Spurs @ Hornets Game 1 Blog

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.

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Originally Posted by Teal Street

(That didnt help the Mavs though)

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Mavs don't count. :lol

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Originally Posted by remingtonbo2001

:wow They do exsist.

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:lmao

. 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

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Originally Posted by Teal Street

. 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

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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.
NO needs to win both of their first two games in big easy if they want to make this a long series.

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Originally Posted by hsxvvd

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

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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.


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.

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Originally Posted by Teal Street

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.

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Welcome to SpursTalk!

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

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Originally Posted by Teal Street

If we protect our home court and you guys protect your floor the Hornets win in 7.

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Duh!

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Originally Posted by Teal Street

. 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.

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Welcome to SpursTalk - it's always a pleasure to meet fans of other teams who are willing to engage in intelligent discourse.

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:

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Originally Posted by Teal Street

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.

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Do you live in New Orleans?

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?

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Originally Posted by Don Quixote

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?

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This year, the series was split 2-2

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Originally Posted by cjjr72984

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...

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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.

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Originally Posted by Don Quixote

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?

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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.

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.

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Originally Posted by Teal Street

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.

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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.

Either way, the hornets will HAVE to experiment with a bigger lineup throughout this series to have a rebounding edge.

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Originally Posted by Don Quixote

Do you live in New Orleans?

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?

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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.

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Originally Posted by Teal Street

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.

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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! :lol

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.