Game Thoughts: Spurs vs. Hornets Game 4

[Thunder Dan]

who called the game last night? Marv or Harlen?

[Obstructed_View]

Get off the court if you can't handle it.

That simple.

Oh ing bull . The fact that he was able to get to that ball at all is testament to his health. It was a ty pass and a stupid decision.

[FromWayDowntown]

Didn't say quit.

"Hang 'em up" means something other than quit? or are we working from a "depends on what the definition of 'is' is" sort of thing with this distinction?

[anjlbitz]

who called the game last night? Marv or Harlen?

Marv with Reggie

[Man in the Arena]

That was a rough loss. Credit to the Spurs for shooting the ing lights out through three quarters. The difference in FG% was something like 39 (NOH) to 59 (SAS) at the end of the 3rd quarter. Our shooters could not hit a thing. Defended or open. Before the series started, I said this thing would go 7 games... and with double digit wins by the home team in every game so far, it looks like it's heading that way.

Gotta be honest, after hanging tight (or having a lead) through most of Game 3, I thought the Hornets had a really good chance to come out in Game 4 and pull ahead in a close one. Duncan and Parker sure shut down any notion of that happening. I'm sure y'all enjoyed the revenge for the two routs in NOLA, but that game was just brutal to watch. Good adjustments by the Spurs... and terrible performances on both ends of the court by the Hornets.

Coach Scott needs to change the way he's covering Duncan, Peja needs to find a way to get out of Bruce Bowen's death grip, and everyone else needs to remember how to actually make shots. Should be a fun Game 5. I've got my tickets and probably won't be able to focus at work tomorrow at all. Go Hornets. And good job Spurs... you handed us our asses last night. Hopefully, our boys can return the favor tomorrow night.

[Spurs Brazil]

Game 5 will be huge.

I like our chances. We'll play with a healthy TD and Manu. We're doing a better job on the gameplan

As I said before the series and after we were down 0-2, Spurs in 6, but game 5 will be very tough

[Manufan909]

I know I sound like a noob, but could someone explain 4down to me?

[peewee's lovechild]

Didn't say quit.

But if hes that hurt he can't chase the ball down or have the ability, then get off the court for a healthy player.

Dude, you should quit.

That was a horrible pass by JV. Barry chased it down and saved it.

You're not making sense.

Just quit defending your outlandish statements.

[StoneBuddha]

I know I sound like a noob, but could someone explain 4down to me?

4-down is a straight post-up for Duncan in the post. You see Pop with the hand signal all the time.

It's also not always the most popular play call on this board.

[beachwood]

Bowen on Peja + Going under the screen = Game 5 win

[timvp]

I think it was a great call by timvp that this was one of the best playoff games Tony's ever played. The stats don't bear it out, but partly that has to do with the game being such a runaway. Really I thought Tony was amazing out there. He clearly outplayed Paul this game, on both ends, and I can't really think of any aspect of the game he didn't do well, outside of free throw shooting. His decision making was quite good and he always looked in complete control. When Pop told him, "It's your show" or whatever it was he said, that was very telling.

Yeah, all things considered, this might have been his best game of the playoffs. Spurs needed a blowout to give them a chance in Game 5. Parker responded with 16 points in the first 15 minutes and had six assists and no turnovers at half.

As for the game, I don't think either team, especially us, was as good defensively as the score suggests. It could've easily been 115-95. We missed a ton of open threes and they missed quite a few jumpers on their end. We didn't give them many easy shots, which I like, but they also were a bit cold. If we play the exact same way in New Orleans, I think they'd probably have 20 more points, easy, just because they're used to their home building, so we'll need Bruce to shoot better for sure.

Agreed. Game 5 could come down to whether Bowen can hit his open shots.

After rewatching the game, the Hornets missed even more open shots than I thought they did. Things could be a lot different tonight if New Orleans hits their easy shots like they did in the first three games.

[1Parker1]

I think Parker's best playoff game was easily Game 3 against the Suns. Spurs were up 2-0 and if they had let the Suns get back into the series, that could have dragged out even farther.

I'm not disagreeing that he had a great Game 4 the other night, just that I don't think it was his best playoff game so far this postseason. Hopefully all this is moot anyways and Game 5 will be the Spurs best game ever as a whole so far this playoffs

[timvp]

The thing with Game 3 against the Suns was it was mostly a product of Parker's jumpshot being on. He didn't have to make great basketball decisions because he was hitting everything. In Game 4 versus the Hornets, he dominated with his decision-making and leadership.

But yeah, both Game 3 against the Suns and Game 4 against the Hornets won't mean anything if the Spurs don't win tonight . . .