do you think the "house of mourning" is a good sign? i honestly expect the spurs to come out focused and ready to play. they aren't a team that gives up. they've been in this situation before.
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2013 NBA Finals |OT| The "Big 3" looks to hang another banner... against the Heat
- Thread starter reilo
- Start date
do you think the "house of mourning" is a good sign? i honestly expect the spurs to come out focused and ready to play. they aren't a team that gives up. they've been in this situation before.
It's gotta be one of the most devastating losses ever for a team. But you're lifted back up by seeing you have a chance at a title, one last game. They choked it, but not completely. It was half choke, half incredible plays by Heat (and both teams really).
I just hope Timmy's leg is ok. That would be the biggest shame to basketball fans. His D was transcendent this game, amazing rim protection. Even got called for a couple of fouls that looked REALLY clean. In motion I thought he fouled, but he was so dialed in and on ball. If they don't have him out there, or he's lacking his mobility.. well you saw what that looked like for stretches.
I think this game is great for Heat's mentality. There was so much legacy talk before this one that it kind of just set up an indecision in Lebron the first half I think. There were nerves, things were stacked against Miami, and Spurs looked dialed in to play, execute, and win on pretty good rest without the weight on their shoulders of this being last chance. If a team's coming out tight in game 7 it's going to be Spurs.
But then they've shown a lot of poise too. At different points we've seen Green dialed in, Duncan tonight, Kawhi has been really impressive and consistently at a high level of play. I just don't want something else like Duncan's knee stacked against them. Something of a smarter game from Manu wouldn't hurt either. I don't understand how needlessly 'flashy' his turnovers were. He just needs to move the ball fast and to the right guy. Not try to score homeruns, before you have any flow. I understand age, but good passing shouldn't leave you that badly. He was so brilliant game 5. And the odd thing is, I'm against what you guys are saying. He has to play a decent chunk of game 7. I would like to see more Gary Neal over Manu's offense, but Manu will be out there. There's just not that many alternatives for his role. Taking him out after he starts shitting the bed, now that's a different story. Don't know that he needs to play crunch time.
Also, before i forget, Pop's early 4th quarter lineup was stupid. But I don't think you were winning by double digits anyway. Heat were going to break down that lead.
I just hope Timmy's leg is ok. That would be the biggest shame to basketball fans. His D was transcendent this game, amazing rim protection. Even got called for a couple of fouls that looked REALLY clean. In motion I thought he fouled, but he was so dialed in and on ball. If they don't have him out there, or he's lacking his mobility.. well you saw what that looked like for stretches.
I think this game is great for Heat's mentality. There was so much legacy talk before this one that it kind of just set up an indecision in Lebron the first half I think. There were nerves, things were stacked against Miami, and Spurs looked dialed in to play, execute, and win on pretty good rest without the weight on their shoulders of this being last chance. If a team's coming out tight in game 7 it's going to be Spurs.
But then they've shown a lot of poise too. At different points we've seen Green dialed in, Duncan tonight, Kawhi has been really impressive and consistently at a high level of play. I just don't want something else like Duncan's knee stacked against them. Something of a smarter game from Manu wouldn't hurt either. I don't understand how needlessly 'flashy' his turnovers were. He just needs to move the ball fast and to the right guy. Not try to score homeruns, before you have any flow. I understand age, but good passing shouldn't leave you that badly. He was so brilliant game 5. And the odd thing is, I'm against what you guys are saying. He has to play a decent chunk of game 7. I would like to see more Gary Neal over Manu's offense, but Manu will be out there. There's just not that many alternatives for his role. Taking him out after he starts shitting the bed, now that's a different story. Don't know that he needs to play crunch time.
Also, before i forget, Pop's early 4th quarter lineup was stupid. But I don't think you were winning by double digits anyway. Heat were going to break down that lead.
Black Mamba
Member
Sure, I think they will shake it off.
I just very much question whether they have anything left to give physically. You saw Duncan wear down by the 4th. He played 44 min. Leonard and Green are the only young guys for them compared to Bron, Chalmers, and Bosh.
2010 Celtics wore down in the 4th. We saw that tonight with Spurs and I think it may continue in game 7.
Then again, this series has been so crazy who fucking knows, right?
Thing about it is, they lost the game and they know they can win the next. This isn't Cubs '03, where it's the walking dead and your mind is full of (goat) fuck. You are devastated, you put it in perspective, but you rationalize to go out an execute. At least that's what I assume they will do. Get mad even.
I'd be a lot more worried about Duncan's health/effectiveness going into game 7. And fatigue is more real. They will get back up, but they're older. Worry about the energy Wade and Lebron's going to have feeding off game 7.
iamshadowlark
Banned
Mentality talk is always fucking garbage in sports. People here say the dumbest shit when it comes to psychology and its role in basketball.
I hope Miami doesn't stop the game plan of stopping the 3s---if Duncan makes Bosh his son again...well that's on Chris
body language doctor FTW
body language doctor FTW
Black Mamba
Member
yeah, i pretty much agree. I've posted at least a dozen times since I've been here during the playoffs about teams bouncing back after demoralizing losses when people here say teams can't recover. It annoying. These are pros.
Sure, every now and then you get a Nick Anderson whose choke job puts him into a mental spiral he never really crawls out of. But it's rare.
I mean, look at Kawhi's FTs today. he missed the first one, some people (including on TV) were saying the pressure got to him. But he swished the 2nd after bricking the first! Maybe a mediocre playoff FT shooter playing 40 min simply missed a FT?
If Spurs get blown out it's not because they are demoralized, it will probably be due to fatigue.
I'm looking at the wikipedia for all time playoff scoring leaders...James is sitting at #9 all time, staring at Larry Bird, down by 63 and he's only 28. Think about that.
42 more threes than Jordan in 62 less playoff games.
I think that if he's in the playoffs consistently...by the time he's 34 we'll have a new all-time playoff scorer. Averaging around 500 points a year in the playoffs. 2100 behind Jordan.
A little bit odd...but he's 161 3-pointers behind Ray Allen now. There's a shot, if he keeps refining his deep game, that he could catch Ray in three's by the time it's all said and done.
idc what you think of Lebron since the decision, we're possibly witnessing a rewriting of the record books.
42 more threes than Jordan in 62 less playoff games.
I think that if he's in the playoffs consistently...by the time he's 34 we'll have a new all-time playoff scorer. Averaging around 500 points a year in the playoffs. 2100 behind Jordan.
A little bit odd...but he's 161 3-pointers behind Ray Allen now. There's a shot, if he keeps refining his deep game, that he could catch Ray in three's by the time it's all said and done.
idc what you think of Lebron since the decision, we're possibly witnessing a rewriting of the record books.
Black Mamba
Member
He's not making the Finals every season, dude. He won't get that many games every year.
I'm not saying he's gonna make the finals every season lol.
Just going by the trendlines of his career. All he has to do to make these records is get deep in the playoffs, and if the front office does their job/lebron stays healthy that's almost a guarantee.
He's not gonna win 6 championships, I'm sure we can all agree to that, but he'll put his mark on the record books. That's all I'm saying.
i agree but when it looked like you had a win locked up with 40 seconds left for the title, it can be heartbreaking. a blowout loss would have served them much better
it would've served them better in multiple ways.
Look at the minutes the spurs had to wrack up. Duncan was dead for probably 10 minutes on the floor. The pace caught up to him, which is exactly what the spurs don't need. Not to mention him limping all over the place the last 3 minutes + after the game. No bueno.
Parker was completely spent. Didn't even have the energy for defensive sets. It's why Pop kept calling t/o's in overtime.
If this was a blowout? Spurs wouldn't have gotten spent physically. Never seen them so sloppy/tired.
So it's a double-edged sword. They got the HUGE mental blow of letting a sure-win slip through their hands by blowing a big lead late, but the also got their gas tanks emptied in OT.
This was the worry with the Spurs. The most important parts of their team are getting close to retirement. I don't know if they can overcome not only the mental anguish from this loss but also the physical drain.
Game 7 is gonna be close in the first half, but that second half we're gonna probably start seeing some really tired Spurs out there. They need a couple role players to lift them up. Green needs to be HUGE in game 7. If not, the title is gonna probably stay in Miami.
iamshadowlark
Banned
Seriously though, Ray fucking Allen, that picture with him laser focused on the shot is fucking inspiring . And this comes after the game where everybody was clowning him for his record being broke. He was like fuck yo record.
role players have been the difference in each team's victories this season. pop really needs to give neal some more minutes in game 7. i saw the halftime turnover numbers and just thought that the spurs turnover number would look pretty impressive if there wasn't that span of 4 or 5 possessions in a row where it seemed like manu was purposely sabotaging the team
The goddamn Anti Heat, Spurs Bandwagon collapsing under its own weight in here man... Jesus Christ.
Blackace
if you see me in a fight with a bear, don't help me fool, help the bear!
You been super vocal about game 7
Spurs lost this series by not finishing it at home when they could. I have never said they could win a game 7 in Miami if that's what you're implying
theignoramus
Member
Im still kind of shellshocked by how fucking terrible Manu was last night. bottom of the barrel type shit. Didnt think he could be worse than he was in G2 and 4, but it was like watching a trainwreck. and Parker last night? Rough shooting but zero turnovers.
Yes but with a short leash. He's struggling but he's still a guy who can shoot, create for others and get his own shot.
teruterubozu
Member
From Lebron choke to Pop choke in seconds. Psychology or no-psychology, that's gotta make you sick.
victreeb3l
Member
manu has been great creating shots for the heat
yeah, his poor judgment in the late game was really surprising and stupid. pulling duncan twice and losing defensive rebounds? not calling a freaking time out at the end of OT? just stupid stupid stupid
theignoramus
Member
His ass needs to get benched on his third or fourth turnover if he isnt scoring. those awful three pointers he took early in the shotclock should count as turnovers too. I cant even express how annoyed I am with his play.
LegendofJoe
Member
Heard on ESPN that teams in the Spurs situation last night win 98.6 % of the time. We witnessed an extremely rare event last night guys, shit was crazy.
I'm still stunned.
That Ray Allen 3...just wow. Lebron should forever worship at his feet. Lebron and his "legacy" were about to become a punch line again before Jesus bailed him out.
Shit is depressing. It feels like the ending to Empire Strikes Back with the bad guys stomping the good guys. Lebron (Vader), Ray (Boba Fett) and Manu (Lando) just put the Spurs into carbonite =[
Knux-Future
Banned
The Spurs are finished. There is no coming back from this.
If I had money I'd bet on that.
If I had money I'd bet on that.
ThisWreckage
Banned
There's no chance in hell the Spurs will win and you can take that to the bank.
iamshadowlark
Banned
Seriously though, how much of a blowout is it if lebron doesnt take the forth over? Idk what it is with you people but the way you view basketball is so spastic. Everything is either this or that. No in between and no perspective.
Pretty much.
Lebron wasn't perfect by any means, but he's the main reason we won. Ray doesn't get a chance to tie if bron doesn't hit his 3 first
Vestal
Junior Member
To me it was the Greatest Basketball game in the last 20 years. I can only compare the emotion and drama tied to it to Game 6 of the 93 finals..
Ill admit I thought it was over with that last Lebron turn over and posted as such here.... I should have known better.
You telling me people at large remember anything that Lebron did if Ray misses that shot? Not a chance in my opinion.
Vestal
Junior Member
Yeah when I saw Duncan in I was like WTF, but was not 100% sure of the rule..
They need to go back after the season and review the rule.. Eliminate the ability of teams basically getting a timeout because of it.. keep them on the floor or something.
Well then there you go. I'm a Heat hater, but even I'll admit that he is held to some tough ass standards and that people focus on the negatives with him. Without Jesus last night, he's sentenced to eternal damnation (in the form of LeChoke jokes and the media dogging him).
Also, no laughs at Manu being Lando? Since you know, he betrayed the Spurs and shit?? Tough crowd =[
I liked the Lando line.
But yeah, of course thats the narrative- but not rightfully so, instead because the media/people have Skip Bayless levels of perception.
Bosh should probably get some props too. I make fun of him so much but he came up pretty big last night. Did he get both of those offensive rebounds for 3's? I know he did on Ray's. And then the block on Parker and the block on Green. Damn! He was going all out for sure.
Wade seemed pretty bad, but it also seemed like he didn't play many minutes.
Wade seemed pretty bad, but it also seemed like he didn't play many minutes.
BronsonLee
Member
Lol what? Why am I quoted in there? I don't give a damn who wins, shit was just hype in general
Can Crusher
Banned
This picture is a goldmine.
Vanillalite
Ask me about the GAF Notebook
I love how people were hesitant on the ESPN post game set to use the C word. Then Magic was like fuck it I'll say it. Spurs straight choked.
I'm glad I have no real rooting interest in this series other than maybe Battier getting another ring. Even though not all of the games have been great individually, this series has had some of the best "storytelling" of any sporting event in a good while. The second half of the Saints/Colts super bowl had its moments, but this series has just been outstanding.
Except... they didn't.
Hasphat'sAnts
Member
I don't see how it's not.
Up 5. With 40 seconds left. Their winning percentage must be in the 90s.
Up 5. With 40 seconds left. Their winning percentage must be in the 90s.
Yeah, they lost, despite the game leaning hard in their favor. But shit just happens, its two great teams that were both exhausted. The loss had nothing to do with anything mental, or any sort of psychological "choke"