Hopes Shattered when TP decided to take that 3 pointer.

[ElNono]

Hopes shattered when we lost Game 5...

[dbreiden83080]

Hopes shattered when we lost Game 5...

Yes we all knew it going in.. Was this gonna be 2003 or 2004? They had to find some way any way to pull that one out and we'd be talking about game 7..

[DeadlyDynasty]

Yup...Game 7 would've meant certain Spurs victory...and with the East looking like it is, a championship victory and that elusive one for the thumb. So close. So very, very close.

[TXstbobcat]

Yup...Game 7 would've meant certain Spurs victory...and with the East looking like it is, a championship victory and that elusive one for the thumb. So close. So very, very close.

That will always be the big "what if" for 2012 for myself as a spurs fan. What would have happened in game 7 if the spurs would have held on to that 18 point lead in game 6.

[cd98]

Parker didn't lose game 6. That said, if Deron Williams won't sign with the Nets, what are the chances of a TP and spare parts trade for Deron Williams? I'm hearing the Nets may trade him for Gasol. But that's a waste. Gasol will suck for NJ. Parker would be much more entertaining.

[Horse]

the three at the end of game 5 by manu was more rushed
should have hit sj

Why has no one mentioned the ref tripped Manu right before he shot that 3.

[GrandeDavid]

True Story:

Game 6 Western Conference Finals. 35 Seconds Left. Spurs are making a furious comeback to take game 6 and force a game 7. Two Spurs just missed 3 pointers, then Spurs get the offensive rebound, kick it to Tony Parker on the wing. I scream "NOOOOO, Don't Shoot it!!!", then he does, "clank.."


End of Story:

Anyone else have a similar experience?

That was ruthless. I also was bummed at four brutal phantom calls/non calls that hurt the Spurs badly.

[Budkin]

The 3rd quarter was atrocious. All of a sudden we couldn't buy a bucket. That 3 at the end of the half by Durant ended up really hurting us.

[ginobili fan]

Hopes shattered when durant hit the buzzer to make it to 15 differential before HT.
Seriously.
Then I knew they'll do a ty 3dr quarter = same old story.

[slick'81]

the 3 by durant at the end of half was huuge from 18-15 then okc proceeded to open up a can of whoop ass in that 3rd.SPurs had to have atleast a 20-25 point lead to hold off okc in that game

[DubMcDub]

That's a simplistic view because it doesn't take into account the timing of those fouls.

Spurs were in the penalty less than halfway through the quarter and that changed the entire complexion of the final six minutes. The Spurs aren't a great defensive team, but they can turn up the pressure for stretches. Facing elimination, I GUARANTEE the Spurs play much more aggressively to contest shots, close out, deny ball, and generally pressure the ball if they have fouls to give.

Losing Manu for a couple minutes due to his 5th foul on a BS call was also a game changer.

It absolutely takes into account the timing. Disparities well above +6 for the road team are typical. Are you telling me that, in all those other games with equal or higher disparities, none of the fouls occurred late in the game, or affected the availability of a key player? Please.

The Mavs were called for 10 more PFs than the Heat in Game 6 of the Finals last year. Several of these were in the last 8 minutes. One gave Chandler his 5th foul, and one gave Dirk his fourth. The FT differential was 33 to 18, and that's including garbage time FTs by the Mavs. If you're the better team, you win anyway. And you definitely win anyway when it's a measly +6 differential over the course of the game.

The Spurs have benefited many, many times from home-court calls in key playoff games over the past 13 years. It's nonsensical to act like last night was a "fix" or a "call from Stern" and not just the typical, to-be-expected homecourt officiating.

[ginobili fan]

the 3 by durant at the end of half was huuge from 18-15 then okc proceeded to open up a can of whoop ass in that 3rd.SPurs had to have atleast a 20-25 point lead to hold off okc in that game

Yeah right in any other night spurs should have had these 20-25 points lead.
But for strange reasons, it seemed like even us dominating massively, we finished bad every end of the quarters this series.

[TampaDude]

Hopes shattered when we lost Game 5...

^ this

I was surprised the Spurs even had a lead at halftime of Game 6, let alone a 15-point lead. I really expected them to get blown out.