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If Manu cannot play a game without getting injured, what ing good is he in the playoffs?
Paranoia has set in
I have a feeling most spurs fans will be holding their breaths until the final buzzer against GS
If Manu cannot play a game without getting injured, what ing good is he in the playoffs?
Here's a completely unfounded guess: I wouldn't be surprised if the league has quietly told the Spurs that tanking Wednesday night is not an option if that game has any meaning at all. The league would certainly love to have meaningful games over these last 3 days. If Phoenix wins in SLC tonight, then the PNX/SA game has meaning -- and, oh by the way, is being broadcast on ESPN (which certainly wouldn't like a game involving a s of the Spurs).
Bullying aside, taking those guys along also makes a great deal of sense, at least because if Chicago loses earlier that evening in Indiana (a result that seems likely to be known before the Spurs take the floor tomorrow night), the Spurs could likely clinch the #1 overall seed by beating Phoenix, given the Warriors' clear need to lose games, at this point. If Chicago drops that game in Indy, it would be a shame to be unable to capitalize on the advantage because the Big 3 were 1,000 miles away.
Looks like not many people learned a thing from the end of last year.
1. If TP/Manu/Tim all break their legs in the 1st quarter of Game 1 of the playoffs, then so be it. But don't risk injury in two meaningless games that the Spurs could probably split or win both with the subs playing.
2. "The Rust Factor" or "Keep the Momentum Going" - They are gonna play the Utah Jazz or the Phoenix Suns. I repeat the Utah Jazz or the Phoenix Suns. The spurs almost beat Utah with their C squad the last time they played and have owned Phoenix all season long. Say the Big 3 come out rusty for a half or even Game 1. The Spurs still have a pretty good shot of winning that game. This team is good enough to even recover from a Game 1 loss (like they did in 03, 05, and 07).
3. It's the Big ing 3. They are not going to forget how to play basketball or fall out of shape in 4 days. They have the most playoff experience on the team and will be just fine when the playoffs start...if healthy.
I'm sure a lot of you can come up with a 100 reasons to why they should play limited mins. in these games. But are any of those reasons even worth risking the albeit remote chance of the Big 3 suffering a playoff-ending injury?
Again, they're pretty much meaningless to the Spurs; but Wednesday's game at Phoenix could have a great deal of meaning to both the Suns and the Jazz (and to the Spurs, by extension).
If PHX wins tonight, then the Spurs will determine whether UTA or PHX reaches the playoffs. I think they are obligated to at least make a show of playing the game straight up. It's a lot of money on the line for whichever franchise makes it to the post-season. And it's courting way too much controversy if they just uber-tank the game.
If Utah wins tonight, I think you won't see much of the Big 3 in PHX, and Pop will give them some minutes in the last game as a tune-up.
When it comes to this issue, definitely. I'm sure you didn't mind Pop playing Manu before the PHX game last year as well.
why play them when suns fate is decided today against the jazz.....
Don't like this. No Neal, no ring.
Sit each of the big 3 until the playoffs. That's 4 days rest max, if the Spurs open the playoffs on Sunday. 4 days isn't that big of a break, though the pacing of this season might make it seem that way.
, you do realize the spurs played yest. (monday) right? Not sure how you get 4 days but whatever..These guys should play 10-12 minutes tomm. and rest for the GS game.
Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
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Gary Neal will miss final two regular season games with left shoulder stinger. He's not on trip to Phoenix/Golden State.
Golden State already screwed themselves(>50% chance) out of their pick by winning Sunday.
Last edited by baseline bum; 04-24-2012 at 06:02 PM.
As long as he's ready by Game 1.
I don't mind the big 3 hopping on a plane, wear nice suits on the sidelines to support their teammates, they can rest and sleep just as well on the bench.
its going to be two looooonnnngggggg games...
don't like the move
I understand the rust but if this team is ready to win it all, we should be able to finish the jazz or whomever even rusty the first game
Does Pop think rhythm is that important? If we win out it will be 10 straight and hot teams tend to go deep in the playoffs, does he think this will be key?
I definitely don't want any of our players injured.. and PHX has something to play for if they win tonight.
Just saw at Yahoo! Sports:
“EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO INTO THE PLAYOFFS HEALTHY WITH ENERGY AND RHYTHM, AND WE'RE NO DIFFERENT FROM ANYONE ELSE. SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S THE POSITION THAT WE'RE IN.”
- Coach Gregg Popovich, on clinching the No. 1 seed in the West.
Duncan was day-to-day in the 2000 playoffs right up to the time he had knee surgery.
Last year people were talking so much about Pop because he was sitting down players down the stretch instead of going after Chicago for the 1. Seeing how everyone's at ude has changed is hilarious.
No they just have to lose both of their remaining games to have keep their draft pick. You see the Nets and Rapts are tied with 22-43 records. AND THEY PLAY EACH OTHER. One has to win, making their record 23-43. When GS loses their last two, their record will be 23-43. Both the Nets and Rapts hold the tie breaker over the Warriors.
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