I say the potential for this happening is rather high. That was the kind of an emotional win that will make Duncan(at least for the short term) feel like he is 25 again. For the first time this nba season, the Spurs can play like they have something to prove. Developing those kinds of mindsets can create a very mean and nasty team

Come on, it was the Spurs best game of the series and it took 2 miracle shots just to send it to OT. Team of destiny my ass..don't go overboard on one win.

If the Spurs come back and win the series, give them credit for gutting it up and taking 3 in a row, but keep in mind this is a #1 vs #8 matchup here...

I thought they were a team of destiny when Duncan nailed the shot in Shaq's face.

Then 0.4 happened.

Too early to tell.

Let's not get too high now

I'm a huge spurs fan, but still way too nervous to make that claim. However, for everyone that is ready to totally dismiss them, let's not pretend that the Grizz have stompped the spurs. Other than game 4, these have all been great, close games.

Yea, but the problem is they've been great, close games with the Spurs getting out executed at the end. Even tonight, it took a miracle play by Ginobili on a busted inbounds pass to get the shot up and Neal to step up big time.

I have hope, but if these games keep getting played this closely, the Spurs just flat out have to execute at the end of the game better.

All I ask is that you call a spade a spade.

Game 3: last minute 3-pointer by Randolph (a power forward/center)

That's like not calling glass. At a minimum, no less lucky than Gary Neal hitting a three.

Comedy. I will now be TTT'ing this thread every six hours until the Spurs get eliminated.

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Then 0.4 happened.

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now why the hell must you bring this up

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Come on, it was the Spurs best game of the series and it took 2 miracle shots just to send it to OT

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This really only makes sense if Memphis didn't play well at all. In fact, you could probably say this was Memphis's best game as well, and yet they lost.

Game 6 should be fun, but it has to sting that Memphis 1.7 seconds away from eliminating the top seed and despite their best efforts, couldn't finish it.

"First in Sight, Ready to Fight"

This was the first game of the series where the Spurs executed perfectly down the stretch. Except for game 4, none of these games have been blowouts.

If the Spurs can take what they learned about execution in game 5, and do it again in game 6, that's been the difference the entire series. Making plays in the final minutes of games.

They can win it. Sadly, I'm treating this like an NBA finals. I just want to know the champs still have a few punches left in the bag.

"the champs" must be a pet name you have for the spurs. either that, or it doesnt mean what i thought.

ginobili and parker need to start making better decisions and avoid easy turnovers

This game was also the sharpest Pop has coached in this series. I thought he was brilliant down the stretch. For some reason he has been off kilter toward the end of the season. Do not know why.

Gig 'em Aggies!

Destiny aside, the Grizz just look more talented. When I'm watching the game I see "advantage Grizz" at almost every position. The Spurs have been able to hang on up to this point but it's going to take a superhuman effort to win two more games.

Honestly the only hope for the Spurs is for Parker and Manu to start killing it. They're the best two players on the team and really need to carry the load. They can't keep following good plays with bad ones. You need perfect execution when you are at a talent disadvantage.

George Hill might be the key to this next game.

The Grizzlies dominate at SF and PF/C, but if Hill can put up one of his efficient 20+ point games while playing solid defense, the Spurs become very tough to beat. They've won games all year with their back court.

I would agree with that. It's almost like Pop has tried too hard to combat the Grizz at their own style. He should realize that he won 61 games playing a guard oriented, faster pace.

Dallas had a miracle comeback in Game 5 in 2007 too when they were down 3-1. I think they overcame a 12 pt defitit in the last 3 minutes, dirk hit a couple of amazing 3's in the last 20 secs.

All it did was give them a stay of execution and the Warriors mauled them in Game 6. Expect something similar here.

lol@ this thread

the spurs just delayed the inevitable

they'll either outdo the mavs and lose to a #8 that never even won a playoff game before (ho.lee.chit) or earn the right to get mudholed by the Thunder, both are fantastic prospects.

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"the champs" must be a pet name you have for the spurs. either that, or it doesnt mean what i thought.

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Winning 3 of them with the same core and 4 overall allows them to be called "champs".

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they'll either outdo the mavs and lose to a #8 that never even won a playoff game before (ho.lee.chit) or earn the right to get mudholed by the Thunder, both are fantastic prospects.

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It never ceases to amaze me how often you try to compare the way YOUR Mavs have failed to the failure of the Spurs. We're talking about an old team at the end of a long dynasty (Spurs in '11), as compared to a team that everyone thought was a shoe-in for a championship (Mavs in '07). You can pretend all you want, but you're the only one who thinks what the Mavs did in '07 will be comparable a Spurs loss in this series to a Grizz team that everyone admits is a lot better than their record.

[This message has been edited by MassAggie97 (edited 4/28/2011 12:49p).]

I'm not trying to say they are the same, this is worse. Regular season best record, 4-time champs, getting knocked out by a team that never even won a playoff game before. How's that better?

I think an 8 beating a 1 is an 8 beating a 1. I don't know how you can differintiate it. If you want to say it is fine because the Spurs have won multiple titles while the Mavs have none, then that is a different story.

Who gives a crap which is worse? What does it matter, and the end of the day? The trophies speak for themselves. One franchise is obviously superior. This is stupid.

completely missing the point

enlighten me, please.

Cause it seems to me like a childish and stupid argument by mavs fans so they can feel like they can measure up to an obviously far superior franchise.

transition time on this board.

spurs fans have to throw in the franchise smack, as they are clearly further from a championship than the mavs are now.

LOL, actually winning a championship (4 of them) is in no way related to mavs fans "keeping up hope" for one.


BWAHAHAHAHA

TTT.

A one losing to an eight is always going to be pretty bad. But it will end up being based on how good the Grizzlies actually are. The '99 Knicks made the finals as an 8th seed, yet hardly anyone talks about the Heat choking that first series.

After what I've seen in this series, I think the Mavs loss to GState was worse. The Grizz are better than the Spurs right now and I bet they'd beat several of the teams in the playoffs.

In 2007, GState was in the Mavs head alone. There is no way GState beats anyone else and there is probably no way the Mavs lose to anyone else. That was a straight Don Nelson psych out. He did the same thing back in '92(?) with the Warriors against the Spurs in a 7 vs. 2. He won that one series and then quickly bailed.

The Mavs were the easy favorite in 2007. This year, most "experts" were putting at least 4 teams ahead of the Spurs despite their record. Rich Buecher said he gave Pop his COY vote because it was a miracle to win this many games with this collection of talent. He said this before the playoffs started.

The Mavs had the MVP of the league in 2007. The Spurs might have one guy make 3rd team all NBA this year.

Oh, and look at records post allstar break. The Grizz have the second best record in the West, behind Dallas. The Spurs have the 7th best. They've been playing like crap for a while now.

You guys are arguing about which team has a bigger black stain. Who cares? They're both pretty epic failures, should the Grizzlies win.

The only difference is the Spurs have multiple trophies to wipe their tears with.

Failure yes. Epic failure? That's relative to expectations. And nobody was penciling the Spurs into the Finals this year.