Not sure if we finish them off tonight or not.

What I do know is that Portland was defeated somewhere around the 3rd quarter last game. You could see it in their faces. It wasn't the first time they cut a lead down to single digits in the series. It took everything they had and lights out shooting... but in what seemed like 2 seconds, the Spurs take over again and are right back to a 15-20 point lead. They had no answer and they knew it.

They are done! It's just a matter of when at this point. If I'm a betting man my money is on tonight. That stat about them only leading for like 33 seconds the entire series is quite telling!

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I wonder if there is a trend for how the spurs have played to start the next series off following a sweep of the previous series. I worry about a team like this getting too much time off when things are clicking so well. If clippers go 7, thats atleast 8 days off I think.

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I think the time off benefits our guys' legs more than it detracts from chemistry. But who knows. It could backfire. I just know Duncan's shot has been short more ever since the every other night games started.

I think the Spurs can beat both teams. I don't know who we match up better against. Like others have said, there are pros and cons to each. I just know the Spurs have really struggled with OKC the last few years. And the added pressure of the league wanting Durant vs. LeBron (slightly tongue in cheek there). I think if OKC continues to be unable to run a legit offense, then maybe they are the easier matchup.

But based on the last few seasons, the Clips are the worst of the two teams, and I want the easiest road possible to Miami. The eastern conference playoffs are a joke this year, and so I want the Spurs to get to the Finals as little beat up as possible. We would still get challenged by Miami, so why not minimize challenges on the way?

I think Portland comes out strong but Spurs go on a run in the third. Opposite of what's happened in every game so far. Except Spurs will actually take the lead and Portland will mentally pack it in. Spurs by 5.

Spurs just need to come out focused and not get caught up in the runs by Portland and they finish them off. Portland was practically saying "no mas" in the last game, they have no answer for SA.

I don't think the rest hurts the Spurs at all. Traditionally they win the first game of the next series coming off sweeps. The Spurs are just such a playoff vet team, they know exactly how to prepare and they know how to take advantage of the rest.

Definitely prefer LA over OKC. LA is an athletic based team that relies on a lot of 1 on 1 and 2 Man plays to succeed. The Spurs will force them to take a lot of bad shots while they are slicing them up on the offensive end. In the end it will be the Spurs shooting higher percentage open shots against the Clips taking contested shots and that is almost always going to favor the Spurs.

Durant has some of that young Dirk in him that gives SA problems, big man jump shooters that can also drive and pass are a tough matchup. Ibaka also seems to give the Spurs trouble and of course Westbrook is great. OKC is just a hard team to get up and run away on and that's what the Spurs like to do, the Thunder will keep it within striking distance and can make the Spurs work on offense.

I think they'll move Batum over to TP full time and we won't get off to as good of a start tonight. Portland should get some shots to fall tonight since they should be playing pretty loose with their nothing to lose attitude. I think the Spurs hang around though throughout the game and then execute down the stretch to end the series in a close game 4.

It's Manu's turn for a big game.

I'm going with San Antonio by double digits tonight. No way Portland wants to put off their 4th reaming. They'll take it now, please.

Wrong thread

[This message has been edited by Natasha Romanoff (edited 5/12/2014 6:30p).]

Portland is beaten. I guess we'll find out how much pride they have, but I expect the Spurs to put them away tonight without too much fuss.

I expect a close game, especially in the 1st
But the Spurs pull away in the late 3rd qtr -start of 4th...
End this tonight Spurs

These last 4 minutes of game play are the most that I've watched of the Heat in a month at least. Would be fun to humiliate them in the finals.

Let's go Spurs! Close out these clowns.

I'm torn by wanting to get the clippers next or not having games start at 10pm

It's raining
So of course my directv is not working
So frustrating

Portland just hit the 1:00 mark of leading for the series

Very sloppy start

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Portland just hit the 1:00 mark of leading for the series

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I will never understand how people like Reggie Miller can be great players yet offer such inane commentary.

Blazers are playing with a sense of urgency early on. Gotta step up the intensity.

Eliminatiom game for them. They've got nothing to lose. We'll still win.

Aldridge is too small to cover Tim.

Not a fan of the shots Leonard is taking right now.

I don't like Leonard's shots either. He seems to really be forcing things tonight. He also freezes the offense when he touches the ball. It stays in his hand for far too long IMO.

We came out about as flat as Duncan's mid range jumper...

Probably has something to do with the lineups we're seeing.

For all their energy, Portland doesn't look very good. We're playing pretty awful an they're unable to build a lead because of poor shots and turnovers.

Yeah, this is pretty encouraging. Same thing we've seen all series, really. The Blazers can't seem to outplay the Spurs by much no matter what lineup we send out there or how poorly we play.

One run could end this thing.

Feels like Parker is being far less aggressive tonight so far. And I don't even think the defense is very good against him he just isn't attacking

I kind of get the feeling the Spurs are going to weather the early intensity then try to drop the hammer. Nine minutes into the game and 10 players have played. We could easily see all 10 with more than 3 minutes at the end of the quarter.

[This message has been edited by Ulrich (edited 5/12/2014 10:12p).]

I like Baynes activity around the rim

Patty's got the hot hand.

Manu playing poorly tonight again.

Should have been a charge right there.

About an obvious of a charge as it gets.

Eesh Kawhi's jumper is way off tonight.