A Hornets' fans take so far in this series:

[samikeyp]

I agree with the Spurs not being very agressive in getting to the lane. I would have figured they would be attacking, just like the MAvs did in the first few games of thier series with the Hornets. The ability to get to the liner and possibly get the Chandler in foul trouble would be an effective strategy. The Jazz did that against us and it worked.

But I also see the Hornets doing a good job of switching and collapsing the lane and forcing the Spurs to shoot jumpers.

Didn't mean to offend you with the you and us terminolgy. It is just the way I speak. I am refer to the Hornets as we, because by habit, so I refer to every other team in the first person as well.

You didn't offend me, it just a pet peeve I have when people do that...even my fellow Spurs fans.

[roturn]

I think you are GREATLY under-rating the value of post season experience. Yes it's great that the coach is a 'been there, done that' guy with a stack of rings. But at the end of the day, when your backs are against the wall, that's not going to do the players a heck of a lot to get the team over the hump.

The fact is that you haven't yet had to face adversity. The Mavs weren't a very good team. They never presented you with a problem you needed to overcome.

Matchups are in your favor this series. The Spurs may not be able to keep up. And to be honest, I haven't yet seen the Spurs play to the level that I'm used to seeing them play. The Hornets, naturally have a lot to do with that, but I still believe we'll see the Spurs wake up from this fog they're currently in.

But what happens if the Spurs win the next 2? Does the momentum shift to their side? Is that little tilt enough for them to win Game 5 on the road? That's when playoff experience or lack thereof will start to show.

You may get through the Spurs again without having to face that adversity, but what happens when you come against the Lakers? You won't have all the favorable matchups like you currently do. You'll be facing a team that's able to run better with you, that has better outside shooting, and never lacks a scoring threat. I easily see the Lakers beating the Hornets. And playoff experience will rear it's ugly head, and beat you.

And who knows you might make it all the way. If so, kudos to you all. But I'd love to see my Pistons (hoping, not assuming, that they make it) face the Hornets in the Finals, as I see them as the easiest opponent.

I agree we have not faced playoff adversity the same way you guys have. But I do think the Byron Scott has tried to simulate the playoff atmosphere and the types of situations that might arise in the playoffs during the regular season. At this point the Hornets players are saying the right things.

As for the Lakers, I don't care about them untill the Hornets are matched up against them. Right now is game 3 in S.A. I would like to see a couple of good games in S.A. It would be interesting to see how each team would react if the series went back to New Orleans tied at 2. Although possible, reason tells me the Hornets will take 1 of 2 in S.A.

[Southwest Texas Fan]

The Spurs are a fluke team with fluke championships. They only won those les because all their shots went in.

Thought that was the point to make shots, or what's your idea of basketball?

[GeorgeShinnLooms]

Thought that was the point to make shots, or what's your idea of basketball?

Don't worry. You won't have to listen to Hornets fans for much longer. Due to their inability to purchase tickets during the season for a team that won it's division, I"ll parlay the championship that we win this year (and that I'm largely responsible for) into a big deal in Seattle where I'll get a new stadium. I sure will miss those po-boys.

[michaelwcho]

Just looking for a good discussion...isn't that what we are here for?

Your post comes more off as a fishing expedition than the first round of a discussion. Commenting on the fans' delusional behavior is simply not going to engender too many non-emotional responses. However, I will do that:

The Hornets clearly appear to be the superior team. The margin of their victories in the 4 they have won are spectacular. Watching the two playoff games, they simply seem faster, sharper, and more skilled; led by the incredible play of their floor general.

So you wonder why Spurs fans would still believe in their team? There is the matter of 4 rings, and having perhaps the best PF in history on their team, as well as spectacular players in Ginobili and Parker, who are also unmatched in their particular skills. We also have Popovich, who has consistently outcoached contender aften contender.

Also, we have watched the Spurs lose ugly before, to the Suns, the Lakers, and Pistons. Yet those teams fell away, and we were still standing. So, it's not irrational to look past what we see on the court and fall back on what has occurred over the course of the last 10 years. We all know that the worst team can beat the best team once, even twice. Look at Boston and Atlanta!

Another thing is that the level of play of the Hornets is unsustainable. As I mentioned in an earlier post, they are playing like a 70 win team that swept us in the regular season, but that's not the case. They aren't the 92 Bulls. Also, the Spurs are missing a lot of open looks--Byron Scott in no genius for double teaming TD and letting career 3-point shooters have open looks! He tried it, it's working, so why change? It's basic strategy, and nothing to hang your hat on.

The Spurs can buy a basket; and of course part of that is the D, but part of it is just we're cold right now. The Hornets are not the 92 Bulls or the 05 Pistons on D; otherwise they would have won 70 games. It should be fairly obvious that the Hornets are on a monster high and the Spurs on a low.

So, given these factors, it's not unreasonable at all for Spurs fans to remain hopeful we can still win the series. We have a track record you see, and .500 hitters eventually fall back to Earth. I am not predicting we win, because I think you guys have "it" this year (and maybe will continue to over the years), but I would be surprised if we don't at least come storming back and make a series of it. Then mental composure and experience will come into play.

I would certainly enjoy watching West and Stoyakavich crack, once that happens; and it would be nice to see CP's iness get taken down a notch. If not us, I'd guess the Lakers would be able to provide that lesson.

[hive_attack]

Anytime a spurs fan gets owned in a discussion, it is instantly trolling. roturn earns a

[roturn]

Your post comes more off as a fishing expedition than the first round of a discussion. Commenting on the fans' delusional behavior is simply not going to engender too many non-emotional responses. However, I will do that:

The Hornets clearly appear to be the superior team. The margin of their victories in the 4 they have won are spectacular. Watching the two playoff games, they simply seem faster, sharper, and more skilled; led by the incredible play of their floor general.

So you wonder why Spurs fans would still believe in their team? There is the matter of 4 rings, and having perhaps the best PF in history on their team, as well as spectacular players in Ginobili and Parker, who are also unmatched in their particular skills. We also have Popovich, who has consistently outcoached contender aften contender.

Also, we have watched the Spurs lose ugly before, to the Suns, the Lakers, and Pistons. Yet those teams fell away, and we were still standing. So, it's not irrational to look past what we see on the court and fall back on what has occurred over the course of the last 10 years. We all know that the worst team can beat the best team once, even twice. Look at Boston and Atlanta!

Another thing is that the level of play of the Hornets is unsustainable. As I mentioned in an earlier post, they are playing like a 70 win team that swept us in the regular season, but that's not the case. They aren't the 92 Bulls. Also, the Spurs are missing a lot of open looks--Byron Scott in no genius for double teaming TD and letting career 3-point shooters have open looks! He tried it, it's working, so why change? It's basic strategy, and nothing to hang your hat on.

The Spurs can buy a basket; and of course part of that is the D, but part of it is just we're cold right now. The Hornets are not the 92 Bulls or the 05 Pistons on D; otherwise they would have won 70 games. It should be fairly obvious that the Hornets are on a monster high and the Spurs on a low.

So, given these factors, it's not unreasonable at all for Spurs fans to remain hopeful we can still win the series. We have a track record you see, and .500 hitters eventually fall back to Earth. I am not predicting we win, because I think you guys have "it" this year (and maybe will continue to over the years), but I would be surprised if we don't at least come storming back and make a series of it. Then mental composure and experience will come into play.

I would certainly enjoy watching West and Stoyakavich crack, once that happens; and it would be nice to see CP's iness get taken down a notch. If not us, I'd guess the Lakers would be able to provide that lesson.

Your right, I am fishing for some feedback. But the only reason I commented on the Spurs fan's behavior is based on previous threads I have before game 2. I figured someone had something better to say than, the Spurs are just playing bad and the Hornets are just getting lucky.

I have no problem with Spurs fan's believing in their team, as you should. You have the precedence to do so. But I have heard several Spurs fans knocking the confidence the Hornets fans have in our team. Using terms like y, foolish and newbies. And so yes that does piss me off a bit. Shouldn’t we be allowed to believe in our team as well? Didn’t Spurs fan have some blind faith when they were making their first championship run?

Yes, the worst team can beat the best team, but how often do they win the series. I don’t care who has beaten the Spurs in the past 10 years. All I care about is the next game in this series.

I do believe the Spurs have missed several open shots beyond 15 feet, particularly in the first halves of each game. But outside of Ginobilli, who on the Spurs team is a solid jump shooter? I believe this is by design. Byron Scott is playing the percentages that the Spurs won’t shoot well from the outside. It has worked so far. The defense has been key, keeping the Spurs about 13 points below what we usually give up. But then again, the Spurs are not a very high scoring team.

As for the Hornets scoring, we are averaging close to our regular season average. We are not doing anything spectacular. Peja and Mo-Pete have been shooting the ball very well for the Hornets from the outside. This is key, it really creates space on the court for CP3.

Finally, what makes you so certain we will crack? Did the Spurs crack when they won their first? Obviously not. There is this underlying assumption by Spurs that some where in the series; the Hornets will break down mentally for good. This is what the entire league has been waiting for since January. It still has not happen. Maybe we just to naïve to understand the magnitude of the playoffs. Maybe Byron Scott won’t allowed them to look at the big picture, keeping them focused on each play, then quarter, then game, then series. Maybe this team has the focused that is needed. I don’t know, but we will find out.

[michaelwcho]

Shouldn’t we be allowed to believe in our team as well? Didn’t Spurs fan have some blind faith when they were making their first championship run?

But outside of Ginobilli, who on the Spurs team is a solid jump shooter?

Byron Scott is playing the percentages that the Spurs won’t shoot well from the outside. It has worked so far.

keeping the Spurs about 13 points below what we usually give up. But then again, the Spurs are not a very high scoring team.

1. Of course you should believe. But a lot of your guys have been very unpleasant, coming here to talk trash instead of b-ball. There is a difference, and you know it.

2. Ginobili, Bowen, Barry, and Finley are all proven 3point marksmen. The latter 3 players' main function is to shoot off Timmy double teams. So, no, the Spurs' struggles here are anomolous and really shouldn't be attributed to Scott's genius (although why should you change if it's working?).

3. Keeping a championship team 13 points below your average is textbook "playing above your head". Enjoy it while it lasts--I know I would!

[roturn]

1. Of course you should believe. But a lot of your guys have been very unpleasant, coming here to talk trash instead of b-ball. There is a difference, and you know it.

2. Ginobili, Bowen, Barry, and Finley are all proven 3point marksmen. The latter 3 players' main function is to shoot off Timmy double teams. So, no, the Spurs' struggles here are anomolous and really shouldn't be attributed to Scott's genius (although why should you change if it's working?).

3. Keeping a championship team 13 points below your average is textbook "playing above your head". Enjoy it while it lasts--I know I would!

Bowen averaged 0.8 points against a poorus Suns defense. What makes you so certain he can shoot much better this series. He has been cold the last three halves.

Barry is defensive liability. Do you really want him guarding Bonzi Wells or Peja for an extended period of time?

Finely has not impressed me, plus I rarely see the him and Ginobili on the court at the same time.

I would not attribute the defense to Scott's genius, I would attribute it to his coaching staff's compe ence.

BTW - The Hornets are only keeping the Spurs 5.5 point below what they average against the Hornets in the regular season. That is not the big of a desparity and might be able to say it is closer to the norm and not playing above their heads.

[ducks]

I would like to know where you were before the playoffs
I was looking for hornet fans then and no one posted

[DDS4]

I wouldn't put too much stock in Byron Scott's "playoff" experience.

The Spurs after all did beat Scott's NJ Nets team in the finals in '03. He pulled the same stunt pulling out his championship rings for Kidd and the Nets to see. A lot of good that did.

Again, the Hornets have played well in the first two games. They held homecourt.

Now it's our turn.

[Kermit]

Let's not compare the 2003 Nets with the 2008 Hornets.

[roturn]

I would like to know where you were before the playoffs
I was looking for hornet fans then and no one posted

On Hornetsreport.com

I have not missed a home game since the storm, including the piss poor excuse for a home game in Baton Rouge. I have supported this team since they moved here.

I know what type of fan I am. I have 18,000 witnesses (finally) that can attest to my loyalty. I am the one driving the wagon and it is not full yet.

I will admit, this is only the second forum I have visited for another team. The only other one was the Rockets, becasue T-Mac and Alston, they are a bunch of es that had no place syaing what they said about New Orleans during the Vegas all-star game.

[implacable44]

I am curious to see if the Hornets are that good -- Game 3 will answer that question. Either the Hornets are that darn good or the Spurs are just playing that darn bad. They are passing up open shots, missing open shots - Parker is looking like a 35-year old PG. Bottom line is Parker needs to match up with Paul -- Bowen with Peja - Duncan with West. Best player on best player by position. Hopefully coming home will right the wrongs we all saw in New Orleans -- also it wouldn't hurt to knock Paul on his butt like the Lakers did back in 2004 to PArker -- take him out of his game and make him think twice about going to the hole and or flopping like he has been. Right now he is in a zone - he can go wherever he wants - whenever he wants.

If the Spurs can't pull it together rest assured that bastage -- the black mamba will put an end to all this New Orleans nonsense. Besides - David Stern has already rigged this season - it will be a Lakers - Celtics finals.

[roturn]

I wouldn't put too much stock in Byron Scott's "playoff" experience.

The Spurs after all did beat Scott's NJ Nets team in the finals in '03. He pulled the same stunt pulling out his championship rings for Kidd and the Nets to see. A lot of good that did.

Again, the Hornets have played well in the first two games. They held homecourt.

Now it's our turn.

Spus had HCA and split with the Spurs. So how is this series similar?

[Kermit]

I will admit, this is only the second forum I have visited for another team. The only other one was the Rockets, becasue T-Mac and Alston, they are a bunch of es that had no place syaing what they said about New Orleans during the Vegas all-star game.

He had safety concerns. I'm sure everyone did after the Vegas debacle, but the game was a resounding success. You can't blame him for being a little worried.

[roturn]

He had safety concerns. I'm sure everyone did after the Vegas debacle, but the game was a resounding success. You can't blame him for being a little worried.

Yes I can, he was poorly informed and shed a poor light on a city that didn't need it.

He needs to shut up and play basketball. At no point were there nay safety concerns for the NBA players in Vegas and there was no reason for him to make a comment about New Orleans.

But anyway, I will not harp on this...I am over it. For the most part.

But T-Mac and Alston.

[oski1000]

Hornets team is great.....but Hornet´s fans sucks!!!

[SpurOutofTownFan]

You started pretty decent but stopped reading when you used the word "we"

[Brutalis]

This thread is doomed for bumpage in a week.