Byron Scott and Chris Paul disagree about Game #3 and #4 performances

[50 cent]

This is looking more and more like a potential meltdown:

TAPE TELLS TWO TALES: The coach with three championship rings and the MVP runner-up pursuing his first appeared to have watched different game tapes, according to their assessments Monday of the 100-80 debacle Sunday in San Antonio.

On Scott's part, the disgust he felt with the Hornets' overall effort in Game 4 had not dissipated in New Orleans. In Game 3 he saw some things to praise; for Game 4 Scott said bluntly the Spurs "beat the crap out of us."

"We've got to understand that defense is what got us to this particular point, and we've got to make sure we come out and put some pressure on them on the defensive end more," Scott said. "We can't worry about the offense, to be honest with you. It's not the offense that is beating us."

Although the Hornets took the first two games at the Arena easily, Scott said the erosion in intensity has been evident between the first game and the fourth, particularly when contrasted with the improved effort the Spurs seem to deliver each game.

"And this is the playoffs -- it's unbelievable," Scott said.

As evidence, Scott cited a shifting on-court emphasis among Hornets defenders. On one possession, the Hornets cut off Spurs point guard Tony Parker, as intended, only to get burned when the Spurs knocked down an outside shot. On the following possession, Scott said, the team neglected to cut off Parker, and he drove for a layup.

Paul, on the other hand, didn't notice as many defensive lapses.

"We didn't defend as well as we could, but after watching the film, we played good defense," he said. "Better offense will beat better defense any day. We were in their face; they just made shots."

Perhaps in response to the conflicting conclusions, Scott said he allowed the players to float defensive schemes Monday. If they had a more effective way of clamping down on Spurs forward Tim Duncan or sealing off the Spurs' pick-and-roll, he was willing to entertain it. Chandler said he considered seeking Scott's permission to take on Duncan single-handedly, but that did not appear to be an option either the players or the coaches have seriously entertained.

"I went to them today and said, 'You guys tell me how you want to play pick-and-rolls and how you want to play Tim Duncan, because I felt in games three and four we pretty much got away from trusting what we were doing," Scott said. "So I put it in their hands. They had some ideas. Some of them I liked, some of them I didn't."

http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/inde...690.xml&coll=1

[Parkerlooms]

I like how y Chris Paul is being with all his "it don't matter, its just basketball, we still got HCA.."

[Budkin]

"Better offense will beat better defense any day."

CP3 showing his youth and inexperience. He couldn't be more wrong. Ask the Phoenix Suns about offense beating defense.

[SpursFan0728]

my sig says it all

[ClingingMars]

my sig says it all

truthhhh

- Mars