Game 2: Will we have a let down?

[ElNono]

We are going to be watching tape too, and to be honest with you, regardless of their great 4th quarter, there's more questions than answers in Jerry Sloan's mind right now.
One thing obvious from yesterday game:
Neither Memo or Carlos can defend Duncan one on one. They would pile up with fouls quick (like Boozer yesterday) and that kills their offense. If you put Hoffa on Tim, then you have the problem that he can't score a bucket, and no Memo 3pt threat = less floor spacing for Carlos and DW to operate on offense.
The only reasonable option that I see is moving Fisher to defend Bowen, then using him to double team on Timmy. Obviously that leaves Bruce open for treys, but something has to give.

[Borosai]

No.

[Budkin]

I think Game 1 played out absolutely perfect for us. We had a huge lead and then let it slip away but still won the game. Now Pop doesn't have to get the guys prepared for a letdown because they saw what the Jazz were capable of and they will have what he refers to as "the appropriate fear." We'll be taking Game 2 as well. GO SPURS GO!!!

[GrandeDavid]

I would say that it is probable that the Jazz will win game 2, but we will come back and win either one or both of games 3 and 4.

This is something like our fifth game in 9 nights. Something ridiculous like that. We had an emotionally draining series against Phoenix. We won game 1, a lot of game 1 giving us overconfidence.

I am afraid that we will lose energy and the Jazz will come out harder and compete better. It is a Sloan coached team and a physical team.
So, honestly, I would not be surprised to see the Jazz win game 2.

It is somewhat similar to what happened in Game 2 of 2006 against the Mavericks.

I still know that the Spurs will win the series and I believe that we will get at least one of the two in Utah, but I see this as the most likely path (unfortunately).

anyone else see this?

Michael Finley was quoted as saying that the Spurs had learned from their Game 2 letdown against Dallas last playoffs, that they are guarding against that.

Bottom line, the Spurs won't lose for a lack of effort. They'll lose if they go ice cold, get killed on the boards and Utah shoots well.

I think the Spurs, all in all, will do a good job tomorrow.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I think the Spurs will win all home games and take the series 4-1.

[J.T.]

Spurs win 2, lose 3, win 4 and 5.

[DDS4]

No letdown but game 2 will definitely be a lot closer.

I think it actually helped that the Spurs were dissatisfied with their play/intensity in the 2nd half.

I look for Fin, Barry, and Horry to play bigger roles in game 2.

[greens]

I think all the Spurs know what they have to do for Game 2. I just saw a vid of Manu speaking to the media after the Game 1 win, and he talked about how the guys were all talking about what happened after the Sacramento series in the locker game after their win...and how they do not want to repeat the same mistake again. Also just read a new article this morning about how Tony also mentioned how the team was thinking back to last year, where they won Game 1 against Dallas, then let Game 2 slip away.

So it seems that it is fresh in their minds...

post game quotes:
http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/quotes_070520.html

Manu's take:
After winning Game 1 following a short turnaround and then losing the next game last year is there any concern? - “Yes, of course. A couple guys were talking about that. We knew last year after playing Sacramento that the first game was going to be really tough. Mentally we were great, we were there and we really hustled and played hard and didn’t make too many mistakes. I think today was like that. Then we thought, ok now we are rested and it’s going to be even easier and that was a huge mistake. Hopefully we learned from the mistakes last year and we’ll do even better.”


Also the Tony article:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...v=ap&type=lgns

Besides containing Williams, the Spurs also are wary of a Game 2 letdown.

Part of Utah's late success Sunday was exhaustion catching up to San Antonio from a physical and emotional series against Phoenix that ended about 39 hours earlier. The Spurs had a similar situation last year, handling a quick turnaround to beat Dallas in a series opener only to get crushed at home the next game.

Parker said players were thinking back to that mistake in the locker room after Game 1. Although Popovich dismissed the idea as ancient history, he did give players an off day Monday; Horry and backup point guard Jacque Vaughn showed up at the practice gym anyway to shoot some jumpers, while Parker stopped by merely to get treatment for his right shoulder and knees.

"The game we really want is tomorrow so we make sure we give them no hope," Parker said. "Especially with a young team like that, it's always good."

[L.I.T]

Nope, I don't think the Spurs will suffer any let-down.

'Sides Popovich has way to much he can harp on after Game 1.

[efrem1]

Law of averages more than suggest that the Jazz are due to take a game in SA. Look, we split the season with you, its not like the Jazz are incapable of beating the Spurs, and the Jazz proved in the last two series they can play on the road and win. And for the doubters out there, that was a good game by DW, but he has been playing on fire all season. Memo, AK, and Harpring dissappeared though, Boozer had a pretty lame game for the most part -- don't expect to see that again in game 2. jazz steal it by 3 pts, Horry misses the 3-ball for the tie

The 2-2 split was misleading in a few respects. First the first road loss was when Ginobili was out with a bad back. The second was on that below-average rodeo road trip. I give the Jazz props and they will fight hard. The Spurs got a wake up call in the second half and will adjust accordingly in game 2. A lower score of 93-85 is in the cards manana.

[zedman]

The only one having a "letdown" in game 2 will be my wife, and that is only because she is breast feeding our 6 month old son.

[itzsoweezee]

all signs point to "yes." but hopefully the spurs will surprise all of us and actually play hard. but really, how many times has this team let their guard down when they start feeling comfortable? too many times to count.

[T Park]

I don't think the Spurs will have a let down in game 2, considering they were very disappointed in their own performance in the second half of game 1. They think they were completely outplayed, so I'd imagine they'll come out with a sense of urgency and focus in game 2.

reading that makes me feel good about tommarow night.

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

I don't think the Spurs should be underestimated. The Suns was a hard series that had a few ups and downs, but now that they're one more series closer to their goal, I can't picture them not taking any of these remaining games seriously.

[Cry Havoc]

I don't think the Spurs will have a let down in game 2, considering they were very disappointed in their own performance in the second half of game 1. They think they were completely outplayed, so I'd imagine they'll come out with a sense of urgency and focus in game 2.

Yeah. In a way, Deron's performance gave us a good headslap.

I hope.

[koopa]

i haven't read everyones post in this thread so i don't know if this has been said but i think some make a big deal of the second half let down, it's more of a 4th quarter with the game in the bag don't give a if they score thing, they only out scored us by 2 in the 3rd quarter, and most of the 4th quarter we still had that big lead, so i think ppl should stop worrying so much about a let down, yes it's possible, but don't let that "second half let down" fool you......

i say the spurs win game 2, and then get killed game 3, and then win 4, probably lose 5 and then wrap it up in 6.........

[100%duncan]

some people say that jazz are gonna win game 2 and some don't but for me I think that the spurs are going to dominate the jazz in game 2.for me it's,GO SPURS GO!