Reply With Quote
We destroyed every single one of those stats last year winning Games 1, 3, 5, and having a 99% chance to win 6 with 28 seconds left.
Go Spurs! Just win, we need this game3! All the way here from the Philippines rooting for the Spurs!
We destroyed every single one of those stats last year winning Games 1, 3, 5, and having a 99% chance to win 6 with 28 seconds left.
good thing is the Heat also relax a bit after they won an important game, that's why I think the chances to steal one in Miami are not that bad ...
I was quoting Mugen.
ANyone thinking we could see a guy like Manu put up +30 tonight? I think 1 of our big 3 will need to have a big game. I would bank on either Duncan or Manu being that guy.
Still no sighting of Kawhi. Hope he breaks out on this game.
WowJust win ... Road trip victories!
McCutchen & Tony Brothers will try to us hard..
Kawhi is a mental midget
I don't have a good feeling about this game, but I am hopeful for game 4. As long as we come back to S.A. with one win from Miami, we will regain HCA.
Of course, if Kawhi is MIA again, we may come back to S.A. 3-1, which would REALLY be difficult.
It will be fun to watch what Pop does over the next two games.
It is hard for some of us to realize, I think, that how well we do in the next few games against this team is not altogether up to us…Miami is going to have a part to play in what we are allowed to do.
The last game was very very close with LeBron being dominant; we hurt ourselves in that game, and thus the Heat got a little lucky.
In the game tonight, if LeBron is dominant again, and we DON'T hurt ourselves, AND we get a little lucky, I think we can win.
I think the above two statements can be made for every game the rest of the way out, obviously. These teams are that close to each other, imo.
LeBron has absolutely killed us going back to Game 6. If he's hitting jumpers and 3s like he's done at a high clip so far, then, unfortunately, there isn't much the Spurs can do about it. Let's hope he has an off game at least once these next couple of games and the Spurs can take advantage.
Just win ... Road trip victories!
Am I the only one who thinks, despite the Game 2 loss, that Pop has the right strategy on LeBron? Have you noticed how little help Boris and Leonard are getting when defending him? And have you noticed that LeBron's assists are way down, and his usage rate way up? I think the idea is to wear him out. Yes, his minutes aren't too high this series (relatively speaking) but those are hard minutes going to the rim all the time. I think Pop is trying to turn LeBron into a "hero ball" player which limits the effectiveness of the other Heat players and also tires him out. He already failed to reach the end of Game 1, and despite 35 and 10 in Game 2, the Heat barely won. (A game that close is a statistical toss up.) I think Pop is going to force LeBron have to put up these numbers again and again to win. Games where he's on (how often does LeBron shoot 100% beyond the arc) will be toss ups, and any game when he's off, the Spurs will blow the Heat off the court. That's what the media is missing. LeBron had a godlike game and barely won. Okay, try and do it again....
It's a tough strategy, hanging Kawhii on an island to a degree, but he's younger than LeBron and things will get more even as the series goes on.
All we have to do is win one in Miami and not have to worry about winning on the road again. Having said that, I would much prefer a game 3 win rather than a more pressurized situation being down 2-1 and having to win game 4.
Keys To Tonight's Game
1) Avoid 1v1 ISO plays for Duncan at all costs, his success rate against Bosh/Birdman 1v1 is atrocious and even if he makes it decent percentage early, it drains too much of his gas tank for the fourth quarter. Pop/Duncan also needs better pace, no more 12 minutes in a quarter no matter what. Splitter when Duncan is not on the court, is fairly effective. His minutes need to go down to 30-32 a game.
2) 10 minutes or less for Belinelli, Green needs to play over 30 minutes, I don't mind seeing a bit of of Joseph.
3) Let LeBron get his jumpers, if he makes every single one of them with a hand in the face, so be it. Foul trouble kills us.
4) Whomever LeBron is guarding needs to run/cut/move all over the floor to tire him out, if he is on Parker, Manu needs to initiate the offense
5) Pray we can hit open 3's and Heat misses theirs, hope refs call a tight game on both ends instead of "let them play". Heat is too physical in this scenario, and their power over finesse drives are more likely to generate fouls even in a "let them play" scenario.
Lebron went full blown God Mode on Game 2....If he continues to do that for 3 more games you just have to shake his hand! With that being said I still like the Spurs chances just win a game in Miami and than it becomes a best of 3 series with 2 games in SA!
This is the most "LeBron-centric" Heat team they've had the last 4 years. He's doing everything for them. Just keep making him exert energy. As we saw in his Cleveland days, if he gets no help, eventually he'll wear out and fold up.
Especially if those jumpers aren't falling.
This. Let him get his and cover everyone else.
Problem is he's getting plenty of help. Bosh most notably is playing fantastic basketball and Lewis is making the Spurs pay. Scary thing is Allen hasn't had a big game and he will eventually hit some threes. As long as Green is on Wade I'm not worried about Dwyane having a huge impact. If Pop keeps overplaying Marco and puts him on Wade then Lebron will get plenty of help from Dwyane as well.
Last 3 games LeBron has put up 30+ on the Spurs in a playoff game, Heat have won tbh. It can't really be a let him get his mentality because he's too efficient of a scorer. I think the Spurs need to start trapping and get the ball out of his hands and rely on the rotation to their shooters. It's not ideal but it's gotta be better than the recent history of Bron killing SA.
Smart basketball minds agree with your take ..
While I completely agree with your individual points, (and I'd like to see less Marco, but Green's foul problems have upped his minutes. Maybe use Cory?), my point is LeBron's usage rate is WAY up, and his assists are way down. Those players you mention are too good to be completely shut down, but assuming this is a long series we'll see if LBJ can keep it up. I think he's going to need to be 30+ every night to beat us. Some nights those jumpers won't fall, and some nights he'll be too tired to get to the rim. If the Heat can finish us off in 5, we'll have to just praise LeBron. But with this usage rate if it goes 6 or 7, the deeper team will win. (I feel). The one problem with making him a jump shooter last year is it did not wear him out. In fact, LeBron got stronger as the series progressed.
It's over for the Spurs, tbh..the Spurs will have a cute little emotional win in Game 5 but it's a guaranteed party down in South Beach after Game 6..
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
