Let me make this 12-0 for the Spurs when starting game blogs.
Here's to hoping we at least get a split in NO :toast
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Let me make this 12-0 for the Spurs when starting game blogs.
Here's to hoping we at least get a split in NO :toast
we're gonna win both of them man.
optimism.
im calling it in five, the series.
¡uʍop ǝpısdn ɯǝɥʇ uɹnʇ ǝʍ ǝdoɥ ı
:downspin:
LMAO holy shit i just asked you to do it in the game thread, LOL alright we got this shit nowQuote:
Originally Posted by Amuseddaysleeper
GO SPURS GO
I'm impressed by your dedication. :lol
You and me both :toastQuote:
Originally Posted by honestfool84
Tough series coming up. The Spurs need to get a split in the first two games.
Get ready, the Hornets fans and trolls should find ST any second.
I say Spurs in 5.
They lose game 1 on account of tiredness and being on the road.
Make their adjustments and win 4 straight.
how did he write upside down, that is crazy
Spurs in six. NO is good.
Amuseddaysleeper our savior
:worthy:
Hey edit the title.
Don't choke under pressure! :lol
I'll put it Spurs in 6.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slomo
:lol
I've gone by way of the Suns again!
Hopefully a mod can clean up the thread title since I can't edit it anymore
Spurs in 5!! They will lose the 1st game(I hope they don't), and then they0ll win 4 in a row!!!
Spurs in 7... hopefully 6!
I like the Spurs in 6 games. NO is going to win at least 2. Id be shocked if they didnt. They have a damn good team that will go down swinging.
NO is a good team.
I'd love for Barry and Horry to show up.
I can't see our big 3 averaging 85 ppg again in this next series as NO is 100 times the defensive team the Suns were.
Our bench needs to step up in a big way (and Fin needs to average around 10 ppg) for the Spurs to take this.
The safe pick. Spurs in 6. At least by beating PHX, the team gets four days rest.
Hopefully Manu's rest makes for an impactful return.
Home Court --- sucks, that we dont have it
I kinda like not starting out with the HCA. I love SA's chances of getting game 1 on the road.
Of course, should this series go seven, then I'll probably end up eating my words, but I like the idea of getting a split, defending our home floor, and then finishing things at the AT&T Center in game 6.
Spurs in 6.
This is my take on it:
I notice that Duncan hasn't been going to his post game much in the Suns series. I assume he decided it was better to bring Shaq out of the post and shoot jumpers (if necessary), because it would also free up the post for easy passes inside to either Oberto or Thomas. Furthermore, it was convenient for the pick and roll which Suns are bad at defending.
I think we may see Duncan go more into his post-up game against the Hornets. I don't think Chandler can stop Duncan for even a minute. No one can stop Ginobli and the reason is...Ginobli is unpredictable and he has a fading shot that's hard to block. Most of the time, the only person that can stop Ginobli is himself. They also cannot stop Parker. Parker will blow past Paul and most of the others. Also, Parker likes to run and look for opportunities. If Hornets lapse on their team defense for even a minute, Parker will make them pay.
The Hornets gameplay seem to feed off of Chris Paul. If we have a Jacque Vaughn or Bruce Bowen in, then we have an answer to Paul. Of course, we also need to worry about Peja and Mo., so it will be up to Popovich to get the right balance of offense and defense and I believe Popovich can do that. He is the most efficient coach in the league.
The Hornets are inexperienced. Now, that may not mean much to most but usually inexperienced teams play on emotion. Experienced teams, like the Spurs, play consistently no matter what the situation and no matter whose home court they play on. That will be a big factor especially if Spurs win game 1 or 2 or both. That will kind of deflate the Hornets as an inexperienced team.
Experience, Spurs Big 3 and Efficient Coaching - Efficient Offense/Defense Balance will be the key. Oh, and adaptation. It seems the Spurs found a way to beat the Hornets because during the season they beat the Hornets by 11 I think. They limited Paul to 5 assists which is big knowing how many assists Paul usually dishes out. Furthermore, that was only a season game. Spurs seems to be the only team that actually half-asses it during the season and plays at their best in the playoffs. That's definitely a big deal.
You guys split the regular season with us and we had some games where we blew the Spurs out by 20. I know the Spurs are better in the post season but then again so are the Hornets. This series will go 7 and it will not be easy for either team. The Hornets are the 2 seed but really I see these two teams pretty even except the Spurs have more playoff experience. (That didnt help the Mavs though) If we protect our home court and you guys protect your floor the Hornets win in 7.
:wow They do exsist.
Mavs don't count. :lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Teal Street
:lmaoQuote:
Originally Posted by remingtonbo2001
. I have a lot of respect for the Spurs really and this will be the Hornets biggest test even if we advance to face the Lakers. You have to beat the defending Champs to get the right to play in the Championship. It will not be an easy series even though we beat the Spurs by twenty twice this season. Once on your floor and once on ours. You guys might take the Hornets lightly but I doubt seasoned players like Parker and Duncan are doing that. They are probably watching game film as we speak.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC-pW...eature=related
If we had to be beaten, I'd want the Hornets to do so more than any other Western Conference team that made the playoffs.
We finally can silence the Suns and Mavs trolls, and now we calling out the Hornets trolls... least this first one seems respectful.
I have never really understood the hatred of the Spurs, unlike the Lakers and Bulls runs, the Spurs players have remained humble throughout the entire dynasty. I hated the Bulls but respected them. The Lakers... they didn't deserve it, they weren't really that good.:wakeup
I don't think anybody thinks your team is 'easy' or is taking your team lightly. That said, you're putting too much stock on the regular season. We got beat up pretty badly by the Suns also in the regular season, and well, you see what happens in the playoffs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Teal Street
NO needs to win both of their first two games in big easy if they want to make this a long series.
No reason to be disrespectful. You guys have earned your stripes. Spurs are like the "New England Patriots" of basket ball. Regardless of the fact that We won the division and got the higher seed I expect the post season to be much different and we will have to step up our game to hang with the Spurs. We are youthful and are well coached and well conditioned. So far we have not let anyone intimidate us like a team with little playoff experience normally would. I credit coach of the year Byron Scott for that. I realize the Spurs have been there and the Hornets window is just now opening. This is a team that we will see in the playoffs for years to come and what we learn against great teams like the Spurs will help us mature even more as a team.Quote:
Originally Posted by hsxvvd
On a side note I have an uncle and cousins in Universal city just outside of San Antonio and I will probably be giving him a call to get a room ready for me. I want to see all of this series.
Welcome to SpursTalk!Quote:
Originally Posted by Teal Street
The Hornets are the real deal this season...CP3 is a machine...this is gonna be a very tough series. I still think the Spurs' big game experience will win out, though. Spurs in 6.
LET'S GET IT ON!!! :toast
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teal Street
Duh!
Welcome to SpursTalk - it's always a pleasure to meet fans of other teams who are willing to engage in intelligent discourse.Quote:
Originally Posted by Teal Street
NO is going to be a tough series, no doubt about it, and it would not surprise me to see the Hornets win. That's especially true if Ginobili continues to struggle with his injury.
At the same time, you keep talking about how NO beat SA twice by 20 in the regular season. Ask Cleveland how their 2-0 regular series record against SA translated to the postseason in 2007, or Phoenix how they did this year after going 3-1. Hey, Phoenix won game 4 by 20 but still ended up losing the series - Pop knows when to cut his losses.
Here's to a good series, and may the winner represent the WC in the Finals. :toast
Hornets fan here. :toast
I didn't even realize I registered on this site. Nevertheless, it'll be a tough series. I'm predicting Hornets in 7. Chris Paul has gotten the better of Parker and in all honestly.....Parker is good, but Chris Paul is better.
Duncan is the best there is.....but David West's perimeter shooting will force Duncan out of the paint a little and that will be key.
Finally, the Hornets defense on Ginobili will go a long way in determining this series. I truly believe Bonzi and Julian Wright will play some good defense on Manu. Also, the Hornets conditioning and young legs will give SA fits all series.
Either way, I like the Spurs and their fans WAY better than the Lakers or Mavs fans. You guys are classy and so is your organization. It's unbelievable after 4 championships, you guys STILL get picked to lose playoff series against teams that can't play a lick of defense...
:clap LET'S DO THIS!!! :clap
:flag::flag::flag:
:lobt::lobt::lobt:
Do you live in New Orleans?Quote:
Originally Posted by Teal Street
I've been to 3 Spurs games at the N.O. Arena. The Spurs won the first 2 in half-empty arenas. The third time the place was mostly full and the Hornets opened a big fourth-quarter can. I imagine the place will sell out, making tickets either hard to come by or too expensive. Are you going to the games?
I love how the city has come together in support of the Hornets. Really, it will make beating them much more meaningful. But I like their team and think they have a very bright future.
We do, however, need to fix the PA guy in the Hive. Every time Chris Paul does something, they play this high-pitched "wooooo!", followed with the crowd echoing it. "Woooo!" "Wooooooooooo!" What's up with that? Is it in some rap video or something?
This year, the series was split 2-2Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Quixote
Who do we use on Duncan? Chandler? West? Who ever gets that assignment better bring their A game. Also the Refs better call a fair game. Dirk is a huge Flopper but Manu Genoble is a "Jeteye" at flopping.Quote:
Originally Posted by cjjr72984
Actually, that's Ric "The Nature Boy" Flair's voice. That was a chant the Hornets organization started whenever Baron Davis scored. They decided to keep it going when CP got here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Quixote
I hate it. We know when to cheer, thank you. Don't need all the sound effects and music, or sideshows.
The Spurs' PA people aren't any better, though.
The first couple of times I saw the Silver & Black in the Hive, it was about 1/3 full of Spurs fans. That, I imagine, will change. I might be the drop of black in a sea of teal.
I honestly think Scott will switch different people on Duncan. I think he'll start out with a Chandler-Armstrong rotation and see how that goes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Teal Street
Either way, the hornets will HAVE to experiment with a bigger lineup throughout this series to have a rebounding edge.
I do live in the City of New Orleans and I am one who has decided to rebuild and return. An amazing transformation has taken place in New Orleans since the All-Star game. We have fallen in love with the round ball and Season tickets for next year are selling like hot cakes and the Hornets havent even tried to push those yet. Winning goes a long way as does having a potential Hall of famer in Chris Paul.Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Quixote
Yes it does. The city has fallen in love with this team so much that it seems Saints owner Tom Benson is getting a little jealous! :lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Teal Street
Finally, a proper PG matchup!
What part of town?
I live in the East, near the lake, and took 9" of water in my house. I go to school at the Seminary on Gentilly.
Really, I've generally pulled for the Hornets this year. But their magical year ends soon.
Lets not bring Benson up on the San Antonio forum now. By the way, I bet if he shows up in this series he will have a San Antonio Spurs hat on. :hatQuote:
Originally Posted by cjjr72984
ReallyQuote:
Originally Posted by Don Quixote
I'll be playing Jazz there this morning. LOL small world.
I'm in Gentilly and know what its like to be a pioneer. Wilderness isnt all that bad once you get used to it.
Pioneer is right!
This town is full of wild outlaws, and we need more sheriffs!
Gentilly got it much worse than my neighborhood.
I live in the East. Right off Hayne past Bullard.
New Orleans baby! :tu
I live off Hayne just to the west of Bullard.
New Orleans baby!!
Whoa! Hold up, what street you live on??Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Quixote
Berg.
Are you a chick?
Lol, nah bro.Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Quixote
I live on Pebble by the way.
I know the area well. For a non-local, I've gotten to know the city very well.
Alright then, perhaps we can organize a small get together to watch the games, because tickets are likely to be hard to come by and expensive.
I'm with ya on that. I'll let you know though. I'm a bee-mail subscriber so I MIGHT be able to get some tickets for game 1.Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Quixote
The role players will have to step up in this series. I don't think the big 3 can do it alone again either. I wonder if they'll bother to get Finley some looks? He was shooting well to end the season and shot the ball well in the first two games then they never looked to him again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Amuseddaysleeper
Check out the big brain on Brad!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Teal Street
Spurs need to remember, CP3's acting job is the reason why Bowen's streak of 500 consecutive starts ended. :makemyday
Hornets are a very tough match up for the Spurs, as they are athletic and quick and Bonzi Wells has historically done well against us. This series is going to come down to two things; Ginobili's health and Ime Udoka. If Ginobili is healthy...at least 90%, the Hornets don't really have anyone who can stop him. Ime Udoka may get the job of defending Peja/Bonzi/or even West at times in this series. That's going to be huge if he can hold his own and make some shots.
That said, this whole "experience" thing that many Hornets fans and media is overlooking is very misleading. Experience does matter, and ultimately I think that's what may push the Spurs over the top. Saying Dallas had an edge over the Hornets due to their postseason experience is misleading; Dallas is something like 3-14 in the last two postseasons after taking a 2-0 lead against the Heat in the Finals in 06. Dallas isn't a veteran team with playoff experience. Hornets are going to have to adjust to the added pressure not only in the postseason, but in the 2nd round, against a Spurs team that has been doing this for years. That makes a big difference.
Experience can make the difference.Quote:
Originally Posted by 1Parker1
Duncan, last night:
On the importance of experience -"There is no substitute for experience. Guys don’t panic, we don’t for the most part take bad shots. We come down, we execute, we make the right plays and take the right shots, they don’t always go in but we put ourselves in situations to win games down the stretch. We do it by making the right decisions and that comes from experience and from being together and from knowing what you want out of those situations.”
Spurs in 6. We might shock them in game 1 although we're not always great on game 1s, but we always adjust for game 2.
Easy man. I'm a playoff Newb. Jeese! O.K. so I stated the obvious.Quote:
Originally Posted by G-Nob
I want a big kahuna burger now, lolQuote:
Originally Posted by G-Nob
GO HORNETS!!! :toast
Off topic.. can someone direct me to that picture that someone edited with Pop standing next to "Loser" and D'antoni's head was in a circle?
:lamo
If the Hornets want to improve their chances of winning this series, Peja, Wells, and Chandler will have to really step their offensive games up. I expect Paul/West to get their stats but IMO I feel the difference in making this a long series hinges on those 3 players.
Im not saying this will happen or it wont happen. Im saying this is what needs to be done if NO wants to really make this a series they could put themselves in position to win.
As much as it pains me to say so, I think you're at least partially correct. Wells is due for a big game or two in the playoffs, and they may as well be against the Spurs. Chandler doesn't need to score a ton, but it would help if he added another 6 or 8 per game for this series. Peja will hit timely shots, and that will be good enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by 21GoSpursGo9
I don't for a minute underestimate the Spurs. This will be a very tough series, but I really think the Hornets will take it. I wouldn't have made this prediction a few weeks ago, but I think the Hornets have the speed and athleticism to do it. I don't worry about the experience factor except to the extent that D West and Chandler allow their emotions to get the better of them. They have improved on that score . . . so I'm hopeful.
The Hornets crushed the Spurs twice this year, doing great things for their confidence. That's the good news for the Hornets.
The bad news: by now, everyone knows that Pop's approach to regular season games is more as "practice" for the playoffs. As the Cavs last year, and the Suns this year, quickly learned: regular season wins/losses mean almost nothing to this team. Part of me practically thinks Pop lost on purpose to the Hornets this past season just to see how this team gets off, giving him more material to plan for, and to inject a healthy amount of fear and respect in the Spurs.
To a man, the Spurs players say they play better and with more focus when they fear and respect their opponents. The Suns talked about the Spurs' gamemanship, their mental discipline and sheer will and ability to execute, no matter how strong the Suns came out against them. Yes, experience and cohesion count, even trumping talent and pride. Two time-MVP Nash, and one-time Coach of the Year D'Antoni, would be the first ones to tell you that.
But are the Hornets even as talented as the Spurs? Well, there are four future hall of famers on the Spurs squad: Timmy, Pop, Tony and Manu. If he stays healthy and maintains his balance, Chris Paul has a hall of fame future. But after that, who else on the Hornets squad? Case closed.
Ergo: the Suns equaled (or according to them, surpassed) the Spurs in talent, but fell woefully short in the areas of playoff gamemanship, experience and focus. The Hornets are younger, but hardly "more talented," and they have even less playoff experience than the Suns.
So who, besides Charles Barkley, is choosing the Hornets to win more than a game or two in the next series? Even if I wasn't a Spurs man, I wouldn't bet on the Hornets.
I don't think Hornet fans realize yet that Bonzi is one of the most feared Spur Killers ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by VoiceofReason
Actually, I do watch the NBA.Quote:
Originally Posted by ShoogarBear
That wasn't a dig. No particular reason for you to know what Bonzi did to the Spurs routinely when he was with Portland, Sacramento, and Houston.
I've been to San Antonio a few times, but I never realized how many comedians follow its NBA team.Quote:
Originally Posted by oboymeetsogirl
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShoogarBear
No problem. But, actually, I've watched Bonzi over the years, and I hope he steps up in this series.
P.S. I wouldn't say he's ugly, but they cover the clocks at the New Orleans Arena?
spurs in 3 and 1/2
First off, regarding the Hall of Fame status...Quote:
Originally Posted by oboymeetsogirl
Chris Paul and Tim Duncan? Guarantees.
Coach Popovich? Definitely.
Coach Scott? Absolutely, for his playing and coaching careers.
Manu and/or Parker? Maybe. But, then, how do you deny one of the best shooters in the league's history (Peja) or D-West if he continues his current play?
With that out of the way... I feel like you haven't watched the Hornets at all this year. Which isn't terribly surprising, considering that you're a Spurs fan and considering how much the national media slept on them. You're really not giving the team enough credit. To compare the Hornets to this year's Suns (and to think the Spurs will handle them the same way) is insulting. Sure it was the regular season, but the Hornets handed the Spurs their two worst losses of the year (102-78 and 100-75). That's not a fluke; that's because the Hornets are a great team. As are the Spurs. And I should stress the word "team" in both those sentences. The Hornets depend on one another, and they trust each other. It's the same for the Spurs. These teams were both built with a specific plan in mind... they weren't just thrown together. Trust me, it took long enough for the Hornets to get to this point (I sat through the 18-win season, I should know).
This series will be a long one. It won't be easy for us, but don't think we'll make it easy on you. I think these teams match up well, and I can't wait for Saturday night. I'll be there, booing anytime y'all touch the ball.
What if i don't actually touch the ball? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Man in the Arena
Why?Quote:
Originally Posted by Man in the Arena
:lol Paul is not a guaranteed HoFer yet.
For a guy who watches the NBA, you sure don't know much. Oh, of course, you're a Hornets guy, and this is the first time your team has advanced in the playoffs, so we forgive you for not paying much attention to the fact that since the days of the Showtime Lakers, Bird's Celtics, Jordan and da Bulls and Hakeem the Dream's Rockets, over 90% of the time it's teams with more than raw talent, but also with hardcore experience and stable, cohesive lineups, who usually prevail as you get deeper into the playoffs.Quote:
Originally Posted by VoiceofReason
Hence, the four championship banners hanging in our rafters, and zero in New Orleans.
The Hornets have had a great year. New Orleans deserves a winner. We give props to Paul, just like we do to Nash, Shaq, LeBron and Kobe. But unfortunately, the Spurs are not as old and creaky as some people make them out to be. If you want to talk "big and smart," you have to prove yourself first. Come back to us in a two weeks. If the Hornets beat the Spurs, then you can crow all you like.
Meantime, I'd have to say that a truly astute NBA fan would never be so quick to predict the demise of teams like Spurs, who have been dominating the league much the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Pistons and Rockets in their glory days, even if you are a fan of a young, unproven team.
Bonzi is pretty ugly. And Sam Cassell is fugly.Quote:
Originally Posted by VoiceofReason
But the ugliest one of all is Delonte West. That is one ugly dude.
Carryover from this game:Quote:
Originally Posted by td4mvp21
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8WXVJQ06Sk
After that play, the entire Arena booed the Spurs every single time they had possession. Fourth quarter: Spurs 8, Hornets 24. It can't hurt to try it for a whole game.
ShoogarBear, if you've followed Chris Paul's career (especially this season), you know that he's a very special player. Although he wouldn't be an automatic HOF entry if he were to retire next month, he's certainly on the right path. The records that he's set (or matched), the company he's in when comparing him to other players, and the type of leader he is... all of these things point in that direction. But you'll have the next two weeks to learn all about that ;).
Oh you mean the game where Paul hit Bowen in the balls and Bowen got suspended. Thanks for clarifying :tu
You want "credit?" Sure, we'll give you credit: great season! Chris Paul... unbelievable play, man... way to clobber the Mavs!Quote:
Originally Posted by Man in the Arena
But to get enough credit to be spoken of in the same breath as a team that's gone all the way three times over the past five years, then you have to do better than get past the first round. Sure, you may beat the Spurs (which is unlikely), but then you need to get past either the Lakers, Jazz or Rockets, who deserve a lot more credit than the Hornets (since the Jazz at least got to the WC finals last year, the Rockets and McGrady have been banging on the door in recent years, and the Lakers have a legendary coach and are led by a three-time winner named Bryant).
But until you can get past the Spurs and what may come after that, I'm sorry but you get no playoff level "credit." This is something that has to be earned, sonny-boy. So why don't you go back to your couch, watch and learn? If you beat us, I'll be the first to congratulate you. But how about demanding "credit" after the fact, not before it?
I think that was his point, its still too soon. That being said, if he keeps going the way he has been so far, he will be a lock.Quote:
Although he wouldn't be an automatic HOF entry if he were to retire next month,
Chris was trying to contain the basketball. Another type of ball just got in the way. Other than CP's ribs, I'm not sure what Bowen was trying to kick.Quote:
Originally Posted by td4mvp21
Two sides to every story. I'm not gonna change your mind. I was at that game, and nothing will change my mind.
Demanding credit? I'm good, thanks. Don't give my team any credit. I'm fine with that. But I'm shocked you think that the series might be over in 5 games (as evidenced by your question if anyone is picking the Hornets to win more than 1 or 2 games). I won't be surprised if the Spurs win the series; I'll be disappointed but not surprised. I'll be damn surprised if the series doesn't go 6 or 7 games.Quote:
Originally Posted by oboymeetsogirl
I can see it going 5....then again, I can also see it going 7.
What could possibly make you think that Chris Paul would ever hit another player in the groin?Quote:
Originally Posted by td4mvp21
http://www.extremesportclips.com/vid...ius-Hodge.html
Fair enough. Bowen probably "kicked" him because he got hit in the balls.Quote:
Originally Posted by Man in the Arena
:lolQuote:
Originally Posted by ShoogarBear
That's the weird thing about the West this year. Everyone expected the first round to have some of the most competitive games in league history, and three series ended in five games or fewer. So nothing will surprise me, but I still expect Hornets-Spurs to go seven games.Quote:
Originally Posted by samikeyp
I'll say one thing... who the hell thought the first round of the East would be so compelling?
This will be a different Spurs team, than the regular season Spurs team.
I don't think the Hornets realize that.
CP3 is dirty, watch out. The dude punched Julius Hodge in the nuts in a college game and has done the same to Bowen already.
Cant wait to see him get owned
CP 3 I forgot he punched a dude in the jewels once in college. Bonzi Wells is a punk. I like Parker to be able to contain cp3.
Lol! CP3 is dirty huh. He punched a guy down-low one time in college and he's been playing clean, lights out basketball since he's been in the NBA and you call him dirty. Awww man o man.Quote:
Originally Posted by NuGGeTs-FaN
If a "dirty" CP3 makes the Spurs look like boy scouts, I love it. And I'm sure the Spurs would love it, too. It seems that every time you knock down a Spur, it gets harder to beat them.
To put this series in perspective, we can look at the NJ Nets of '03. Kidd was probably at his peak back then, with playoff experience and probably better than Paul is today. Same thing with KMart and Chandler. Pretty much the same thing with David West and Richard Jefferson. Their 3pt guy back then was Kerry Kittles, and Peja is definitely better. Same coach.
All in all, I think that Nets team was better than this Hornets team, and as far as the Spurs goes, we're much more experienced than back then, especially Tony and Manu.
We don't have DRob, but then this Hornets team plays basically with just Chandler up front. Bonzi might come in, but I think Thomas can do a good job on him. The other thing with Bonzi is that if the offense runs through him, then Paul, Chandler and Peja will get out of rhythm sooner or later. See Boris Diaw in the Suns series.
While I don't think it will be a cakewalk, just like that Nets team was not a cakewalk, I don't think it's going to be as difficult as some predict.
A lot will depend on Manu's health. If he's fine, I think we can have this series in 5 or 6 games. Stealing one of the first two in NO is imperative.
One other thing to be on the lookout for is Chandler's foul situation. Guarding Tim is no easy feat, and fouls can add up quickly on him.