Game Thoughts: Spurs @ Hornets Game 5

[MoSpur]

Gut check time

[said7]

Its not Manu's or Tony's fault really. Every time they were at the top of the key 2 defenders ran at them. This was NO's big suprise adjustment. a # things needed to happen....

1. split the double and dish to a shooter.
2. Pass immediatly and cut. Swing the ball.
3. Tim Duncan need to go off in the post.

They HAD to know this was coming, bad adjustments. All the passes were sloppy out of the double and NO did a good job of rotating. You have to make them pay.

Please give Finley's minutes the Brent.

[JamStone]

One long, athletic, agile 6-10 PF/C who plays solid defense and rebounds well and the Spurs may have won this series by now. The lack of mobility and athleticism by Thomas and Oberto and Horry is a death nail in this series for the Spurs.

[SenorSpur]

One long, athletic, agile 6-10 PF/C who plays solid defense and rebounds well and the Spurs may have won this series by now. The lack of mobility and athleticism by Thomas and Oberto and Horry is a death nail in this series for the Spurs.

How long has the absence of such skill set been an issue for this team? It's almost like Pop and RC are diametrically opposed to having such a skill set on the roster. Of course, Pop hates young players anyway.

On the other side, I do like how Byron Scott spoon-feeds minutes to young guys like Hilton Armstrong and Julian Wright. He's not afraid to use them for spot duty in the playoffs.

[jman3000]

I was extremely frustrated with our defensive rebounding and covering of their perimeter players in the middle stretch of the 4th quarter. We had trimmed the lead down to 9 and it was a golden opportunity to really make it a game with about 5 or 6 minutes to go. if i remember correctly, we either got a really ty looking tim duncan fade hook or a headed turnover.

the hornets were practically begging us to win the game and we just couldnt execute to save our lifes.

i also felt like choking a when they missed the 2 freethrows only to get the offensive rebound... what the was that?

:

[Cry Havoc]

This scenario has played itself out too many times to be a coincidence. The Spurs just don't seem to be capable of putting it together consistently enough to win a le, and what's really sad is that it's on the offensive end that dooms them. When they are watching the Hornets on TV next week, they should be looking at last night's game as the one that got away, because they knew exactly what they needed to fix, and then didn't do it. The Hornets stepped up. They may not be capable of winning in San Antonio, but then again they don't have to, since the Spurs don't seem to be capable of even competing in New Orleans.

Yes, but honestly. Home teams are 17-1 in the second round.

Since the league benefits every time a home team wins, that is WAY too lopsided of a statistic not to be at least a little su ious.

[1Parker1]

You can't convince me that NO is the better team, and that's what's making these losses so disappointing.

They ARE the better team, or at least they are playing at a level high enough in this series to be the better team.

CP3 has been the better PG in this series through Games 1-5, even when he's had "off nights" like in Game 4, he still got it done.

Aside from Game 4, David West has been the better PF in this series. Spurs have absolutely no answer for him. With Duncan, they have an answer as they can double team him aggressively and take him out of rythmn as they've done in Games 1,2,5.

Pop has been outcoached by Byron Scott for games 1,2, and 5. Hornets looked like the team that was better prepared, ready to go in the majority of the games so far. Part of the 3rd quarter collapses falls on Pop. His rotations on the road have been shaky at best.

Look at the supporting players; Mo Peterson, Pargo, Bonzi, Chandler have all outplayed Finley, Barry, Horry, Thomas, and Oberto in this series. They look and are the more athletic, versatile, and hungry team. Our old players can't even keep up with them defensively.

Spurs are the Big 3 and Bowen and not much else. Without HCA, Spurs haven't shown me anything to make me believe that they have it in them to win a road game in NO. As Pop said, give credit to the Hornets defense in the 3rd quarters of these games, which has been about 100 times better than the Spurs defense.

[MoSpur]

Good call 1Parker. However, I think Parker has held his own. The team as a whole disappears in the 3rd quarter in each of the three losses. Right now NO is playing better than SA.

Remember whenever you were worried about us being down 0-2. I told you to have faith and that we'd win. I will tell you again. We will win. Okay? Okay

[1Parker1]

Parker "held his own" in 2 out of 5 games, CP3 has been great in all 5 games. Even when he's having an off game or an off quarter, he's still the one out there controlling the pace of the game.

Besides that, I am just hugely disapointed in our "role players." Finley, Barry, Kurt Thomas, Oberto, Horry have hurt us defensively and offensively. Finley especially has been non-existent. The drop off in these guy's production this past season from last season is astounding. You can't get that old that quick can u?

[SpurOutofTownFan]

Now to the subject in addition to my previous comments, I have to praise Byron Scott for not changing his starters to win this game. He just took away a lot of stuff the Spurs had done well in games 3 and 4. Let's see what happens if that can be translated to a road victory. Maybe the difference is only who's playing at home, etc.

If that's the case and the Hornets move on, I only have to assume the Lakers will win cause they have HCA???

[MoSpur]

I to am upset with the role players. Finley is off most of the time. Barry hasn't gotten quality minutes. Thomas needs to start hitting that outside jumper he is known for and quit getting dumb fouls that send West to the line. Horry seems disinterested.

However, most of the weight is on the big three, especially Tim Duncan. He needs to quit hesitating and make his move as soon as he gets the ball. He thinks to much about whether or not NO is going to double team. He needs to be more agressive and quit crying. Manu needs to quit settling for the three. The more aggressive team is going to win the series. So far, that is the Hornets.

[TampaDude]

I don't know if I have ever seen teams play so bad on the opposing teams courts before during the playoffs. Unbelievable!!!

Guess you haven't been watching the Celtics, then...

[nfg3]

Yes, but honestly. Home teams are 17-1 in the second round.

Since the league benefits every time a home team wins, that is WAY too lopsided of a statistic not to be at least a little su ious.

Obviously those stats appear to be lopsided but to imply or even think a "fix" is on is stretching it a little, don't you think? The conspiracy theories are always going to be bantered about but seriously I don't think the league is trying to "fix" it. Remember we are the STERNS! As most conspiracry theories go there are too many people who would know too much to keep quiet. This year things have really worked out in favor of the home teams. And who could blame the league for wanting all series to go the distance, even culminating in a NY/Bos vs LA final anually. It's all about the benjamins to a certain degree.

[SpursDynasty]

We had plenty of good looks at the basket that would have cut the lead to 6-8 points in the 4th. They just didn't fall.

Here's my recap: The Hornets made their shots and the Spurs didn't, end of story.

[Spurs Brazil]

The big 3 was terrible yesterday. The defense was slow and I think in this series we're like Finley. When the offense isn't working we just stop playing defense.

Let's get game 6

Believe

[lefty]

Pop screwed us big time:

- screaming at Joey and Co. after 1 quarter : not a good idea Pop; especially with 3 quarters left, and on the road.

- getting away from the plan that worked in games 3 & 4 : What-the- .....our motion offense was the reason why we hit high % shots: good ball movement, good rythm, open shots ... and when the Hornets tried to stop that motion offense, it allowed TP and Manu to go to the rim



- Oberto on overrated West : o ??!!!!!

- More Barry, less Finley

Of course, he is not the only one to blame:

- Tim Duncan: attack the rim more!!!! they can't stop you !!!!

- Parker and Manu: take care of that ing ball !!! too many careless turnovers; and Manu, too many bad jump shots.

[Ocotillo]

At least Bonzi Wells isn't killing us.......

[wildbill2u]

We had plenty of good looks at the basket that would have cut the lead to 6-8 points in the 4th. They just didn't fall.

Here's my recap: The Hornets made their shots and the Spurs didn't, end of story.

Something more than just missing a few shots in one game is going on here. The differential between the number of points the Spurs have scored in NO vs. the number scored at home is over 28 pts.

Forget the Hornets. We are unable to score on the road.