RealGM

When: 7:30 PM ET, January 17, 2012
Where: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL



VS



Starting Lineups:

Spurs:
PG - Tony Parker
SG - Kawhi Leonard
SF - Richard Jefferson
PF - Tim Duncan
C - DeJuan Blair

Heat:
PG - Mario Chalmers
SG - Dwyane Wade
SF - LeBron James
PF - Chris Bosh
C - Joel Anthony

Well this is going to be our toughest game of the season to date and if we're going to win we're going to have to play our best basketball of the season.

The key to this game is going to be playing great team defense. If we can play solid defense on and off the ball we can win this game. Also I wouldn't be suprised if we see Pops go to a zone from time to time, teams have had some sucess against the Heat by going to the zone.

Not sure if Wade is going to play in this one due to that ankle injury but lets just assume he's going too.

Go Spurs!!

Kawhi shuts down LeBron and the Heat are forced into mid-range jumpers

GAME.

Be interesting to see what happens, I think we may lose this in a close one.

^
If Kawhi can at least make it tough for Lebron and Duncan and Parker both have good games again this is a winnable game.

Since the old Duncan did show up againts Phoenix, I can't really expect that guy to show up again in this game. It's also played in Miami. I got a feeling that this is gonna be one of those games that we get blown out and Pop decide not to play the starters much, instead focusing on tomorrow's game againts Orlando.

I doubt Dwade will play. It seems that ankle sprain was rather nasty.

From what's been said so far it looks like Wade won't play. I'm a bit worried about Gary Neal and Bonner who sustained minor injuries against Phoenix - Neal didn't return for the 2nd half and Bonner was struggling when he was replaced in the 4th. Any word on their condition?

P.S.: We are still winless on the road and it would be awesome to win at least one of the back-to-back games in Florida or we go 0-6 away from home...

2 tough road games in a row. This could be ugly.

batmana wrote:From what's been said so far it looks like Wade won't play. I'm a bit worried about Gary Neal and Bonner who sustained minor injuries against Phoenix - Neal didn't return for the 2nd half and Bonner was struggling when he was replaced in the 4th. Any word on their condition?

P.S.: We are still winless on the road and it would be awesome to win at least one of the back-to-back games in Florida or we go 0-6 away from home...

Wade's just been ruled out and no word no Neal or Bonner.

Neal will dress tonight after that hamstring injury but I have no idea if he will play or not. Still no word on Bonner's health.

Wow, just wow. Talk about the tale of 2 halves. Glad I was at work for this one, I think I'd have torn all my hair out after that 2nd half.

Getting outscored 39-12 in a quarter isn't going to cut it. Oh well I didn't expect a win anyway.

Well, that was Lebron James and the Heat's defense on full display that third quarter. When Lebron is feeling it, there's really not much anybody can do. I mean, he forced up three 3-pointers off the dribble guarded because he knew he was that hot. Had the fourth one went in, we might as well just forfeit the game.

The positives we have to take out from this is really the play of Kawhi Leonard. He really needs to continue starting even when Manu comes back. Whether that means Manu returns to the 6th man role or Jefferson comes off the bench, I don't care. But there's no player on our team more disruptive defensively and plays with more energy... other than Manu.

I agree to a point. I think we need to start both Manu and Leonard. I don't care how. But I see your thinking, where maybe we need a spark off the bench.