Game 5: Expectations

[Mavs<Spurs]

we should never go to 4 down all the time when our shooters are shooting ok for the night

So, what I'm getting out of this is that 4 down is okay every once in a while, but we end up with better possessions and better shots if we run pick and roll or a flex-motion offense?

Is that basically correct?

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

maybe he thought bowen would slow and frustrate paul
that backfired

It's okay that he thought that, the beef most people (myself included) had with that is that when it was clear that Bowen on Paul wasn't working (and that it was allowing Peja and MoPete to go off) he didn't adjust, and it lost them game 1 and game 2.

[T Park]

if it's still a ballgame entering the 4th quarter, gotta like the Spurs' chances. Better depth + better experience + the ability to get stops on a consistent basis.

new orleans really needs to beat the spurs in the first 3 quarters if they are going to do it.

now, taking this into account with tonight's beatdown, it may take the hornets a half to regain their footing (if they ever are able to make adjustments to counter the Spurs' adjustments - certainly that is in doubt at this point).

we can also add in that this is probably the first time that this Hornets team will ever feel playoff pressure. if they don't win game 5, they likely will have played their last home game until the fall. the Spurs can actually lose this game and still have the advantage in game 6 at home and game 7 with their experience (not that any of them would want to put that to the test in the least).

NOH one veteran who has played in pressure playoff games in Peja...and he hasn't exactly responded well to that pressure. Everybody remembers him jacking up airballs on wide open shots during Game 7.

All of this bodes very well for the next game.

Yeah Peja is absolutely shot for this series.

Bowen has set up camp so far up his ass its not even funny.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

So, what I'm getting out of this is that 4 down is okay every once in a while, but we end up with better possessions and better shots if we run pick and roll or a flex-motion offense?

Is that basically correct?

Ding ding ding...

Here is my game 3 breakdown.

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94672

I'll get around to game 4 tomorrow but you've already got the basic overview here in this thread (8 four down possessions, 55 other offensive sets).

We actually scored on six of eight possessions tonight where we ran 4down, but that's because it was mixed in with our other plays effectively, but not as a staple of the offense.

[Mavs<Spurs]

Pop was kind of stubborn about that.


Before the series began, I thought Bowen or Parker would be able to contain Paul a lot more than they have been able to.


I knew Paul was a great player, but he's even better than I thought.

No wonder he was second on the mvp voting.

[T Park]

Also something else to watch, I really REALLY liked on the defensive end, the matchup when Udoka, Thomas, Duncan, Ginobili, Bowen, is in the game. Udoka guards Paul, Bowen Peja and so on.

That IMO, is REALLY REALLY a good matchup and I hope pop took notice and goes with it for a tad in game 5.

[Mavs<Spurs]

Also something else to watch, I really REALLY liked on the defensive end, the matchup when Udoka, Thomas, Duncan, Ginobili, Bowen, is in the game. Udoka guards Paul, Bowen Peja and so on.

That IMO, is REALLY REALLY a good matchup and I hope pop took notice and goes with it for a tad in game 5.

Paul isn't too quick for Udoka?

[Kori Ellis]

Ding ding ding...

Here is my game 3 breakdown.

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=94672

I'll get around to game 4 tomorrow but you've already got the basic overview here in this thread (8 four down possessions, 55 other offensive sets).

We actually scored on six of eight possessions tonight where we ran 4down, but that's because it was mixed in with our other plays effectively, but not as a staple of the offense.

You are trying to say they only ran 4-down eight times tonight?

[T Park]

Paul isn't too quick for Udoka?

Not at all.

Udoka moved his feet well when on him, and Udoka is a pretty thick body to bang on him.

Its ok to do for a few minutes while Tony is resting.

Thats all.

[Kori Ellis]

Also something else to watch, I really REALLY liked on the defensive end, the matchup when Udoka, Thomas, Duncan, Ginobili, Bowen, is in the game. Udoka guards Paul, Bowen Peja and so on.

That IMO, is REALLY REALLY a good matchup and I hope pop took notice and goes with it for a tad in game 5.

When did that happen?

[T Park]

When did that happen?

Second quarter I believe.

[ducks]

the start of the 4 I think

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

You are trying to say they only ran 4-down eight times tonight?

Yeah. I'm only counting it when they put him on the low block. Tim got some isos and was moved up high at the FT line a couple of times but that's what I charted out.

[ducks]

Second quarter I believe.

no game was over garbage time

[Kori Ellis]

Second quarter I believe.

Only 1-2 possessions?

[K-State Spur]

Paul isn't too quick for Udoka?

he certainly is. but the other match-ups favor the spurs.

it forces Paul to look to score first.

from Paul's perspective - no big deal. he's shown that he can score at an elite level.

from everybody else's perspective - big trouble. everybody else on that team (with the possible exception of west) requires Paul to get them open looks.

[T Park]

no game was over garbage time

Noooo, it was in the second or third quarters.

I remember Duncan and others being in.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

When did that happen?

They did it in the second quarter when Ime was playing well. He was on Bonzi initially (as he has been as a sub since game 2), but even when Bonzi went out Pop kept him in and slid him over to Paul to give Tony a rest.

[T Park]

he certainly is. but the other match-ups favor the spurs.

it forces Paul to look to score first.

from Paul's perspective - no big deal. he's shown that he can score at an elite level.

from everybody else's perspective - big trouble. everybody else on that team (with the possible exception of west) requires Paul to get them open looks.

He doesn't get BLOWN BY, but, he can hang pretty decently.

Its just a big body to bang on him and make it tough for him to lob up to Chandler.

[beachwood]

I was actually surprised how demoralized the hornets seemed tonight. you could see their confidence fade starting in the 2nd quarter. even the suns fought back harder when we were smacking them around.

[T Park]

They did it in the second quarter when Ime was playing well. He was on Bonzi initially (as he has been as a sub since game 2), but even when Bonzi went out Pop kept him in and slid him over to Paul to give Tony a rest.

THATS EXACTLY when it happened.

Thanks.

[ducks]

they did it in the second to yes but I think at the start of 4 they did
duncan and manu started 4

[T Park]

I was actually surprised how demoralized the hornets seemed tonight. you could see their confidence fade starting in the 2nd quarter. even the suns fought back harder when we were smacking them around.

Yeah I expected the third quarter to be a for tat quarter with the Spurs leading by 14 going to the 4th, then blowing it open. Oh well, hopefully they fold the tent up the same way in games 5 and 6.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

The Udoka thing is kinda like how Kittles used to defend Parker pretty well with his length. And Grant Hill as well (when he was healthy).

Udoka is pretty quick and between his foot speed and length bother Paul's shot (and take away that lob over the top to Chandler).

Kori's right though, it was only a couple of possessions (like 3-4 tops).

[ducks]

I was actually surprised how demoralized the hornets seemed tonight. you could see their confidence fade starting in the 2nd quarter. even the suns fought back harder when we were smacking them around.

hornets coach said at halftime his team was pressing and told his assist they need to get the players to relax