Dallas Mavs on Thursday-Biggest reg season game ever?

[Jimcs50]

Thursday's game against the Mavs is the biggest game in midseason history for the Spurs.

This game is tantamount to a playoff game. The young Mavs have three days to prepare for the Spurs, and Avery Johnson knows the Spurs' playbook better than any coach in the NBA, so he will have them as ready as any opponent to beat the Spurs. The Spurs are the champs and they need to let it be known that the young Mavs are still not at their level, and they do that by winning Thursday, and knocking the youngsters down a peg or two.

Great, but young teams need confidence in order to beat the champs in the playoffs(look at Phoenix last year), and if Dallas wins on Thursday, after SA had three days to rest and be ready to play Dallas, then their confidence will skyrocket, and that does not bode well for SA come May.

The Spurs must win this game, that is not hyperbole.

I can not wait til Thursday night and TNT's coverage. I can hear Kenny The Jet, and Sir Charles right now telling everyone that SA will win the game, and the Mavs are still not on par with Detroit and the Spurs. I do not want to have them proved wrong in their assessment. The Spurs need to keep their swagger, and they need to serve notice that the road to the championship goes through SA, not Dallas.

I am pumped up already.

PS I know they have a game tonight, but comon...it is the Knicks for God's sake.

[1Parker1]

I agree with you 100%...although they still play the Mavs once more after Thursday, so not sure if it's still the "biggest reg season" game ever. I kind of thought that second game against the Pistons was important.

It's funny, because I was looking back at this season and trying to remember some of the highlights of the season so far...I honestly cannot remember any Spurs game/moment so far that has stood out to me. Last season there were many memorable moments, most obviously the 48 pt Manu performance and the back to back OT wins w/o TD. Despite their record, Spurs have had a quiet season.

[Jimcs50]

Oh, and also, there is home court advantage on the line too. If SA wins both games in SA, they will have tiebreaker with Dallas, in the event that they tie with best record.

Given Dallas' team record 13 home game winning steak, it is important that SA gets HCA in a 7 game series against Dallas.

[Jimcs50]

I agree with you 100%...although they still play the Mavs once more after Thursday, so not sure if it's still the "biggest reg season" game ever. I kind of thought that second game against the Pistons was important.

It's funny, because I was looking back at this season and trying to remember some of the highlights of the season so far...I honestly cannot remember any Spurs game/moment so far that has stood out to me. Last season there were many memorable moments, most obviously the 48 pt Manu performance and the back to back OT wins w/o TD. Despite their record, Spurs have had a quiet season.

Darlin, I said "mid season" regular season.

[spursfaninla]

hyperbole aside, this is an important game.

I just don't buy it being the biggest EVER. Big this year, yes. People also thought the games against Detroit would be big. Hopefully the Spurs are ready to take it up a level of intensity against Dallas, because I have a feeling they are going to bring it.

[nkdlunch]

unless we get beat by 20. then it's a meaningless game.

[1Parker1]

^Or unless we beat Dallas by 20

[RogerIsEatingASandwich]

huge game ( glad i'm going ) but i'm not sure it's the biggest ever. although, no other big midseason games from the past really come to mind right now......

should be a good one

[101A]

huge game ( glad i'm going ) but i'm not sure it's the biggest ever. although, no other big midseason games from the past really come to mind right now......

should be a good one

No they don't - which should tell us all something, because I know games have been touted as "very big" or "biggest ever" etc....regular season games are what they are.

That being said, the Spurs will give us our first glimpse of what this team is capable of this year. It's March, it's time to tighten rotations, and start gearing up for some real basketball.

[Jimcs50]

This is much bigger than Detroit games. Number one, those games were way too early in season to gauge what each team would be like come June. Number two, the Spurs already beat Detroit in Finals, and they probaby had the "big brother, little brother" at ude towards them, in that you are just a pest and I will deal with you come June.

Now, the Spurs are getting into playoff mode a little more, so from now on, the games mean more.

I am really surprised that the schedule makers did not save at least one Detroit game for March at least.

[Solid D]

Not really, no.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Biggest game of the season so far? Sure.

Ever? No way. If anything this is going to pale in comparison to the importance last Spurs-Mavs game this year.

[Joepa]

It's a huge game, and I think it is the most important one this year because if we don't beat them here, then we've lost the season series and the tie breaker.

[BigVee]

As usual it is a bigger game for the opponent than it is for the Spurs. The Spurs have nothing to prove. I think the players however, will give playoff effort. It remains to be seen how Pop sees it. We will be able to tell by his sub patterns and whether Horry suits up.

[101A]

It's a huge game, and I think it is the most important one this year because if we don't beat them here, then we've lost the season series and the tie breaker.

Spurs simply have to beat Mavs 1 out of 2 here to own the tiebreaker. Spurs have a significant advantage in conference record.

[101A]

As usual it is a bigger game for the opponent than it is for the Spurs. The Spurs have nothing to prove. I think the players however, will give playoff effort. It remains to be seen how Pop sees it. We will be able to tell by his sub patterns and whether Horry suits up.

Playoff effort won't be seen by the Spurs until the 2nd round of the playoffs, IMO. This will be a taste - which should be enough for the W.

[boutons_]

With the Spurs' 14 games past the 41-game mid-point, Thur should be, could be where the Spurs finally get their heads out of their asses, find their hearts and guts, and start playing like "Defending NBA Champions With Everybody Back", rather than a random bunch on a re-building lottery team.

The Spurs Last 10 games are nothing to be happy and confident about.
Needed overtime to beat the Raptors
Lost to the Sixers.
Blown out by the Cavs.
Blow a big lead and barely escaped the B2B-tired Grizz (allowing 31 pts in 4th qtr)

It's time to stop giving away games by playing like , time to turn the corner, time to turn up the toughness, control games, dominate the better teams, like the Mavs.

It's time to re-confirm the Spurs previous win @DAL, and
time implant a big, deep doubt in Mavs' hearts about their prospects of getting past the Spurs in the playoffs.

I have no doubts the Mavs will come ready to play. Will the Spurs?

And yes, Mavs/Spurs HCA is still undecided. Split 1-1, the Spurs are in good position to go 3-1. A W Thur would pull the Spurs even with the Mavs in the L column.

[Joepa]

Spurs simply have to beat Mavs 1 out of 2 here to own the tiebreaker. Spurs have a significant advantage in conference record.

Argh my fault. I thought that we'd lost both games earlier this year.

[genghisrex]

It's March, it's time to tighten rotations, and start gearing up for some real basketball.

I think that fact should kill the biggest regular season game ever talk. It's an important game, but the SPAM gods are still hibernating.

[Spurminator]

Biggest Regular Season Game in Spurs History:

http://www.basketballreference.com/t...9990502&tm=SAS

[Jimcs50]

Biggest Regular Season Game in Spurs History:

http://www.basketballreference.com/t...9990502&tm=SAS

Again...read my first sentence!!!

MID SEASON GAME!!!!


Not games that give division le.

[Spurminator]

I read it. But your le reads differently.

[Jimcs50]

I read it. But your le reads differently.

It would not fit in space.

[MadDog73]

The Spurs must win this game, that is not hyperbole.

Well, simply put, this is false. This is not a must win game.

1. We have another chance after this to beat the Mavs.

2. There's still a long way to go, even if we lose, I wouldn't rule out getting homecourt.

3. Even if we lose homecourt, Jim, do you really think we'll lose a 7 game series to the Mavs?

[101A]

Enough about the Mavs.

They have not:

* Played in SA yet (toughest threat in the West - 2 games to go)
* Played in Detroit yet (1 to go there)
* Played in NJ yet (not THAT tough, but a division leader nonetheless)
* Played in Cleveland yet (they play tough teams tough at home)

They still have to play games at Phoenix (late April - when Amare is totally back) AND @ Clippers

That's 7 games which are very tough (5 extremely so) - Spurs only have 3 tough, and since they get Phoenix before Amare returns, none extremely.

Spurs schedule was front-loaded, Mavs back-loaded; and yet only 1 game separates them AND the Spurs have not focussed yet.

These teams aren't that close.