How do we beat the Hornets??!

[Kori Ellis]

Ginobili looked exhausted in freakin warmups.

Yeah, I don't know if he's as banged up as he is exhausted. He has that vampire look now. (you guys know what I'm talking about) But as timvp reminded me, the last time Manu had this much of the vampire look was the 2005 playoffs

[Brutalis]

Also.......

Manu does not look recovered fully.

Tony tweaked an ankle as did Duncan his knee.

I hope they aren't very tender tomorrow.

We need rest big time. Glad the game isn't till Saturday at least.

[Brutalis]

I think y'all and everyone else in America are giving the Hornets way too much credit. The same reason the Lakers are going to struggle with the Jazz is the same reason we'll have an advantage over the Hornets. They're still not a team - sure they're extremely athletic and talented, but they're not playoff tested. They beat the mavs that had somewhat of the same problem of the suns - a new mix in their scheme of offense and defense. I'm not denying the talent of the Hornets, but they were playing against a dallas team that hadn't really put it together since the trade. The Spurs have championship experience along with a somewhat healthy team. Make fun of me all you want, but don't be surprised when the Spurs are up 3-1 in this series. Yes, on paper we are outmatched - I'll give you that.

You give the Mavs too much credit, they are done for, they are in rebuild mode they have to be looking like a skinny .500 team since their trade.

Us beating Phoenix 4-1 was not as easy as the four to one look at all. We are hurting, bruised and so forth.

You don't give NO enough credit really. They have an edge at home against a somewhat banged up Spurs squad.

[mVp]

Chandler scares the crap outta me!

Personally I’m not worried about Chandler... Chris Paul is the scary one, that kid is not human

[bobbyjoe]

Dazed is right. The Hornets weakness is their ability to defend elite wing players. They mainly do this with either Mo Pete, Peja, or Julian Wright. None of those guys are really quick besides Wright but he's still not quick enough to hang with the super elite wings.

However, it's obvious many havent watched a lot of David West if they think that Kurt Thomas can guard him. West has really honed his skills. If you put a slow big on him (and they dont come any slower than Kurt Thomas), he has a faceup game and will take them off the dribble. Put a smaller SF like Bowen on him and he has a power game. Not to metnion the annoying 15-18 footers off of Paul PnR's which just always seem to go in at a ridiculous percentage.

West might be the most underrated player in the NBA. He's an absolute force. Used to be just a great midrange shooter but now a very good faceup and post game to boot. And a good rebounder as well who plays more physically now than in the past.

[peskypesky]

Personally I’m not worried about Chandler... Chris Paul is the scary one, that kid is not human

but neither is Tim Duncan!

[TMTTRIO]

I don't know what's up with Manu but Brett Brown on the after game show made it a point to say that he's been really fighting through this injury the last two or three games so hopefully since we won this series this rest will do him some good because he really needs it. It didn't really sound good at all so hopefully he gets well in three days

[T Park]

GInobili should sleep in a hot tub inside of an oxygen tank till friday.

[spursrule32]

You give the Mavs too much credit, they are done for, they are in rebuild mode they have to be looking like a skinny .500 team since their trade.

Us beating Phoenix 4-1 was not as easy as the four to one look at all. We are hurting, bruised and so forth.

You don't give NO enough credit really. They have an edge at home against a somewhat banged up Spurs squad.

I'm not giving the mavs any credit at all - they never gelled after the trade. The Spurs aren't that banged up - Manu might be the exception but Barry and Horry are getting healthy. Phoenix is a tougher matchup for Manu anyways. There's a clear goal in this next series - limit CP3. That sounds like a tough task, but think about it - the mavs had plenty of opportunities and they do not have any bigs. Put Bruce on Paul and we'll be alright. Peja is not the player he used to be - don't be fooled by his success because of Paul's penetration. And please don't judge this series by the regular season - we are not the same team.

[T Park]

I just don't see that at all. Pop will put TD on West if he explodes I bet, but KT-Fab-Horry will see the action to start with.

We can't afford to put anyone else on Chandler. He's a better rebounder than even KT, and far more athletic then Fab and KT combined.

Man we could talk about this stuff all night really, it's such a dynamic matchup.

You can be all the kind of athletic in the world, but if your blocked out like Thomas was blocking out tonight and defending, hes a damn damn DAMN good player and negates alot of that stuff.

[whottt]

I don't see putting Bruce on Peja as a real good option for beating the Hornets...

IF you stop Paul you stop the Hornets...so to me that means Bruce on Paul.



Then again...I actually thought it would be a good idea to put Horry on Diaw...

[T Park]

If you put a slow big on him (and they dont come any slower than Kurt Thomas),

Wow Stoudamire has slowed down more than David West?

Interesting....

[Warlord23]

David West is a walking mismatch. Horry of 2 years ago would have been nice to have, nobody else one this Spurs team has the physical tools to guard West.

Pop is gonna put it all on Paul, like he did with Nash. Have Bowen wear him out, stay on the shooters and let Paul try and take as many shots; see if he can continue this for 4 quarters.

Their bench scares me. Pargo is shooting lights out, and Bonzi is of course a well-known Spurs killer. Specially if they've been following the Spurs-Suns games, Scott might try and use Bonzi like D'Antoni used Diaw: as an SF who gets the ball in the post against undersized defenders like Finley, Udoka or Manu.

Dazed and bobbyjoe are 100% right. Manu is the one mismatch who has to play at a high level. And Duncan has to perform like playoff Duncan. The Suns really made it a point to stay home on the shooters; NO may not resort to that all the time, so our role players have to knock down their open looks.

[Demo Dick Marcinko]

If we can hold CP3 below his series average with the Mavs, Bruce should contain Peja, the key to me is who is going to slow down West. He is the key to the Hornets winning. Kurt and Fabs are too slow. Horry is the most agile and quickest and probably the only one that can stay in front of West. Though I'm not sure that Robert can handle him in the post. Oh and slow down Pargo. He was deadly against the Mavs.

[Cry Havoc]

David West is a walking mismatch. Horry of 2 years ago would have been nice to have, nobody else one this Spurs team has the physical tools to guard West.

Pop is gonna put it all on Paul, like he did with Nash. Have Bowen wear him out, stay on the shooters and let Paul try and take as many shots; see if he can continue this for 4 quarters.

Their bench scares me. Pargo is shooting lights out, and Bonzi is of course a well-known Spurs killer. Specially if they've been following the Spurs-Suns games, Scott might try and use Bonzi like D'Antoni used Diaw: as an SF who gets the ball in the post against undersized defenders like Finley, Udoka or Manu.

Dazed and bobbyjoe are 100% right. Manu is the one mismatch who has to play at a high level. And Duncan has to perform like playoff Duncan. The Suns really made it a point to stay home on the shooters; NO may not resort to that all the time, so our role players have to knock down their open looks.

I think Duncan and Parker will both give them fits as well. Their big men CANNOT stop Tim, and Paul cannot guard Parker (and vice-versa).

[lrrr]

Bruce is going to nullify Peja even more so than he used to nullify Shawn Marion. Take away Peja as an offensive option, and they will have troubles. If there is a perimeter player that Bruce can really "shut down", it's Peja. Guys like Tmac, Kobe et al, Bruce can make them work for their points, but with Peja, he can totally erase him from the game.

Leave Tony on CP3.

[Budkin]

The Hornets scare me but I'm pretty sure our experience will win out in the end.

[ludda]

First of, it should be clear that the Mavs are a very mediocre defensive team. It is no wonder that everyone from Pargo to Wells was lighting them up.

Secondly, I didn't take anything from the Hornets-Mavs series except that the Mavs really suck and had no one who was even compei ive with the Hornets except Dirk and Bass.

I will give the Hornets credit but I just don't think they're as good as they looked against the mavs.
Should be a tough series though.

[DazedAndConfused]

Bruce is going to nullify Peja even more so than he used to nullify Shawn Marion. Take away Peja as an offensive option, and they will have troubles. If there is a perimeter player that Bruce can really "shut down", it's Peja. Guys like Tmac, Kobe et al, Bruce can make them work for their points, but with Peja, he can totally erase him from the game.

Leave Tony on CP3.

That's what NOH would probably want SAS to do. Waste their best defender on a guy that camps out at the 3pt line all day. You put Tony on CP3 and you make him waste a lot of effort and energy trying to contain Paul all game, which makes him less effective on offense. This will be a good series because both sides have mismatches they can exploit.

[Obstructed_View]

Show up. Hustle. Focus. Play as a team. Maybe hit a couple of threes.

If the Spurs get down by double digits early to the Hornets they are in deep . They've been playing with fire far too often this postseason.

[DespЏrado]

One thing I am looking forward to is hopefully using Udoka on Bonzi any moment Bonzi plays. This is the kind of match up we got Udoka for.

I want to see how he stacks up in the playoffs this series...And I really want him to start eating into Finley's minutes, if he can start to play like he is capable of playing.

[jcrod]

Duncan as well, there isn't a single man on the Hornets that can guard Duncan.


If they decided to put West on Thomas, see if you can post him up a bit, get him in foul trouble, and see if you can take advantage of it.

Chandler guards Duncan as well as Rasheed. Both have very long arms.

When did Thomas become a post player?

[Geeboy]

Let CP3 score all he want for sure he will be exhausted by game 2, deny his passing lanes, and control the boards (NOH is not as big as SUNS front court). I think NOH is overrated except CP3. Defense and the coaching staff doing their homework will be the key to this series and we will see how NOH will react to a high-caliber team. The games 1-2 will be crucial. I am sure we will win this series in 6 games or less.

[T Park]

Chandler guards Duncan as well as Rasheed. Both have very long arms.

When did Thomas become a post player?

I don't recall saying he was.

But give it a shot or two to try and get West in foul trouble.

Thomas can make the turnaround jumper from 10 feet.

Chandler has the makings of a problem match up, but isn't smart enough to stay in the game. He reaches, he gets faked easily, and he is constantly looking for blocks.

[bobbyjoe]

David West is a walking mismatch. Horry of 2 years ago would have been nice to have, nobody else one this Spurs team has the physical tools to guard West.

Pop is gonna put it all on Paul, like he did with Nash. Have Bowen wear him out, stay on the shooters and let Paul try and take as many shots; see if he can continue this for 4 quarters.

Their bench scares me. Pargo is shooting lights out, and Bonzi is of course a well-known Spurs killer. Specially if they've been following the Spurs-Suns games, Scott might try and use Bonzi like D'Antoni used Diaw: as an SF who gets the ball in the post against undersized defenders like Finley, Udoka or Manu.

Dazed and bobbyjoe are 100% right. Manu is the one mismatch who has to play at a high level. And Duncan has to perform like playoff Duncan. The Suns really made it a point to stay home on the shooters; NO may not resort to that all the time, so our role players have to knock down their open looks.

SpursFan worries about Bonzi Wells way too much. He's just not the same player as the guy from 2 yrs ago, when he was playing for a huge contract.

Pargo has been hot but the Hornets bench is a notable weakness compared to benches of other contenders. Pargo's scoring and Wright's athleticism are about the only assets on that bench. Hilton Armstrong is a subpar reserve bigman. Bonzi hasn't panned out.

I'd be absolutely shocked if Bonzi had an impact on this series. The guy's been walking with a fork stickout of his back the last 2 years.

If Peja had been more successful as a playoff performer and against Bowen in particular I'd give the Hornets more of a chance this series. Spurs in 6.