No much confidence as Mavs get a well rested JT back. AJ may try something new and Pop may have difficulty to match. All games are too close but Mavs seem to have better health while SPURS have the home court. The ref will play a significant role and SPURS have not yet got a significant advantage from ref yet. Hope I am wrong though.
Confidence? I'm confident the Spurs should win this game, and I hope to see a blowout so I don't my pants, but you never know. I'm nervous as because anything can happen, and I really don't care to see the Mavs advance...they have too many pricks in that organization (not all, but far too many, especially Cuban). I just want this one real bad.
Same here.
Spurs by 11.
As others have said -- JT will try too hard and become a non-factor.
Dirk will try to takeover the game tonight -- stay in his grille Fin!!
I expect TP to come out better than last game!
This will be the Spurs biggest win of the series in terms of pts -- win by 6!!!
i'm confident.i believe.
In god We Trust...God bless Spurs...
Well, this is a lot different situation than the Spurs (or the Mavericks, for that matter) were facing two games ago. Entirely different world, knowing you only have to win 1 more (with two recent wins under your belt) than knowing you have to win 3 in a row. Also different, knowing you have to win 1 more (like the Mavs, with two recent losses still haunting you - and the Spurs know about that, too!). This is going to be interesting...and probably one of the most exciting games most of have seen in a long time (although it will have to go some to beat game 6), whatever the outcome. I think the difference is, and the edge if there is one...is that the Spurs have experience in this situation. The Mavericks do not. I hope we put that experience to good use.
Bottom line is, I hear Kenny and the boat coming for somebody...tonight.
(sure hope it's not us!)
I was thinking about all the percentages in 7 game series' and judging by those, we are 249% sure to win this thing...or something.
Game 1 winners - Win 83% of the time
Game 5 winners - Win 84% of the time
Home teams in game 7 - Win 82% of the time
I'm cautiously optimistic, especially if the game is tied at the half.
I don't have anywhere near the basketball knowledge that a lot of posters here do, but here are factors that play into tonight's game, imo (not necessarily in order of importance):
1. Jason Terry. Who knows if this guy will come out blazing or wound up so tight that he jacks up a lot of low-percentage shots? Even if he has a bad night, he still spaces the floor for the Mavs and spreads our defense that much thinner.
2. Defense. The Spurs have slowly been getting a handle on small ball defense. You could see it especially in the final quarter of Game 5. Our defense wasn't tested in quite the same way in Game 6 because of the absence of Terry. Can we play tonight the way we did the last 6 quarters against the Mavericks' full roster?
3. Manu. Today's NY Times article notes that he's 21 ppg for this series as opposed to 15 ppg for the Sacramento series. Can he continue that kind of scoring into tonight?
4. Coaching. A lot of people here were saying that AJ had gotten into Pop's head when he forced Pop to go to small ball early in the series. But I believe the situation has now reversed itself: AJ played his trump card early, Pop and the team gutted it out, and now what does AJ do to top small ball? Plus he's wound so tight and wants this thing so badly, I think it's affecting the players. Mark Cuban's clueless comments probably don't help the overall mindset either.
5. Dirk Nowitski. Everybody else on both teams has a had a subpar game in the series so far (yes, even Duncan, in Game 6). I know it's probably wishful thinking on my part, but it feels like Nowitski is due for an off-night, i.e. being held to 20 points or below.
I agree with most that this game will be close like most of the games this series. These two teams have played enjoyable basketball. I did underestimate the heart of a champion. For those of you who think that this will be a blowout either way, you must see something that I don't. I am a MAVS fan, and will be disappointed if the Spurs win. I think that the MAVS pull out a very close one. MAVS 103 SPURS 102. Good Luck MAVS, and to all of you SPURS fans; Your team is a great team. Your city has enjoyed being on top for a while. I am hopeful that the MAVS can enjoy the view from the top for as long as your team has. Everyone enjoy the game! This will be a good game!
... I am kinda on the fence with this game. First game I have been actually kinda anxious to get over.
With that said... of course I am rooting for the Mavs. Shouldnt have been any doubt there... however , I am hoping this is the one game that isnt decided in the last 4 mins of the 4th qt.
I hope JET comes out firing, pissed off at the entire SPURS organization. I hope Dirk has an MVP type game... and shows Bowen/Finley/Spurs that he is better than he has been displaying and he does have another level to take it to. I hope Josh decides to take Bowen/Finley/Whoever to the hole every time he gets his hands on the ball and even tosses in a 3 ptr from time to time, like he can on a good night. Amazing that Josh had his best game of the series IN San Antone... Would like a repeat performance from him. Hopefully with Devin on the court w/JET he wont be as prone make the same mistakes he made in Game 6. Lets hope the Spurs start out like they did in Game 6, minus all the foul calling but with the forced failed shots.
Overall... I'm ready to clock out from work, just to go home and rest for the night. So i can scream myself hoarse and jump around the room... Mavs by 15. Wishful thinking, eh?
but... I'll take a 2 pt win... with TD/TP/MG missing the final shot.
I should have taken the day off from work!
I am sitting here this morning in my office with the butterflies flowing just like before game 6!
I am sooooo amped up right now -- I wish they could play earlier instead of later!
Pre-game ritual for tonight:
1) Get the DVR set
2) Get my best food and drink on the table and have my "pre-game" meal
3) Make sure rest of family is comfortable occupied with other activities
4) Go on a liquid diet from game start to end
5) Once the game begin -- go to spurstalk forum to get a feel for the game flow
6) Pace the floor a thousand times
7) (Hopefully) Await the victory and post-game celebration!!!!!!
BELIEVE
The Mavs are a really good team, and I respect the out of them after the series they've given us. But they had two chances to close this one out, and they blew them. That's got to be messing with their heads by now.
By contrast, the Spurs lost 3 games in a row to go down 3-1, but scratched and clawed their way to a one point win in game 5. They were down by 6 at the half in game 6 with 4 players in foul trouble, but they still won it down the stretch. Pressure? Game 7 looks like gravy compared to games 5 and 6.
I think the Mavs can stay with the Spurs for 3 quarters, but by the fourth, they're going to tighten up and the shots will stop falling. Sometime in there, there's going to be 4-6 minutes where the Mavs can't buy a basket to save their lives. And that will be the ballgame. Bank on it.
Home court. Pretty confident.
The most dangerous time will be early in the 1st and 2nd quarters.
If we can contain the mavs then, we got this game.
I dont give a if we win by 1 or by 20.
Just win the ing thing!
I do know one thing, I've been nervous since Saturday, and I am getting to be a wreck now. Either way, this was a fantastic series, the best I can remember. I think it will be decided by a tiebreaking shot with 45.6 seconds left that will decide the game. I think I need to go take a nervous now.
I'm hoping for something similar to last years game 7 in the Finals... except for Tim not going 10-26 or something like that. Close game until the final 8 minutes... then Spurs start to put the clamps on and slowly build a sizable lead of about 8. It never falls below 3 at that point and we shoot freethrows the last minute of the game.
I'm very nervous, Mavs have tons of players that can score 30 points a night (Dirk, Howard, Terry, Stackhouse, Harris...) and I hope we will be able to contain them.
I'm not confident but I believe.
On the way out to center court for the tip-off, Bavetta turns to Bruce Bowen and says "Terrible? You haven't seen anything yet." He promptly assesses a technical foul against Bowen for "past transgressions," and before the tip, the Mavericks are up. On the opening tip, Timmy comes down on Diop's foot and while he's laying at center court, Jason Terry's flying knee knocks Timmy cold. Bavetta assesses a blocking foul against Timmy (Timmy wasn't set, he says) and a delay of game warning against the Spurs because Timmy doesn't get up immediately. While Timmy lays out cold at center court, Steve Javie t's him up for "showing up" the officials. The Mavs make another technical free throw and score a 3 on the ensuing possession and Dirk goes to the line to complete the 5 point play when Tony Parker is called for a foul. The teams trade baskets for several minutes early until the 6:04 mark, when Manu Ginobili, having elevated for a layup, has his shorts grabbed and is ultimately "pantsed" by Erick Dampier and goes hurtling to the floor. Ginobili is knocked out cold and cannot shoot the ensuing free throws; AJ chooses Rasho to shoot the free throws and Nesterovic throws up two air balls. Without Duncan and Ginobili, Tony Parker and Michael Finley are double teamed mercilessly. Bruce Bowen misses 6 straight three pointers and Dallas converts all of them into and-1 layups. To end the quarter, Fabricio Oberto, playing because of the foul trouble that Nesterovic and Mohammed are in, misses a shot that Terry rebounds and flings 92 feet for a dramatic 3. Oberto, who jumped to contest the shot, is also whistled for a touch foul and Terry goes to the line to complete the 4 point play. Popovich turns and, facing in the general direction of the Commissioner, says loudly enough to be heard, "This is terrible." Commissioner Stern, having heard that statement before, comes down from his seat, caucuses with Bavetta and rules that the entire San Antonio coaching staff is ejected. The Mavericks start the 2nd quarter by shooting 12 straight free throws and Spurs trainer Will Sevening is left in charge of the team. Now down 54-12, the Spurs try to put on a rally, but score at a Cleveland like pace, putting up 13 points in the 2nd quarter -- only 1 more than the 12 Dallas scored before the quarter even started. They go in at halftime down 68-25. The Spurs shoot 77% from the floor in the second half, but the Mavericks don't miss any shots, going 29-29. They score at will and win 135-71.
How confident am I? Let me count the ways.
(1) Avery Johnson = Larry Bowa. His team's wound too tight, walkin' on
eggs s.
(2) Duncan had his 'off game' already. He goes for 30+ again.
(3) Ditto for Tony Parker (maybe not the 30 points, but his game will be back).
(4) No WAY Finley fumbles his shot to administer the KO to the Mavs. Did you hear his postgame 6 comments? He's pissed that not a single Dallas player has
stepped up and told the fans how classless they're being by booing him.
(5) Too much Manu.
And just in case that's not enough, it's Horry Time.
How confident. I'm about an 8, out of 10, with 10 being "absolutely confident." Sometimes a 9.
Spurs will pull away in the fourth quarter, and win by 5-10 points.
not confident at all, salvatore? Come on.
I also think that it all depends on the first 2 quarters, if the spurs can get a lead and keep for the first half than good, because otherwise....
Bavetta reffed last year's Finals Game 7 ... seemed to work out OK.
To borrow a quote from the great Bill Russell before the 1969 finals game 7:
"This team will not beat us; they cannot beat us; it's impossible"
It applies to the Mavs in tonight's game just as much as it applied to that Lakers team
Spurs by 34.
Finley 50 pts
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