play this badly tbh. I'll bet they're related.

[GrandeDavid]

It was pretty easy to see how fatigued they were last night and with a short turnaround time it's not some huge leap.

I'm sure the Miami players will be just as fatigued.

[Salty]

It was pretty easy to see how fatigued they were last night and with a short turnaround time it's not some huge leap.

It's also not a huge leap to think that the Spurs will come in with enough energy to win.

[TheGoldStandard]

Manu usually s things up when he's only looking to pass the ball and not score and then facilitate. The guy takes two dribbles and is ready to dump the ball off to Tiago Splitter?? I mean really? Or ty bounce passes in traffic? For every amazing play he does 5 things that are wrong.. He needs to be on a short leash, 1 turnover and he's on the bench.

[Salty]

• What a crushing collapse of a defeat. How did the Spurs not win this game???
• They'll have nothing left for Game 7, especially Tim. Look at the minutes played for the Spurs main players tonight. Like Magic Johnson said post game, the Heat played big minutes too, but their main players are younger, so they can take it. \
• What a waste of an all-time performance by Tim.
• Why did Pop take out Tim? Fatal decision. Pop outsmarted himself.
• Feel horrible for Kawhi for missing that FT. He played great.
• Lebron choked in the final minutes ... then the Spurs out-choked him. Disaster.
• Danny Green regressed big time.
• Ginobili was clearly hacked on his drive, but not surprised by the no-call.
• I don't want any part of Game 7 under these cir stances. Spurs will be out of gas. It's going to be ugly if you're a Spurs fan.

And save your critical replies. If you don't agree, just shove it up your ass.

[jiggy_55]

We've seen this team be so damn strong this season, mentally and physically, coming back from a loss. While this game probably demoralized them and drained them, I expect nothing more than a bounce back effort. They will fight till the last second tomorrow and give it their all and we will be proud Spurs fans regardless. The hardest thing is that we had the le right within our grasp, but if they come out and play like they did in Game 6, I see no reason we lose. We were better, Parker and Manu were horrible overall, Green couldn't buy a shot, Splitter only made a few important baskets in the 4th and was otherwise useless, Neal didn't score enough. The positives were practically Duncan, Leonard and Diaw. We can do much better tomorrow.
Hope the young guns aren't too rattled, I'm not worried about Kawhi as the guy is stone cold, but maybe Green after a bad game finally loses some confidence. I sure hope not. Hope he's able to get some open 3's tomorrow, that would be huge for us. If Manu is struggling again, Pop needs to pull the plug and limit his minutes to just keep him fresh. I guess in that case we only have Gary Neal to replace him in a small lineup.

[N0 LyF3 ScRuB]

Nobody closes us out, tbh..

Cept the 2011 Mavericks... NOBODY closes us out tbh

[NASpurs]

Manu needs to shut the up and keep those pussy thoughts to himself. It's like he's a ing mole for the Heat and trying to bring the Spurs down from the inside and on the court. He's been my favorite Spur of all time and he's losing my respect everytime he opens his ing mouth.