Duncan says his team will be ready for tip-off in Game 7.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich isn’t interested in statistics that count against his team, as he emphasised they are ready for Game 7 of the NBA Finals 2013.
The Spurs let slip a lead down the stretch in Game 6 on Tuesday night, with many now suggesting that they will be unable to bounce back emotionally having come so close to securing another championship.
In contrast, the Heat will be buoyed by their late show, with LeBron James recording a triple-double and promising to be more aggressive in the decider too.
However, both Popovich and Tim Duncan are not listening to the critics, and say they will be ready to go when Game 7 tips off on Thursday night, and that all that matters right now is securing another NBA title.
“You know what, it’s all about just winning the title. It’s not about situation or what has led up to it,” Duncan told the media in the pre-game press conference.
“It’s a great story for everybody else, but we’re here for one reason, one reason only: It’s to try to win this game (Thursday). We have had a very good season thus far, and I think we just want to get to the game more than anything. We just want to see what happens and be able to leave everything out there.”
Meanwhile, Popovich was quizzed on whether his team are capable of bouncing back both physically and emotionally from their Game 6 disappointment, even more so when considering history does not favour them.
It has been almost 35 years since a road team won a Finals Game 7 on the road, but Popovich isn’t interested in history and has his mind purely focused on Thursday’s game.
“I don’t really care what it’s been like for anybody else at any time,” he told reporters.
“All I know is we have had a hell of a year and we have an opportunity to win a championship. That’s all that matters.”
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