The stats have us at only 18% winning game 2.
After watching the replay I just wanted to cite a few points on why and how the Spurs can change that trend.
1. Timmy had many opportunities in the PnR in which he didn't convert on. Though a 20 and 14 statline can be deceiving Tim, without a doubt, could've done more. And I have a good feeling he'll do that in game 2, the Heat just don't have anyone who they can throw at #21 that he couldn't beast on even at 37 tbh.
2. The Spurs shot at 30.4% behind the arc, Whi was 0-4 and DG's 4/9 can be considered great yes it was but most,if not all, of those attempts were, yep wide open. I doubt they shoot that bad again in this series.
3. 21. With the way TP's playing right now, he won't have a game scoring less than that. Book it.
4. Matt Bonner only played for 7 minutes and 17 seconds. As I've observed Pop will ride on to the Timmy Tiago frontline till the end and switch to small ball with either of those 2 manning the 5 if needed. Therefore less Bonner more Tiago.
5. Pop>Spoelstra, yep I know we all wanted to kill Pop for playing Neal that much and letting Bonner and Neal play at the same time for a few minutes. And I believe that Pop will make the necessary adjustments quicker and better than the got coach the Heat have. If you think of the otherwise then you're an idiot tbh.
These might be proven wrong by the Heat in game 2 because obviously we didn't take their best shot yet but at the same time the Spurs didn't throw there best haymaker either.
"We played an OK game.
-Manu Ginobili
"I don't think we're as good as you say. We looked at the film today, and I thought we had just as many dry possessions as we had good ones,"
-Pop
And if all else fails, you just gotta fcking Believe tbh.
GO SPURS GO
Last edited by 100%duncan; 06-07-2013 at 11:19 PM.
As far as I can tell, the Spurs' biggest advantage may be the fact that all the pressure is squarely on the Heat now. The Heat's desperation could mean a resounding Miami victory on Sunday night......or, it could lead to sloppy, ill-advised decisions, too much hero ball, etc.
I expect us to play alot better in game 2. I'm sure Miami will too. It will come down to who can play better in the 4th again.
Miami would be wise not to think that Spurs team that showed up yesterday is the norm.
I thought our defense went from 'good' to 'great' as the game wore on. I don't know if it was the early rust or just the unfamiliarity with the Heat that took a while to shake off, but the Spurs put together a 3rd and 4th quarter where they only allowed 36pts combined for that half. While the Heat is sure to look at the tape and adjust the offense to counter some of the Spurs' schemes, I also think the Spurs will watch the tape and see where they can improve over what they did.
It's difficult to keep that defensive intensity throughout, but if the Spurs can put 3 solid quarters like that, they're going to give themselves a great shot at winning game 2 (or any other game this series, tbh).
That was one of my points. Both teams will play alot better and it will be all about who'll adjust quickly. I'll trust Pop on that.
That was one of my points. Both teams will play alot better and it will be all about who'll adjust quickly. I'll trust Pop on that.
Spurs executed almost flawlessly. They tied a finals record with fewest turnovers.
However, shots didn't fall. It all depends on whether they can execute, if they can counter the Heat's adjustments, and hit their shots - also, if they can't allow LBron to take over the game.
They also have to slow the tempo of the game and transition. If they can suck the air out of the arena then they'll dominate.
Leaving Ray Allen open like that is a cardinal sin btw.
Spurs were rusty in game 1.
I loved getting the rest and am glad for it, but let's be real. . .Spurs didn't look crisp on either end. Hilarious thing is, I would rate their overall game as C+ to B- (high 70%/low 80%) with their max game being 100% or A+. They can play way better. . .any of us that's seen them play all year knows it.
The Heat played amazing in the first half then took a . Spurs didn't really even have a good quarter (overall on both ends, Spurs did do some things great though) when you think about it. Spurs have a lot of room for improvement. . .which bodes well since a lot of their not being at top form could be attributed to rust.
Only knack that I saw on defense, has been seeing all ing year long especially in the playoffs, is that we leave their shooters all the time. On the press con I think Pop said that that was the strategy, to sag off and get ready to surround Bron when he gets into the lane although it worked I'm having doubts about that. Almost everyone of their guards know only one thing, to shoot. Allen, Cole, Chalmers, Miller and we were damned lucky they didn't hit those shots. They went cold in the 2nd half despite wide open looks tbh.
I think Spurs will hit more open shots, but I also think they'll turn the ball over more.
I just watched the 4th quarter again, and I noticed that Spo yanked Birdman for a pretty large part of that quarter. Anything to that? Seems we got easier points in the paint and defensive rebounds .
They're going to have a chance if they ride the storm that will occur courtesy of Miami. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if we go down double digits. I hope I'm wrong tbh.
The 3's did not fall and we had good looks, Neal was 1-5 but only 3 of those were good looks and Kawhi had 4 good looks and missed both, we convert some of those and the missed layups and we should be solid on offense. On defense we played great in the quarters that mattered, 2nd and 4th so I think we can keep up that pace. The turnovers are going to be the hardest thing to replicate
I hope and have a good feeling that that exchange will net a positive for us.
Spurs will turn it over more, but hopefully hit more open threes. If we're lucky, these will cancel out. Live ball turnovers will kill us even if we shoot lights out from 3.
I think we need to go to Timmy and even Tiago more in the post. Splitter scored with ease over Lebron and other small 4s the Heat put on him. The only bad post possession for him was against Bosh.
If Timmy isn't banging against Bosh on the defensive end, that should keep his legs fresh for stretches to throw it in to him in the low block. Obviously we can't go to him 30 times like in years past, but I think he should be able to get 18-20 points on 10-12 post ups with the way we create mismatches.
Parker-Duncan PnR and Duncan post up should be the bread and butter for the spurs this series. The Heat just doesn't have anyone to stop Tim in the post tbh. And that TP jumper from the pick will torch the Heat that they'll close out harder on TP thus giving him the opportunity to get past his defender and drive to the lane to make an easy lay-up or a dish outside for an open 3.
+1 Just keep doing it until Miami stops it.
Yep. And I have a good feeling they can't.
There's going to be atleast one game in the series where the spurs get hot hitting open threes at a better rate than game one.
I just hope the Spurs will stay focused and hungry, and the extra day should help. They should know game two is now like a match point. Let's show we want it more!
Miami will get stronger as this series goes on. They just played a gladiator series against the most physical/best defensive team in the league atm. 3 days off not to mention how Miami always plays after a wakeup loss. The Spurs will have to win every other game to secure this series and they did the most important part on Thursday by winning game 1. The Heat coasted most of the game and led until the 4th when they were gassed and couldn't do their usual frenzy D. Lebron and Wade sat to begin 4th Q and it was the first non-garbage time Lebron sat in the 2nd half of any game this playoffs. Be real about what you saw. Spurs don't have anyone like the Pacers physical/size wise to keep the Heat warn down. It's gonna get worse. Spurs can play better offensively but this is the last time the Heat score under 95 points in this series.
The Spurs are playing very safe. And the Heat can't play us as aggressively as they used to, because our ball movement and shooting is leagues ahead of anything they've faced so far. They would get punished if they double teamed as hard.
So while it's very likely that they'll turn it over more than 4 times, I'm confident they can keep the turnover number low for the entire series.
With that being said, we all know they're capable of awful minutes. If we pull off the Memphis game 3 crap, we have no chance.
For sure... but both teams will get better. The Spurs looked very rusty. If both teams play at their best I don't think the Heat can match our level.
I believe we didn't actually beat them when Lebron and Wade were out, so I don't know how relevant that is.
And I wouldn't be so sure about the 95 points thing. Miami shot decently well, and the Spurs made some dumb mistakes on defense.
Read my post again. Understand it. If you still can't, just rinse and repeat.
For me, I think we'll score better, particularly Timmy if he gets as many good looks. What will be key is if we can keep the turnovers near impossibly low.
You are being unrealistic. The Heat defense is going to get way better. Tim isn't 25 anymore and his athleticism is much less than it used to be. His lateral movement is really slow. He only challenged Bosh/Anderson a few times and the possessions came out a wash. The most tired players on that team are the Heats frontcourt which will be improving radically with the starters now that they have had 6 days of rest out of the Pacers series. I think this series will energy and effort play inversely between the Heat gaining and Spurs losing it due to their age. The best case scenario is the Spurs winning in 4-5. Barring that Heat in 6 or 7.
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