Spurs must not allow a Suns Gm2 win..............aka. Spurs/Mavs 06 repeat

[timvp]

I see two scenarios:

1. The Suns put it all on the line, and suffered an emotionally crippling loss. The delusion they had built in their mind that they "own" the Spurs since they now have Shaq has been erased. They didn't give the Spurs their best shot since they were saddled with foul trouble, but they gave them damn near their best, and it wasn't good enough. A deflating loss like this will destroy their confidence, and players like Barbosa and Bell who nailed shots in Game One will be fellating Tony and Manu in Game Two. The Suns will respond like the '03 Lakers did in Game Six, i.e. they will get gang raped.

2. The Suns got jobbed by the refs, and still know they're the better team. The NBA has realized that this is the greatest first round series EVER and will make sure the right refs are assigned to make sure it goes seven (and by "right" I mean the ones who typically aren't homer refs and/or who hate Duncan, so that's Javies and Crawford). The Spurs expended too much energy, really did give the Suns their best shot, and it was just barely enough. The Spurs offense is like the immune system of an AIDS patient: some times it's strong and robust, but with just a moment's notice, it will totally shut down for extended periods of time. Shaq will respond with a vengeance in Game Two, Duncan will have pedestrian numbers, and the Spurs will get run out of the AT&T Center. What happened to the '06 Spurs in Game Two against Dallas will also happen in Game Two here, i.e. after a tough, gutsy victory, they will go out and get annihilated by a healthy dose of ty calls and determined opponents.

Right now, I'm leaning a little bit more towards scenario 2, although I think the Spurs will be prepared for and expecting this scenario and could be able to overcome it. Let's just hope we don't have to rely on any more threes from Duncan in order to win.

Valid points. Game 2 will go down as the most pivotal game of the series. It's safe to say the winner of Game 2 wins the series.

[T Park]

They weren't youngins in 2006 either.

Pissed off Suns team? Big whoop.

You withstand the onslaught and play Spurs basketball.

If you don't win, you don't win.

[DazedAndConfused]

When the Suns have their frontcourt on the floor they seem to do a pretty decent job at defending the Spurs. Of course therein lies the rub, they can never keep their frontcourt on the floor for very long. If the refs swallow their whistles and let Shaq play physical I can see the Suns possibly winning Game 2.

[T Park]

I don't see how someone can say the Spurs gave the Suns "their best shot"

Ginobili's shooting was off, as was Parker's for a whole half.
Udoka, Bowen, Finley played OK. Thomas and Oberto's offense was minimal.

I just don't see where this was the Spurs's BEST SHOT.

I mean you can't treat Duncan's game like it was the team.

[td4mvp21]

I don't think the Spurs gave the Suns their best shot. If the Spurs had played the entire game like they had the second half, and still only won by 2 in double overtime, then yeah, I would be more concerned than I am now. I'm not so sure if the Suns gave us their best shot either, but they played damn good the entire game, you would be stupid to think otherwise. The Spurs outperformed them in the clutch, but that's what the Spurs usually do against the Suns. We'll have to see if that holds up. Like conqueso said, those are the two scenarios, we just have to wait and find out which is true...

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

I don't see how someone can say the Spurs gave the Suns "their best shot"

Ginobili's shooting was off, as was Parker's for a whole half.
Udoka, Bowen, Finley played OK. Thomas and Oberto's offense was minimal.

I just don't see where this was the Spurs's BEST SHOT.

I mean you can't treat Duncan's game like it was the team.

The Spurs didn't play there A game in GM1, but they still expended a lot of energy



but if Duncan is the only one that shows up in the half again, Spurs are done. Manu HAS to be big for 4qt

[Spurs Dynasty 21]

God help us........

[bresilhac]

Game2 will define the series.

Spurs win, it's over, sooner rather than later. The Suns are not the team the 04 Lakers were and won't come back for 0-2. There's no Malone+Shaq tandem to neutralize Tim.

Spurs lose, it's a 6- or 7-game unpredictable dogfight.

I agree. If San Antonio gets game two it's essentially over. That's how critical tonight's game is to the series. Forced to take four out of five from the Spurs the Suns will collapse.

[boutons_]

Being completely selfish, I really don't want to wake up Wed morning 1-1.

1-1 would mean going 6 or 7.

2-0 could very well mean 4-1 with a day or two more of rest.

[dreamcastrocks]

Suns complaining about refs after a game, even a game in which the whole thing was a ridiculously biased game IN THEIR FAVOR?

Now isn't that a surprise.

/sarcasm.

Now that's just silly. Plenty of your own fans are saying that the officiating was pretty even. It was more even than any game in last year's series, that's for sure.

I personally won't mind too much if the Suns lose tomorrow. They just can't lose another nailbiter. They can't be up for 45 minutes in the game, and then fail to close you guys out.

A Suns win would obviously be my best scenerio. A Spurs blowout is next, then a close game.

I honestly don't know which Suns team will show up tonight.