Using "must-win" correctly

[flexmaster33]

It drives me nuts this time of year to watch highlights or pick up the newspaper and hear some reporter talking about the Lakers heading into a "must-win" Game 3.

Game 3 is never "must-win" in a best-of-7...that phrase should be reserved only for when a team is going to be officially eliminated if they lose.

Pretty simple math...Lakers lose Game 3 to fall behind 0-3, then reel off four straight...guess Game 3 wasn't a "must-win" then, huh?

pet peeve of mine.

 

[Mark2010]

See Flyers, 2010.

 

[ColdCat]

It's only "must win" if Joey Crawford is officiating.

 

[Precious Roy]

I'm of the differing opinion, because I see every game in the playoffs as a must win, so it's useless to say any game is must win. Every loss is one step closer to elimination, so all of them are must win games.
I think we just need to retire the phrase.

 

[rpmmutant]

It's cliche and often, when used, inaccurate. Saying or writing a team in down 2-0 or 3-0 is enough to let the reader know what the losing team is up against.

 

[dkphxf]

It drives me nuts this time of year to watch highlights or pick up the newspaper and hear some reporter talking about the Lakers heading into a "must-win" Game 3.

Game 3 is never "must-win" in a best-of-7...that phrase should be reserved only for when a team is going to be officially eliminated if they lose.

Pretty simple math...Lakers lose Game 3 to fall behind 0-3, then reel off four straight...guess Game 3 wasn't a "must-win" then, huh?

pet peeve of mine.

What will sports radio people talk about with this logic in place?

 

[dirtybird]

I don't think I'd ever really use it. Find more elaborate ways to say it. Maybe if it's in a quote, and then the rest of the quote needs to make up for it.

 

[Point of Order]

But Game 3 is literally a must-win for the Lakers, literally.

 

[jlee]

But Game 3 is literally a must-win for the Lakers, literally.

Kobe will have to literally explode and carry his team.

 

[Point of Order]

But Game 3 is literally a must-win for the Lakers, literally.

Kobe will have to literally explode and carry his team.

LOL, I don't know about that, but I think Phil Jackson literally just shat himself.

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

I save my ire for misuse of "unanswered points." Sometimes, use.

 

[dkphxf]

Game four is a must-win for the Mavs. Can't let the Lakers back into the series.

 

[dixiehack]

If a horse is in danger of becoming a gelding, that counts as must-win.

 

[smith_kb]

It drives me nuts this time of year to watch highlights or pick up the newspaper and hear some reporter talking about the Lakers heading into a "must-win" Game 3.

Game 3 is never "must-win" in a best-of-7...that phrase should be reserved only for when a team is going to be officially eliminated if they lose.

Pretty simple math...Lakers lose Game 3 to fall behind 0-3, then reel off four straight...guess Game 3 wasn't a "must-win" then, huh?

pet peeve of mine.

I would agree with a slight revision. I think a team that is down say 0-2 and is headed home for 2 games is in a must win situation for both of those games. The numbers show that a team that loses on the road and home is destine for trouble. Even 3-1 deficit heading back to you opponents house is a death sentence.

 

[mediaguy]

It's usually a really-ought-to-win situation. And people write "unanswered" when they mean "uninterrupted."

 

[Ace]

I always say it's a prefer-to-win game.

 

[RedCanuck]

I always say it's a prefer-to-win game.

Really? As opposed to a prefer-to-lose game?

 

[Ace]

I always say it's a prefer-to-win game.

Really? As opposed to a prefer-to-lose game?

Wow. Got me there.

 

[printdust]

But Game 3 is literally a must-win for the Lakers, literally.

Literally: a word that needs to be retired.

 

[NightHawk112005]

But Game 3 is literally a must-win for the Lakers, literally.

Literally: a word that needs to be retired.

If I remember right, some analyst once said a player was "exploding out there, and I mean that literally". I might have the wrong verb, but I know it was completely ridiculous.