First of congrats to the Spurs and their fans. Very classy franchise and the fans are no different. With that out of the way this is how I seen the game and what went wrong for the Hornets.

The energy that was there for the first two games and game five wasn't nowhere to be found. I thought the Hornets came out a little a little sporadic. San Antonios defense gets credit as well and on the offensive side they was just on fire the whole night paticularly from the three point line where they shot 12 for 28 to the Hornets 4 of 17.

The offensive rebounds in the first half were huge as well. Not to mention the total rebounds for the Spurs which was 51 as compared to the Hornets 42. Credit the Spurs to with keeping Paul from scoring no more than 18 points.  Fouls were pretty even which was good to see. A few bad calls on both sides here and there but nothing that impacted the game that much. Missing a few free throws didn't help the Hornets cause either.

The biggest thing I seen was that the Spurs were able to dictate the pace of the game. That's a credit to an experienced and confident team. Bad shot selection also by all the Hornets. There wasn't many shots that the Spurs let them have that wasn't contested well. Great game for the Spurs and they deserved this win. They were the better team tonight.

So for Byron Scott and the Hornets it's a long Summer but the future is very bright. CP3 will only get better and should be an MVP candidate again next season. David West is still young and a very good player. Hopefully Chandler can work on his offense which has gotten better since joining the Hornets. Rookie Julian Wright looks to improve and should be able to contribute to this team next season. I'm very excited about what the future holds for this franchise. Also very proud of them and what they accomplished this season. Which is more than what anybody believed they could.

Once again congratulations to the Spurs Organazation and it's fan base and goodluck in the Western conference finals. Should be a great matchup with the Lakers.

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Forget all the media coverage of Robert Horry's pick that sent David West to the floor in pain during game 6. Forget that the Hornets are an upstart young team with no experience. Forget that the Spurs are the defending champions. Forget all the other endless media coverage of everything but the game itself. Neither of those things will have any bearing on who wins tonights game.

No it will simply come down to one thing and one thing only. Whoever makes the least amount of mistakes wins this game simple as that. Now mistakes can include a few different things such as turnovers, fouls,missed free throws are just a few things that come to mind.

That'll be the only story to tell once the buzzer sounds to end this game. Which team made the least amount of mistakes won this game.Well that is for the first few minutes until the talk is then directed towards the Western conference final showdown with the L.A. Lakers.

Yesterdays practice for the Hornets was as normal as it gets. Players joked and watched a usual one on one pickup game between Janero Pargo and rookie Julian Wright. In other words every player was loose and if nervous it didn't show. Doesn't mean that they aren't taking the Spurs serious. I'm pretty sure they are, because if not then they lost already.

So in a few short hours tip off will begin and I for one just want to see a good hard fought game by both teams. One in which we don't have to listen to endless talk of the whole Horry/West non-story. What has happened is done and over with. It's time to just go out and do what you love to do and that's play great team ball and win.

Goodluck to the Spurs and it's fans. Even better luck to the Hornets and it's faithful fans as well. This will be one heck o####ame 7, that is if the refs don't make it one sided for either team,which would just totaly blow.

My prediction: Hornets win by 5 100-95

 Hornets forward David West is expected to play Monday night during what should be a very exciting game 7 In New Orleans. West was hurt in game 6 when trying to jump up and reach for a pass he was hit in his already sore back on a screen by the Spurs Robert Horry. A screen some have said was a cheapshot, including myself.

 Hornets players look on as David West is in agony after hurting his back again in game 6

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/NBAE

Although West may play how affective he'll be is the more concerning question. In the 2 of the 3 wins for the Hornets at home David West has been the best player on the court for the Hornets. There was no official diagnosis reported on the injury even though ESPN announcers were calling it a pinched nerve on thursday, the team is calling it a bruised back.

The Hornets were given Friday off to rest,coach Byron Scott decided to just cancel practice. The team returned to practice this morning and all eyes were on West and how his back will respond after the rest and treatments.

Come Monday the Hornets defensive pressure will be another factor in whether they can move on to face the L.A. Lakers in the Western conference finals. In all three home wins against the Spurs they forced San Antonio to play unlike itself and for the most part held Tim Duncan in check.

The excitment and electricity that will fill the "Hive" will be unlike anything New Orleans has seen with the exception of Mardi Gras and 2006 when the New Orleans Saints hosted two playoff games in the Superdome.

Win or lose it has been an incredible season for this young Hornets team. A season that nobody could havce forseen except maybe the players themselves. Just think Hornets fans all this in just a few seasons and with bright young stars like West,CP3 and Tyson Chandler this just may become a regular thing in the very near future.Byron Scott has done a masterful job with these young players and showed why he was rightfully named "Coach of the Year."

"Fan Up" has been the slogan around here since the playoffs began. Come Monday that's just what those that will be in attendance will have to do. The Hornets will need every loud cheer, the voices all saying "D-fense" in one collective tone and as loud as 17,000 plus fans can boo one guy named Robert Horry when he touches the floor.

Befor I get into my rant let me first say that the Spurs played an excellent game on both offense and defense to force a game seven. Coach Popovich also made great adjustments to everything the Hornets did to win game 5. Now for my rant on what I saw in this game.

I'm not the one to complain much about nothing (except for this damn cast I have on my arm because there is an itch I can't scratch) either way the officials were terrible in this game. I've been saying how inconsistant (as has most fans have been themselves) the refs are. This game however was by far the worst I have seen so far in the post season.

Sure CP3 did clear out twice early in the third quarter to pick up two quick fouls. However the fouls on David West one fighting through the screen and one on the offensive side aginst Duncan were just terrible. Those fouls gave West his third and fourth fouls of the game. Which also caused him to say whatever it was to get a Tech. thrown his way as well.

Throughout thie whole game though it was apparent the calls were going to be rediculously in favor of the Spurs. I do not blame San Antonio in no way whatsoever. The officiating crew for tonights game just seemed to have it in for the Hornets for what ever reason.

Also Robert Horry who I admired up until tonight laid a hard foul on David West that was just uncalled for. Sure he was called for it but let's not forget the foul on Steve Smith during last seasons playoffs that turned the whole series around. Though I'm pretty sure it wasn't a master plan by coach Popovich it does make one wonder about the mentality of Horry.                         

Would you trust a guy who looks like this? Looks devious if you ask me.

Just look at the guy with the nice smile and charming looks, those people can be sneaky and dangerous. He kind of reminds me of a cartoon character of a cat with a huge grin on his face and the bird is missing from it's cage. Who knows what affect this will have on West and the Hornets as a team, especialy if West is not able to play in game seven.

Sorry Horry but I have just lost all respect I have ever had for you. Thing is he may have caused himself more problems than he could have ever wished for. You see Mr. Horry people still believe and practice Voodoo here in New Orleans. Besides if you did it with malice in your heart and mind let me tell you Karma is a real ####!

Let me end this because I have to get up early to start finding everything I need to make a Voodoo doll that looks like Robert Horry. That shouldn't be to hard of a task i'm sure. Game seven will be an interesting one and the Hornets best be ready because these Spurs mean business.

Food for thought : I ran across an article last season that was about a technical foul called on Tim Duncan by referee Joey Crawford which ended with crawford being suspended and missing out on working the post season. something he has done more than any other NBA ref. to date. Think maybe these guys are a little intimadated? Things that make you go Hmmmm?

David West of the New Orleans Hornets was very upset with his play in game four of their Western conference semi-final matchup with the San Antonio Spurs. Tonight in game 5 in the hive he was unstoppable. West carried the Hornets through the first half to keep the game close enough that when they went on a run in the third and took the lead they wouldn't relinquish it.

                                           Photo courtesy of  Chris Graythen / Getty images

West finished the game with playoff carreer highs of 38 points (one point shy of tying a club record set by Glen Rice with 39) and 14 rebounds through in 5 assist and 5 blocks he showed that he is a superstar in the making.

Scrappy and relentless defense is what helped the Hornets in games one and two, something that was missing in games three and four in S.A. but turned it back on at home. Forcing the Spurs into 10 total turnovers and holding Tim Duncan to just 10 points was enough to give them a 3-2 lead heading back to San Antonio and put the pressure on the Spurs.

Chris Paul struggled a little in the first half but turned it on in the second to finish with 22 points 1steal and 14 assist. Not to mention his decision making throughout the game was exceptional. He consistantly worked the pick and roll to perfection with David West or found Morris Peterson wide open beyond the arch for threes. Mo Pete ended the game with 12 points 2 steals and four rebounds. The 12 points made up for the lack of scoreing by Peja who only had 9 points but added 11 reb. and a steal. 

                             Photo courtesy of Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty images

As young and inexperianced as this Hornets team is, they make up for it with confidence and good team defense. Something that has made the Spurs the champions they have been for so many times this last 9 years.

Take nothing though from the Spurs, they are every bit of the great team they have been for so long. However the third quarter was the key. West with a tweaked back just wouldn't be denied and Paul drove the lane fast and hard to keep the Spurs defense off balanced.

The Hornets played Tony Parker hard and he seen the floor up close almost as many times as he seen a shot fall for him. He finished the game with 18 points but only 4 assist. The Spurs best offensive weapon tonight was Manu Ginobli who had 20 points and 7 assist. That however wasn't enough as the rest of the team couldn't make a beach ball land in the ocean.

Game 6 will be a good one and the Spurs backs are against the wall. However they are a extremely good team and by no means will they just lay down and accept defeat. The Hornets will have to come out with even more intensity and defensive awareness than this game if they hope to knock off the defending NBA champs.

Note: The team that wins Game 5 in a best-of-seven that was tied 2-2 has gone on to win 83.7% of the time.

As I said befor for the Spurs to win tonights game it was imparetive that Tony Parker keep pace with Hornets PG Chris Paul. That's just what he did with 31 points 4 reb. and 11 assist. Credit goes to the defending champs for hanging in and not folding up like some lawn chairs.

The Hornets kept pace with the Spurs until the end of the third quarter but after that the Spurs did what an experienced and defending championship team does. They mentaly and physicaly beat up a young and upcoming team.

For the Hornets Chris Paul was still exceptional 32 points 2 reb. 9 assist and a steal but missed free throws and stupid fouls by teamates made a huge difference in this game. Something that plauged the Spurs in the first two games at New Orleans.

Starting Manu Ginobli was a smart move by coach Popovic as well. He provided a spark that the Spurs most desperatly needed being down 2-0 and now with another win this weekend again on their home court the Spurs can even this series up and put themselves in prime position to take the lead by the begining of next week.

This has turned into every bit of the dog fight I anticapated it would be. Playoff basketball at it's best and there is still more to come. However as I have said befor if the Hornets come away with atleast one win in San Antonio it will be tough for them to win in New Orleans.

The Spurs are a great veteran team and nobody should have expected them to be swept. If you did then shame on you for believing in your foolishness. I for one didn't and wouldn't belive in that happening. The Hornets are a young team and more than likely put pressure on themselves and as the saying goes "pressure busts pipes" but one thing is for certain and that's the Hornets are a tough team. A team on a mission and that mission is to be respected and earn a birth in the western conference finals. Something they'll have atleast two more chances to accomplish.

There is no doubt in anybody's mind (except a select few Spurs fans) that if San Antonio allows the Hornets to walk away with a win tonight then this series is all but over. The Spurs have to do more than just win though, although a win would go a long way to help rebuild their confidence if they allow New Orleans to keep it close it'll not be enough to keep them (Hornets) from coming into game four still confident they can win this series.

Let's face it the Hornets are already confident with a 2-0 lead on the defending champs. Not to mention they have blew the game wide open in the fourth quarter of both games. Add the fact that by winning both games at home it guarantees that this series ends in New Orleans no matter what and you have a real confident team.

Tony Parker is the key, if he keeps allowing Hornets PG CP3 to out play him on both ends of the court then they might as well throw in the towel and use the famouse words of one Roberto Duran when taking a pounding from Sugar Ray Leanord and yell to the refs "no mas" because that's what this has become...a beat down!

It seems the Spurs have no answer for the one -two punch of Chris Paul and David West. In game one David West torched the Spurs. When game two came around the Spurs put the handcuffs sort of speak on West but had no answer for Chris Paul who put up 30 points himself. Throw in the fact that Peja is hitting threes like he did in his days as a Sacramento King it's as if the Spurs have been punched in the mouth with a long stiff jab.

Although they are not K.O.'d yet just a few more blows and the 10 count could be in their forseeable future. Youth VS experience and so far the youth has landed the most punches. It's been a long and thrilling ride for the champs but I can't see them lasting to much longer in this fight to remain the undisputed NBA champions. Change is inevetable and it seems that time has come. It's time for a new team to start it's path to glory. That team just may be the New Orleans Hornets.

   The San Antonio Spurs and it's superstar PF Tim Duncan were not going to go out like game one. The plan was to not let Hornets All-star forward David West have the same impact he had last game. However it seemed they forgot that there was another Allstar for the Hornets on the floor who goes by the nickname CP3. Just as he did to many opposing PG this season and in game one, he abused Tony Parker and any other defender thrown at him enroute to a 30 point and 12 assist night.

   The Spurs had no answer at all for Chris Paul and now find themselves in a very difficult position down 2 games to none. The series moves on to San Antonio now but the Spurs have not only ever been able to be repeat champions but have never comeback from a 2-0 deficit.

   Sure it's not over till the fat lady sings but it sounds like she is warming up her voice to be ready to sing the song na, na, na, na, hey, hey goodbye. That is if the Spurs do not take these next two games at home that is.

   From the start of the season I have said the Hornets are flying under the radar. Some people agreed and still others laughed at me as if I said the greatest joke ever told. Well people who's laughing now? Certainly not the Spurs fans and they are finding out that the same team that beat their beloved team out for the division just might leave them at home wondering if next season will be better than this one.

   So as the series moves to the beautiful city of San Antonio I predict the Hornets will come away with atleast one win. They'll close the series out here in New Orleans and sit back to see whether it will be the Lakers or Jazz that they'll be facing in the Western Conference Finals. A series with either just may be one for the ages.

Side Note:  In various places over the internet I have read of fans (mostly Lakers) say that the Hornets and CP3 play dirty ball. Are you kidding me! This is a game with 10 pretty sizeable guys huddled up fighting and scrapping for a ball and a win. Contact is part of this sport you know. Players from any team will do whatever it takes to help it's team win, even more during the playoffs. Get a grip folks and grow up already.

 When the Memphis Grizzlies traded Pau Gasol to the Lakers for the expiring contract of Kwame Brown and rookie gaurd Javaris Crittington many teams may have not agreed with that trade. None of them have come out and said the things that San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich said. "What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension," Popovich told SI.com. "There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade." Sounds like sour grapes to me.

All this coming from a team that has bench players that could start for other teams. Does he feel threatened by the Lakers making such a trade? I for one think so, what other reason could he have for such a comment. In my honest opinion it makes him look like a bitter old man. The Spurs while still a very good team and the defending NBA champions just may feel that their strangle hold on the best in the West may be coming to an end.

I for one hope both the Lakers and the Spurs make it to the Western conf. finals and the Lakers either sweep the Spurs or just down right beat the #### out of them. The comment during that interview just shows that Popovich is a poor sport unlike some of his players. Get over it, the trade is made, the Lakers and eventualy the Grizzlies are and will be better teams because of it. Popovich's legacy as a coach is not in jepordy, so there is no reason for his bitterness. Unlesss that is he feels that just being a great coach who had some really great seasons isn't enough. Is it that he hoped to someday catch up to Phil Jackson and Red Aubach in the many championship titles they have one? Let's face it coach Popovich your team may have lot's of class but you are an ####!