Is Game 3 a must win?

[Horse]

OKC won't win another single game this season. Plain and simple.

Damn right!

[.G.]

The wheels...they're coming off

Looks like it. Duncan is a rare breed when it comes to compe ors, though, and I choose to believe that he'll find a way to affect this series on the offensive end.

[spurs10]

They're all must wins.

I just hope they play with a bigger sense of urgency, greater focus than what I saw from G2. LMA aside, lackadaisical performance.

And for s sake, Duncan HAS to start finishing at the rim.

Very eloquently expressed. I concur completely "for s sake" Timmy needs to make his lay-ups.

[.G.]

Very eloquently expressed. I concur completely "for s sake" Timmy needs to make his lay-ups.

Sometimes I think that missed layup in G7 of the 2013 Finals ed with his psyche.

[313]

I can see them winning the next three.

They played a D- game tonight and still almost won, while the Thunder played about as well as they can.

"Played about as well as they can" lol they did enough for a win on the road, I'll give em that. I think OKC capable of putting up a lot more than 98 points though

[313]

Against the John Havlicek Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference First Round circa 1977 as I recall.



But they lost Game 3 on the road to go down 2-1 though . . .

No it was against the Kevin Durant OKC Thunder in 2012. Back door sweep style.

[TheDoctor]

The wheels...they're coming off

Or the NBA started doing PEDs tests.

[T Park]

"Played about as well as they can" lol they did enough for a win on the road, I'll give em that. I think OKC capable of putting up a lot more than 98 points though

They would be if they had any consistent scoring outside of Durant and Westbrook, and also a bench.

[T Park]

The wheels...they're coming off

If the wheels are coming off how did he outplay Adams in the second half on the birds and defensively?

I'll wait.

[MaNu4Tres]

If series is tied, all odd number games are must wins.

They have to win tomorrow night.

[DMC]

None of them are. They didn't win last year and yet here they are.

[DaBears]

I dont know what is going to happen. All i though is that the SPURS need come punch them in the mouth 1st, like they did in gm 1... If not and OKC hits 1st, i can assure everyone it will be a uphill battle the whole night, where the SPURS will need to play catch up throughout the whole game. But what do i know! I am just your average run of the mill "Silver & Black fan from birth".. Lets kick some OKC porn stash wearing dumb as "Waiters" ass, all over that bird stain of a town..

LONG LIVE THE !!

[tholdren]

Nope - Each game is just another game.

[GSH]

Nobody ever lost a series 2-1.

Spurs lost a series 2-0.

It actually took me a couple of days to realize what the you were talking about. They lost a series after being up 2-0, you goofy bas .


There's no "must win" game for a team, until the other team has 3 wins. It's that simple.

[Darius Bieber]

It actually took me a couple of days to realize what the you were talking about. They lost a series after being up 2-0, you goofy bas .


There's no "must win" game for a team, until the other team has 3 wins. It's that simple.

Oh yeah, my bad. Should have said "Spurs lost a series after being up 2-0" - referring to 2012 OKC. (The infamous backdoor sweep)

[Dex]

Nobody ever lost a series 2-1.

/endthread

[Spurtacular]

I don't think Game 3 is must win. But Games 3-5 are must win 2 of 3, imo.

[TheRemix]

If the wheels are coming off how did he outplay Adams in the second half on the birds and defensively?

I'll wait.

Of course he's great defensively and can hold his own against the likes of Adam.

I'm referring to the fact that he blows wide open layups. It's tough to see

[T Park]

Of course he's great defensively and can hold his own against the likes of Adam.

I'm referring to the fact that he blows wide open layups. It's tough to see

In one game, not consistently

[Seventyniner]

It actually took me a couple of days to realize what the you were talking about. They lost a series after being up 2-0, you goofy bas .

There's no "must win" game for a team, until the other team has 3 wins. It's that simple.

Actually I thought he was talking about the days of best-of-three series. Example: the Spurs lost to the Rockets in 1980 2-1.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1980-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-spurs-vs-rockets.html

And a 2-0 loss to the Celtics in 1977:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...s-celtics.html

Those are the only best-of-threes in Spurs history as far as I can tell.

[.G.]

Duncan's been shooting ~50% within the restricted area in 6 PO games. Limited shots, too.

[TheDoctor]

Duncan's been shooting ~50% within the restricted area in 6 PO games. Limited shots, too.

Yeah, he's been awful. Really showing his age offensively.

[.G.]

Yeah, he's been awful. Really showing his age offensively.

For years now many posters have said that it's painful to watch Duncan work in the paint. I can't be willfully ignorant anymore.

Him and Parker are basically in the same boat now, offensively speaking, because as Parker recently stated, it's imperative that they hit the few shots they're given.

Perhaps Duncan's focus should strictly be defense and rebounding where he can really impact the game.

Defer those touches to Kawhi, who by comparison is hitting ~80% within the restricted area.

[TheDoctor]

For years now many posters have said that it's painful to watch Duncan work in the paint. I can't be willfully ignorant anymore...

I can say that has specifically been this year tbh. Isn't that he was in his prime years and imposed his will offensively when he wanted, but he could take over a game every now and then. Timmy was a beast vs the Clippers last Playoffs.

...Perhaps Duncan's focus should strictly be defense and rebounding where he can really impact the game.

That possibly could be it. Or most likely the product of several correlated things like:
1) Age, less strong.
2) Health, Both knees are hurting now.
3) Focus, defense and rebounding are his priorities.

[.G.]

That possibly could be it. Or most likely the product of several correlated things like:
1) Age, less strong.
2) Health, Both knees are hurting now.
3) Focus, defense and rebounding are his priorities.

Agreed on his performance in last year's PO, it was very surprising to me.

Sean Elliott has joked about Duncan's ability to jump over a phone book for some time now. Almost eeriely prophetic. Duncan can only fight gravity for so long.