duncan228
05-14-2008, 11:05 PM
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MySA.051508.SpursKeys.EN.ffb2ae10.html
NBA: Spurs' keys to victory
Jeff McDonald
Paint it (silver and) black
When the Spurs’ offense was running amok in Games 3 and 4, it was because Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were able to drive the paint at will. The Spurs averaged 105 points in their two home games, in part because layups make everything easier.
Those holes closed up in Game 5, as the Hornets made a concerted effort to blitz the Spurs’ guards on the pick-and-roll. For the Spurs’ offense to really roll, Parker and Ginobili must find a path to the rim again. If New Orleans center Tyson Chandler is hampered in any way with his sore toe, the task becomes exponentially easier.
Play hot potato
The Spurs’ offense is at its best when the ball is moving. This is no state secret. In their two victories in this series, the Spurs assisted on 55 of their 80 field goals.
A team moving the ball like that is almost impossible to defend.
The Spurs’ ball movement wasn’t as bad as it looked in Game 5 — they had 20 assists on 29 field goals — but they couldn’t cash in enough of those looks. They shot just 37.7 percent.
No amount of ball movement can save a team when the shots don’t fall, but it certainly never hurts.
Use the home crowd
The home crowd has been the great unequalizer in this series. The Hornets have won their three home games by 19, 18 and 22 points. The Spurs won their two at the AT&T Center by 11 and 20.
Certainly, the Spurs would like to keep that trend going in Game 6. That means keeping the crowd involved early and hoping the Hornets wilt.
The aim is to force a Game 7 in New Orleans — and hope the home-team trend ends.
NBA: Spurs' keys to victory
Jeff McDonald
Paint it (silver and) black
When the Spurs’ offense was running amok in Games 3 and 4, it was because Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili were able to drive the paint at will. The Spurs averaged 105 points in their two home games, in part because layups make everything easier.
Those holes closed up in Game 5, as the Hornets made a concerted effort to blitz the Spurs’ guards on the pick-and-roll. For the Spurs’ offense to really roll, Parker and Ginobili must find a path to the rim again. If New Orleans center Tyson Chandler is hampered in any way with his sore toe, the task becomes exponentially easier.
Play hot potato
The Spurs’ offense is at its best when the ball is moving. This is no state secret. In their two victories in this series, the Spurs assisted on 55 of their 80 field goals.
A team moving the ball like that is almost impossible to defend.
The Spurs’ ball movement wasn’t as bad as it looked in Game 5 — they had 20 assists on 29 field goals — but they couldn’t cash in enough of those looks. They shot just 37.7 percent.
No amount of ball movement can save a team when the shots don’t fall, but it certainly never hurts.
Use the home crowd
The home crowd has been the great unequalizer in this series. The Hornets have won their three home games by 19, 18 and 22 points. The Spurs won their two at the AT&T Center by 11 and 20.
Certainly, the Spurs would like to keep that trend going in Game 6. That means keeping the crowd involved early and hoping the Hornets wilt.
The aim is to force a Game 7 in New Orleans — and hope the home-team trend ends.