Game 5 Adjustments

[DazedAndConfused]

This is like asking that chokejob named Gasol to guard Duncan straight up. Knowing PJ, he will never do that.

Gasol guarded Duncan the last game they played against each other. Duncan went 6-19 and score 16 pts. Gasol had two blocks on Duncan. Of course this was regular season so it's hard to tell how that matchup would pan out in the playoffs, but it's good to know that Duncan didn't own him in a game that both teams wanted to win.

[Man in the Arena]

cajunhornetsbayou, do you think it makes any sense to start Wright and bring Peja off the bench? Wright has played well and I don't get the impression he's the kind of player Bowen would have much effect on. He'd also help a lot more on defense.

Honestly, that's something I'd like to see. Scott needs to figure out a way to keep Bowen as far away from Peja as possible. If it means, keeping JuJu in while Bowen is in... and then subbing Peja in while Bowen is on the bench, so be it. We need to get Peja going from behind the arc. And we need to stop one of your Big Three. Julian is a better offensive matchup against Bowen, and he'd be a better defensive matchup against Ginobili.

We'll see. I've never coached a team to the NBA Finals, obviously... but that's one of the changes I would make for Game 5.

[DazedAndConfused]

I agree. What use is Peja if Bowen is gonna straight-jacket him all game? It's not like Peja gives you anything on defense.

Julian Wright may be a rookie and a little raw, but he is a quick and athletic defender that can run the transition game very well. Bowen will probably negate his offensive production, but at least the guy can contribute on the defensive end.

Given that Game 5 is at home, where Wright plays better, I think this would be a great move.

[HornetGumboBalls]

duncan will give chandler the business one on one

julian wright is not the answer for gino. there is no answer for gino.

peja is no longer playing in this series

the spurs transition d is on point. should be the same story tomorrow

attack the goal and run into two of the best post defenders still playing in the post-season.

I do understand that there are a lot of knowledgable Spurs fans on here who are realistic and realize that a 2-2 series isn't "over" and New Orleans definately has the possibility to bounce back at home. But the rest of you are worthless. You remind me of the old super fan sketches on SNL about Ditka and da bears. "Duncan and Manu playing 2 on 8 against the NBA Eastern all-stars. Duncan no longer has da flu and Manu is just being Manu. Who ya got? Duncan and Manu - 143, NBA 8 man All-stars, 4. Also, the All-stars liked to flop and play dirty".

[ducks]

this series is not over
however the body language of the hornets and if they are tight in game 5 they will be toast
and game 6 if they come out relaxed could be the first real close game

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

If NO plays someone like Julian Wright instead of Peja they are playing right into the Spurs hands. NO would not have won games 1 and 2 without Peja. Remove him and that allows the Spurs to become even more offensive minded in their rotations as they can reduce Bowen's role a little bit more.

Considering that Byron Scott has little wiggle room at this point he might give it a shot, but I don't think it would be that much of a help to NO at this point.

Playing in front of their home crowd the young Hornets are going to be a lot more fired up. Game 5 very well could be the first close game of the series as I expect both teams to play extremely well. Game 5 is the series for NO, IMO, and I certainly haven't handed it to the Spurs the way so many fair weather fans are doing. It's going to take a supreme effort against a really great Hornets team for SA to pull out the victory.

[ClingingMars]

No that was because of the refs love of everything Spurs!

- Mars

[justanotherspursfan]

If NO plays someone like Julian Wright instead of Peja they are playing right into the Spurs hands. NO would not have won games 1 and 2 without Peja. Remove him and that allows the Spurs to become even more offensive minded in their rotations as they can reduce Bowen's role a little bit more.

It's pretty sad when the only use they have for their supposed third-best player is to keep Bowen occupied.

[1Parker1]

I think the Hornets are going to look to speed up the tempo a lot. They started to do that in Game 4 and Peja just happened to miss some easy layups which affected his aggressiveness the rest of the game. I expect to see a different CP3 and I highly doubt DWest is going to let Oberto own him again, especially on their homecourt.

The key to the Spurs victory in Game 5 is if they can contain the rest of the Hornets. I think CP3 and West are going to score 50+ points combined. If they get a 3rd player in double digits, it's going to help open up their offense tremendously. I still think a guy like Mo Peterson or Pargo can be dangerous for the Spurs.

It's going to be a very close game that can go either ways. This series is far from being over.

[cherylsteele]

No that was because of the refs love of everything Spurs!

Is that why the Spurs had more fouls called against them in game 4?
Spurs 18 fouls
Hornets 17 fouls...yup the Hornets are really getting the short end of the calls.

[eisfeld]

I think the Hornets are going to look to speed up the tempo a lot. They started to do that in Game 4 and Peja just happened to miss some easy layups which affected his aggressiveness the rest of the game. I expect to see a different CP3 and I highly doubt DWest is going to let Oberto own him again, especially on their homecourt.

The key to the Spurs victory in Game 5 is if they can contain the rest of the Hornets. I think CP3 and West are going to score 50+ points combined. If they get a 3rd player in double digits, it's going to help open up their offense tremendously. I still think a guy like Mo Peterson or Pargo can be dangerous for the Spurs.

It's going to be a very close game that can go either ways. This series is far from being over.

Pretty good point about speeding up the game - fast paced games and small-ball is to the spurs like werewolves to silver bullets. If the Spurs manage to slow down the game it should work out for them.

[SRJ]

David West needs to be assertive for them. In game four, IIRC he hit his first jump shot, then missed the next two. This seemed to alter his approach the rest of the game - once in the first half, he had one of those 17' jumpers lined up, hesitated for some reason, then threw it up and missed. I had the feeling that he didn't trust his jumper, but because he wasn't taking his usual shots, his work off the dribble was compromised.

If David West starts looking gun shy in game five the Hornets are in a heap of trouble.

[Trainwreck2100]

Did anybody notice when Scott went small in the 2nd Q and that lineup got raped?

[gobo]

- Quit doubling Duncan. Finley, Parker, Bowen, etc.. are getting wide open 3's and nailing them. Play Duncan straight up with Chandler and make him beat us. It will be at home for the hornets so the refs wont give him every call like they have the last 2 games.

I like your Alaska sig. Meanwhile, I would agree with you that NO should try guarding TD one-on-one and see what happens and work out from there as the game evolves.

[cajunhornetsbayou]

I like your Alaska sig. Meanwhile, I would agree with you that NO should try guarding TD one-on-one and see what happens and work out from there as the game evolves.

thanks Gobo

[SPARKY]

The Spurs will take Game 5 with those "adjustments". Hopefully we see them tomorrow night.

[gobo]

thanks Gobo

Welcome.
The adjustment you have suggested is in response to NO's play in games 3 & 4, which were on the road. But with same lineup they dominated the spurs in New Orleans. So what makes you think that lineup won't succeed at home in game 5?

[Agloco]

- Quit doubling Duncan. Finley, Parker, Bowen, etc.. are getting wide open 3's and nailing them. Play Duncan straight up with Chandler and make him beat us. It will be at home for the hornets so the refs wont give him every call like they have the last 2 games.

- Play Julian Wright more - He was a spark plug in the first 3 games. He didnt play well last night, but get him in the game early and put him on Ginobili. He has given ginobili fits.

- Run Peja off more screens. Peja can usually get open from the pick and roll, but Bowen is playing no help. Run more sets where Peja runs off a series of screens.

- Push the ball more. We are very effective in transition. It would allow Peja to get more open looks.

- Attack the goal more. David West has the best mid range jumper in the league. I would like to see him go at Duncan more and try to get him in foul trouble. Now that we are at home, we may be able to get some calls.

Thanks for the expert analysis.

[bresilhac]

Tim is now healthy.

End of story.

Exactly. A healthy, flu-free Tim Duncan is just what the Hornets didn't need at this point in the series. Add another spectacular yet typical TD performance tomorrow night and that will be the death-knell for New Orleans.

[td4mvp21]

Our defenders (uhhh Manu and Finley) cannot keep sagging into the paint and leaving shooters open. That's going to open up the three ball for the Hornets and they WILL hit their open shots.

[bresilhac]

Our defenders (uhhh Manu and Finley) cannot keep sagging into the paint and leaving shooters open. That's going to open up the three ball for the Hornets and they WILL hit their open shots.

Not necessarily. There's no guarantee the Hornets shooters, namely West and Peja, will nail shots tomorrow even if they are open. This a young team that has never been in this position before and I believe they will crack under the enormous game five pressure. Stojakovic is notorious for playing lousy in big games and I don't think West can get it done in a huge game either. On the other hand, San Antonio is loaded with just the type of experience you need in this type of situation. Advantage? Spurs. The Win? Spurs.

[TDfan2007]

Gasol guarded Duncan the last game they played against each other. Duncan went 6-19 and score 16 pts. Gasol had two blocks on Duncan. Of course this was regular season so it's hard to tell how that matchup would pan out in the playoffs, but it's good to know that Duncan didn't own him in a game that both teams wanted to win.

See 2004 NBA playoffs round 1: Spurs vs. Grizzlies

Pau couldn't gaurd Tim for a second then and they got swept, and that was the year Tim hyperextended his knee right before the playoffs. PJ isn't stupid enough to let Tim go 1 on 1 against Pau SHOULD they face the Lakers. However both teams have a dogfight ahead of them and there are no gaurantees.

[peskypesky]

we are giving up too many open 3's. Quit doubling him and force him away from the goal. That is the key. He is not as quick as he once was.

Duncan was quick?

[peskypesky]

Welcome.
The adjustment you have suggested is in response to NO's play in games 3 & 4, which were on the road. But with same lineup they dominated the spurs in New Orleans. So what makes you think that lineup won't succeed at home in game 5?

Umm, maybe cause Duncan no longer has a 103 degree fever. Maybe that.

[gobo]

Umm, maybe cause Duncan no longer has a 103 degree fever. Maybe that.

TD was quoted saying he was OK. As far as he was medically cleared to play, you should not bring that as an excuse a lot. Give credit to NO defense for holding him to such an abysmal performance. I do not think "illness" was the main factor.