Is Game 3 a must win?

[SpurOutofTownFan]

it was good they've got blown out so now they understand how they need to play going forward. 3 more games

[Solid D]

If the Spurs were playing the 2011 Heat I might agree that Game 3 isn't a must win. Unfortunately they're not.

This isn't '11. The Heat are much better now than they were then and there's no chance of beating them three straight.

Game three is absolutely a must win.

I respect your opinions. I've just watched way too many series in sports and they can take twists and turns.
I like to play out the string and see what happens. If the Heat win game 3, I'm going to watch the remainder of the series and not give up on them. I'm a realist and know the Heat are favored, but stuff happens. I'm not a fatalist. Special moments and special plays are made and so I won't be calling any game a must win until it's a potential close-out game.
I will watch every game regardless of what happens Tuesday - full bore, all-out, no-quit compe ion.

[lefty]

Manny are you ing serious ?

[Rapper]

Fortunately we stole game 1 and now we need our crowd at AT&T center to give them more energy and momentum

FANS its your time!!!!

[Agloco]

I think it is. The Spurs will likely desperately need to recapture momentum. The split in Miami is perfectly fine and Miami came out with their backs against the wall like everyone thought they would but now the Spurs need to respond.

I really really really really really hope to see Manu come out and having a good game. We need it.

I'll go one further and say that all of them are must wins. I don't see the Spurs taking another game in Miami.

[HtownFan(GoSpurs)]

Epic music...

[DJR210]

And manu has to still be hurt, seriously

At what point do we stop with the injury excuse and admit to diminished skills?

[DMC]

These are stupid questions. Everyone of the games is a must win, or none of them are. You have to win 4 games to win the le, so you MUST WIN 4 games. I get the point of the question, but really... if you lose game 4 it's no worse than losing game 3. So it's not a "must win" in the sense that it's over if you don't because of some momentum mumbo jumbo, but it is a "must play better" game. If Miami blows us out again in game 3, it's probably over. Spurs need to play better. But if they don't, then none of these games are "must win" because the Spurs just hit their ceiling. They aren't as good as the Heat unless they are firing on all cylinders and the Heat aren't. End of story.

[spurs10]

Bully for you. I didn't say that either. Anything else you're confused about?

I'm confused by the line it took "a miracle shot" to win game one. You did watch the game? It wasn't the game winner in case you are confused.

[DeadlyDynasty]

Yes, Miami will not lose consecutive games at any point. Drop Game 3, and you're ed.

[baseline bum]

These are stupid questions. Everyone of the games is a must win, or none of them are. You have to win 4 games to win the le, so you MUST WIN 4 games. I get the point of the question, but really... if you lose game 4 it's no worse than losing game 3. So it's not a "must win" in the sense that it's over if you don't because of some momentum mumbo jumbo, but it is a "must play better" game. If Miami blows us out again in game 3, it's probably over. Spurs need to play better. But if they don't, then none of these games are "must win" because the Spurs just hit their ceiling. They aren't as good as the Heat unless they are firing on all cylinders and the Heat aren't. End of story.

You're ignoring the pressure the Spurs will feel if they blow game 3 at home. This series really isn't winnable without taking 2 of the 3 home games.

[Splits]

Winning 2 of 3 at home is the "must" situation to have a shot at the series because the chances of any team going into Miami and winning games 6 & 7 is about the only statistical "not going to happen". All of the other scenarios are plausible, including beating them back to back, or even 4, 5, & (6 or 7). But like most of the other posters have pointed out, "must win" is a dumb notion fans should typically stay away from. And saying the 2011 Heat team is nothing like this year's team is also stupid, same core makeup and we could easily do what Dallas did (drop game 3 at home to go down 2-1 and win 3 straight).

[Budkin]

I think it is. The Spurs will likely desperately need to recapture momentum. The split in Miami is perfectly fine and Miami came out with their backs against the wall like everyone thought they would but now the Spurs need to respond.

I really really really really really hope to see Manu come out and having a good game. We need it.

Manu is due for one more amazing game, hopefully two. The fans will have him fired up for Game 3. I have a feeling the Ditka thread will be bumped.

[Budkin]

Yes, Miami will not lose consecutive games at any point. Drop Game 3, and you're ed.

They're due.

[Budkin]

Yeah I think so too. I don't think they win 3 in a row at home. The question is do you think they can win 3 out of 4 which is what essentially has to happen if they lose tomorrow. Tall order.

No, but I think if they leave SA up 3/2 they have a great chance to win one of the next 2. Game 7 be damned.

[DFLORY]

What the ??!! No we can prob drop a couple more by 29 before we should worry. me.

[Splits]

What the ??!! No we can prob drop a couple more by 29 before we should worry. me.

[TE]

This is just flat out ridiculous. They Spurs aren't playing themselves. Give Miami some credit for the D they came out and played tonight. They hit shots when it mattered. The Spurs are playing the defending Champs. Its not going to be easy.

Saying that the Spurs beat themselves is probably a little overboard...

Yeah some credit goes to Miami for doing the necessary adjustments on defense. That said, 16 TO's of which some were just plain stupid miscues (forced passes that had no chance of reaching a roller or cutter to the basket, overdribbling, forcing the issue when it just wasn't there) falls into the beating themselves category imo.

btw, is it me or was Tony really winded throughout the game? I hope the guy wasn't partying too much in South Beach...

[100%duncan]

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Tell that to Pop and Manu though.

[MilesTeg]

Of course it isn't. If we lose, we'll feel like , but we'll still have a decent chance. When a series is tied 1-1, it's never a must-win.

However game 4 will be a must-win for whoever loses the next game.

[AchillesHeel]

yessir

[GrandeDavid]

The 2-3-2 format sucks right now for the Spurs. It's good if you come home 0-2 to give you a better chance of getting back into it.

But, damn, winning three straight against the Heat? That's a taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllll llllllll task

I don't think venue matters so much for this particular Spurs team, with their seasoned, veteran core. Ditto for Miami. I am kind of throwing home anything out the window in this series. I would be surprised if the Spurs won the next three games in San Antonio and would be equally surprised if Miami were to do the same in San Antonio or Miami. I agree that three straight against Miami would be a tall task, but at least we know the Spurs can win in Miami. Its not like having to go on the road against the Lakers late in a series in 2001 or 2002.

[SA210]

At what point do we stop with the injury excuse and admit to diminished skills?

When he's 100%

[DMC]

You're ignoring the pressure the Spurs will feel if they blow game 3 at home. This series really isn't winnable without taking 2 of the 3 home games.

I don't see how they can possibly feel more pressure than they do right now to be honest. I think the pressure thing is overrated. I think coaches and fans feel pressure, but the players are just playing basketball and they either bring it or they don't. Like I've said, these guys are playing on house money, the pressure is on Miami. Spurs have had a very successful season win or lose, and Miami will be a complete failure (to most) if they lose.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

The Mavericks trailed the Heat 2-1 in the 2011 NBA Finals and still eventually won the series.

Game 3 isn't a must win, but should it be lost, then Game 4 probably is.