The New Orleans played very hard, they did the most out of what they have in their franchise. CP3 was a little bit off, as usual DWest played his best and Chandler did his chore in the rebounds, but no one beside the three steps up to help in their cause.
The Spurs played deliberately and milked every available situation that suits them best. They were very patient in their offense and systematic in their defense. In short they played the best of what could be expected from them.
New Orleans is a young team and they have achieved what others have not. Next season will be their year. However the Lakeshow is young too!
Don't forget, the Spurs hit nearly 50% from three; the Hornets didn't adjust, and the Spurs took advantage. Yeah, I didn't pick the Spurs, but they won, and I'm sorry. Next time, I'll just stay quiet. But the Hornets just flat out stunk tonight, period.
24 of 91 of the Spurs points were from the bench, but more importantly, 18 of those 24 points were 3 pointers.
If they are going to adjust to that, they are going to open up the middle for post play by Duncan, and for slashers like Manu and Tony. It makes the game easier for them.
Downs is right, that unexpected boost from the bench outside kind of set the Hornets' game plan on its ear.
Another key was the 3rd quarter. I wondered if the Spurs "experienced" legs would fail them after halftime and they'd get spanked like the previous away games, but they were actually +6 in the 3rd.
The rebound differential was +11 for the Spurs. That is hard to overcome as well, especially when shooting percentages are close.
Pargo, by the way, had 18 points, but his ball hogging hero stuff at the end hurt the Hornets.
This is going to be a TOUGH matchup for the Lakers. San Antonio KNOWS how to win when their backs are against the wall. That being said, I'm still picking the Lakers to win, but the series goes the distance.
As an addendum, the Lakers may be getting Trevor Ariza back for the series. He's been cleared for full contact.
Right. About Pargo. He went before Kareem Rush because he drove Phil nuts. Everytime they put him in all he did was jack up shots. No defense, no passing, no nothing. Shoot till you're blind.
Downs: good analysis, but remember that an experienced team seldom forgets the path to a Win! An inexperienced team is prone to error when rattled. IMHO, Hornets did play their best; they were just overwhelmed by the heady play of the Spurs down the stretch. Tnx.
Nique: total points by both teams and personal tallies doesn’t really confirm the true strength of both teams; however it does show who wins and who lost the game. Take your rest now, Lady.
However, i like the Lakers against the Spurs.
Hoff: Ginobili, Duncan and Parker did prove that San Antonio was not a fragile team. What other teams did not accomplish, the Lakers will.
Last edited by nwhatdheck on May 19th at 10:59 PM.
Tom7: A team with too many titles on their box will not just fold up and let the adversary massacre them. San Antonio is the defending champion and no upcoming team can just shove them over the hill without a fight. Much of the points came from the bench because they have the deeper bench to reckon with and veterans at that. Positioning on the rebounds is best left to the veteran big men of the Spurs; they know where to go and how to do it without exerting too much effort.
Yeah, I agree that Pargo indeed took too many ill advised shots; it did hurt the Hornets cause.
Jon464: The Lakers team is no push over either. They are as well an old hand team in the playoffs with Kobe and Fish in the line up. Kobe during the Lakers repeat title quest just single-handedly took the lights out of Duncan and Parker in their own house and in the dying minutes of the match. This Lakers team in my own opinion is more stable vis-à-vis the Shaq/Kobe team.
Yeah… Ariza will such be a big help in defense.
Gambit: Yeah. I have the same opinion that Tom7 express it right in the eye, but for me, the Spurs team did what are to be expected from an experienced team. They are too familiar on how to prevail in games like that... NOH is still young but very very promising.
Spurcse: Congratz for the WIN! Pargo's misadventures maybe portrayed as one of the cause, I agree. At the end of the day, the loss will still be an accountability of the whole New Orleans team. They were rattled and they panicked at the defense of the Spurs and so they were not able to execute their offens
Last edited by nwhatdheck on May 19th at 11:13 PM.
Coach Byron touched on something after game 6 that caught my attention. After being asked what he thought the problem was, he said something to the effect that the Hornets played like they knew they still had the final game at home.
In nearly every interview with one of the Hornets players, they would mention that they still had homecourt advantage.
Could it be that when they ran into problemns in game 6, they realized that their safety net was fraying and there was no more home games after that one, and perhaps panicked a bit? They seemed to make a lot of bad shot choices.
They looked pretty good during that little mini comeback, but once Parker made the jumper pushing the lead back up to 5, it was like they just went through the motions the rest of the way.
Spurcse: The mind-set of this Hornets team at game 6, to my psyche was rather downbeat and defeatist. The heart of a champion must at all times take hold of an opportunity in pursuing what they wanted whenever a chance is presented on them.
I did saw the effort on that mini comeback yesterday, unfortunately the experienced Spurs knew what to do on situations like that and you seldom caught SA slumbering when they have the upper hand.
I am a die hard Lakers fan. I am Filipino basketball enthusiast and love the game so much.
I am 28 years old male, studied and finish architecture at Mapua University here in the Philippines and presently practising my profession.
Go Lakers!!!!
