duncan228
05-12-2008, 10:43 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA051308.hornets-sider.en.f565dbcd.html
NBA: Hornets mojo no longer a secret
By Mike Finger
NEW ORLEANS — Their trip to San Antonio erased their lead in the Western Conference semifinals, destroyed their momentum and rocked their once-unshakeable sense of invincibility. But it did wonders for the New Orleans Hornets’ peripheral vision.
“When we catch the ball, we see more than just the guy guarding us,” forward David West said. “We see the guy behind him, and the guy behind him, and the guy behind him.”
Unaccustomed to the kind of swarming attention that the Spurs have long been known for, the Hornets did not react well in a 100-80 Game 4 loss Sunday. And heading into tonight’s Game 5, they realize they need to find a solution before it’s too late.
New Orleans point guard Chris Paul said Monday he thought his team played good defense in Game 4, but that “better offense will beat better defense any day.” How the Hornets plan to make their own offense better is their biggest looming question.
On Sunday, Paul — the player the Spurs have essentially decided to let run free while harassing everyone else — was the only New Orleans’ starter who shot better than 33 percent from the field (he was 10 for 16).
West, who scored 30 points in Game 1, was 4 for 15. Peja Stojakovic, hounded by Bruce Bowen for the second consecutive game, was 3 for 9. Morris Peterson was 2 for 8. And Tyson Chandler didn’t even get free long enough to attempt a field goal.
Peterson admitted the Spurs had made giant strides defensively, saying, “They took a lot of things away from us.”
West agreed.
“They kind of got our rhythm,” West said. “They know how we play now.”
Spurs forward Kurt Thomas said West’s assessment is no accident. According to Thomas, the Spurs used the first few games of the series to “pick up their tendencies,” and they’re now putting that knowledge into practice. Rarely in either of the two games at the AT&T Center did any Hornets player other than Paul get a clean look at the basket.
“We’re loading up,” Thomas said. “We’re definitely trying to send a lot of different bodies to them.”
The bright side for the Hornets is that they are returning to New Orleans Arena, where they have been almost unstoppable over the past four months. The Hornets have won 26 of their last 30 games, including a 5-0 record in the playoffs. Those 26 victories have come by an average of more than 16 points.
So even though the Hornets returned to New Orleans disappointed with their showing in San Antonio, they insisted they weren’t at panic stage yet. But as they check their peripheral vision, they realize bigger challenges are coming if they can’t turn things around tonight.
“They took away what we wanted to accomplish out there,” Chandler said. “So we have to win this next one.”
NBA: Hornets mojo no longer a secret
By Mike Finger
NEW ORLEANS — Their trip to San Antonio erased their lead in the Western Conference semifinals, destroyed their momentum and rocked their once-unshakeable sense of invincibility. But it did wonders for the New Orleans Hornets’ peripheral vision.
“When we catch the ball, we see more than just the guy guarding us,” forward David West said. “We see the guy behind him, and the guy behind him, and the guy behind him.”
Unaccustomed to the kind of swarming attention that the Spurs have long been known for, the Hornets did not react well in a 100-80 Game 4 loss Sunday. And heading into tonight’s Game 5, they realize they need to find a solution before it’s too late.
New Orleans point guard Chris Paul said Monday he thought his team played good defense in Game 4, but that “better offense will beat better defense any day.” How the Hornets plan to make their own offense better is their biggest looming question.
On Sunday, Paul — the player the Spurs have essentially decided to let run free while harassing everyone else — was the only New Orleans’ starter who shot better than 33 percent from the field (he was 10 for 16).
West, who scored 30 points in Game 1, was 4 for 15. Peja Stojakovic, hounded by Bruce Bowen for the second consecutive game, was 3 for 9. Morris Peterson was 2 for 8. And Tyson Chandler didn’t even get free long enough to attempt a field goal.
Peterson admitted the Spurs had made giant strides defensively, saying, “They took a lot of things away from us.”
West agreed.
“They kind of got our rhythm,” West said. “They know how we play now.”
Spurs forward Kurt Thomas said West’s assessment is no accident. According to Thomas, the Spurs used the first few games of the series to “pick up their tendencies,” and they’re now putting that knowledge into practice. Rarely in either of the two games at the AT&T Center did any Hornets player other than Paul get a clean look at the basket.
“We’re loading up,” Thomas said. “We’re definitely trying to send a lot of different bodies to them.”
The bright side for the Hornets is that they are returning to New Orleans Arena, where they have been almost unstoppable over the past four months. The Hornets have won 26 of their last 30 games, including a 5-0 record in the playoffs. Those 26 victories have come by an average of more than 16 points.
So even though the Hornets returned to New Orleans disappointed with their showing in San Antonio, they insisted they weren’t at panic stage yet. But as they check their peripheral vision, they realize bigger challenges are coming if they can’t turn things around tonight.
“They took away what we wanted to accomplish out there,” Chandler said. “So we have to win this next one.”