Love the 'W" / Hated the way we got it

[BiZNicK]

I loved the Win and loved the way we won it.

[SouthernFried]

There is nothing in the paint in NO. Look at the replays...they usually have all 5 guys in the paint when anyone is even thinking about driving down there.

We hit our outside shots in NO, or go home. That includes 3's. That is what they will give us. Make 'em and we win, dont' take them...or miss them...and we go home.

If we can make early outside shots, then...and only then, will the paint open up.

[Obstructed_View]

Gotta make them pay for packing the paint. Period. It's the only way to open it up.

[SpurAddict561]

For us to win on the road, we have to limit our turnovers and really value each possession. We did a great job of getting Tim the ball in the first quarter and he responded with 14 pts, mostly on easy baskets. He got 6 pts the rest of the game. How does that happen ?

And since when did it become a crime to finish by dunking the F'n ball. Can Oberto not get up ? At least old Stone Hands Nazr Mohammed could finish once he got control of the ball.


WHAT I LIKED:

** I liked that we made David West work for his points. In Game 5 he made about 10 shots w/o taking a dribble. Tonight, most of his attempts came after he was forced to drive. If he makes those, thats fine, but at least he had to work for it.

** I liked that we moved and shared the ball tonight. Except for a few stretches, I thought we made good, crisp passes.

** I wasn't quite sure why we had Bruce on Paul again. He's a good defender but Chris Paul is way too fast and elusive for him. He'd have destroyed Steve Nash just like Jason Kidd. I thought he wasn't very aggressive tonight. He's much more dangerous at home..usually in the 3rd quarter.

** This makes 5 out of 6 games that we have led at half time. If we can figure out that damn 3rd quarter in NO and drag the youngsters into the deeper waters in the 4th, the tight sphincter factor will make for short armed jumpers and people not wanting to take "the shot". I give props to NO for being able to avoid that so far. WE HAVE TO COMPETE for all 4 quarters. That's when we can take advantage of our experience.

Bravo, awesome post....not much else can be said after that one.

[Supergirl]

The key is not 3 pters or no 3 pters, but to be smart about 3-pters. Make the extra pass, move the ball well, try and take it inside, and if that frees up someone with a good outside shot, then take it. In the losses the Spurs took some BAD 3's, and also missed some jumpers they usually make. Those have to go down for the Spurs to win, and they have to be smart about the 3's they take. But that all starts from their defense and controlling the pace, which they've done for 6 quarters in NO. They just need to do it for 4 in Game 7, and most importantly do it in the 3rd.

I still believe. Game 7 is where their experience comes into play the most. And if they are going to be able to repeat as champions, they should be able to win one on the road, and esp win a Game 7 on the road.

[tmtcsc]

I agree that we need to be smart about shot selection and NOT avoid taking 3's all together. I just think that too many times our offense gets bogged down and we have players holding on to the ball much too long. Before you know it, the shot clock is at 3 and someone is jacking up a long 3 pt shot.

I'd rather we get a 24 sec violation than take a bad 3 pter. The Hornets really feed off of those misses. We have been outrebounded in NO by their more athletic bigs. I'd like to see us drive to the basket with composure and not out of control--looking for the foul. Try a pump fake, a stutter step, whatever is necessary to get a good shot or get fouled.

As much praise as we have given to Kurt Thomas, I've been disappointed with him this series. When he was with Phoenix last year, he consistently hit his 10 - 15 ft jump shot. He hasn't done that for us. I'm not sure if he's gotten the opportunity to do so in our offense.

Why not draw something up for him ? Leave the inside stuff to Tim and Oberto.

[MannyIsGod]

God damn it nothing tilts me like seeing AHF say "four down" knowing he's so ing wrong and just keeps spewing the bull away and away.

[SAGambler]

What doesn't work is being passive in the 3rd and then settling for 3s. The threes need to be set up by penetration.

That's the trick right there.

We are fine on 3s, as long as they are 3s that have been set up and not 3s because the shot clock is running down.

[DazedAndConfused]

The NOH defense is what is throwing the Spurs out of whack in the 3rd quarters. They are coming out aggressive and making excellent rotations.