Round 2 - Game 1: Spurs/Hornets

[johnnyjohnnyjohnny]

I expect Byron Scott to come out and double TD from the tip again to try to take him off his game early. We have to feed him closer to the basket and in a position where he can strike quickly. CP hits his players in a position where they can take the ball immediately. Timmy gets fed in a position where he has to play back to the basket. We really need to get him some quick strike opportunities.

If we can get another big game from Bowen, I would not be opposed to playing him AND Udoka at the same time. I like Bowen on CP, I think Bowen takes him out of his game mentally. Manu should match up well with either Peja or Bonzi, even. Udoka deserves a chance against David West, I'm not expecting West to be 'stopped', but we need to make his life on the offensive end harder than we did last game. When Udoka is rotated out, TD should take the West defensive assignment with Kurt guarding Tyson.

[arkuo]

byron scot has grudges against san antonio when his new jersey nets keep falling to the spurs before.. now he gets another shot at the spurs, im sure he wanted this game.. but unfortunately, i see the spurs taking it in 6 or 7.... duncan wont have consecutive bad games... there's a reason why this team have been winners....

[Ballings7]

Well said, JJJ

[D-Weaver]

Bad game for us, but a great game for NO at the same time. really like their poise for such a young team, Paul is definitely playing like a 30 year old playoff-tested playmaker despite his few years in the league.

But the real killer was David West. PF/C combos with great shooting touch especially from mid-range tend to bother our defense to no end, and that's what DW did in game one. Candler is a hustle player that tips a lot of balls on offense and defense to his team's favor, while Peja will get relatively open looks anyway because he's pretty big.

IMO,we need to do some things to adjust:

Mix it up with some zone defense, most likely a 2-3 with a relatively tight leash on Peja (who is a great spot shooter but he is not exactly Reggie Miller moving off the ball, and when he does , he doesn't do it quickly enough) and force Paul to shoot the 3 a lot. He doesn't have a pure stroke (yet) so our chances are good.

Feed the ball to TD as usual and let him go at Chandler despite potential double teams, even missing some shots in teh process. TD will get the calls if they bump him all the time, superstars(not just TD) always get favorable treatment from the refs when they seem to get physically pounded. With Chandler in foul trouble, NO is naked under the basket and we'll get a huge advantage.

Let Paul get his points and shut everyone else down. Paul is not a scorer and he's probably not comfortable in that role. Getting him out of his comfort zone is imperative. If he scores 40 and every other Hornet shoots a low FG%, we'll most likely be the winners.

[bbfan_1]

Zone? With CP, West and Peja? Don't be silly.

I cannot wait to see what Pop does. He will make some changes for sure. Timmey with 3 rebounds says he was in the wrong place, that will change.

On offense Timmey has to move away from the basket a bit more, should open lanes for Parker and Manu and make double team harder.

I like NO, they are a better team but Spurs have won with less before. I like the chess game, it will be a fun series.

[D-Weaver]

Zone? With CP, West and Peja? Don't be silly.

CP is not 'money' from the outside, more of a streaky shooter really. I'd take the gamble.

West has no 3pt range and is not really a post player. The zone takes away ALL mid-range shots if played correctly, and you eaither have to beat it by bombing from outside or by feeding a dominant post player. West is neither and the zone would kill his game.

Peja is an issue, that's why I recommended a 2-3 rather than most hard-core 1-4, with a player on him when he receives the ball ouside except when in the corners. He'll effectively be reduced to a Bruce Bowen without the defense.

[bbfan_1]

You have no idea what zone is, this is not Euro ball. You have not seen guard like CP in Europe EVER, he would pick zone apart and you would always have to deal with a mismatch.

[D-Weaver]

You have no idea what zone is, this is not Euro ball. You have not seen guard like CP in Europe EVER, he would pick zone apart and you would always have to deal with a mismatch.

Ehhh... actually he was crap when he played for the US and lost to us in that semifinal 2 years ago. And I have seen crap players in Europe before, so you point is moot,lol.

Anyway, I agree, the games are different, but slapping a zone for 5 minute periods would seriously stifle the Hornets, especially West and Paul. Peja would still be a major risk.


And, how exactly does a non-shooting and non-posting PG tear down a defense by himself? Unless he goes on a 3pt streak (possible, but not probable), I don't see it happening.

Anyway, I doubt Pop will play zone, so we'll have to see.

[Blame Rasho]

I think Zone is one of the worst things you can do... and Pop only uses it after inbound plays where the other coach uses a timeout.

[NaplesSunsFan]

What is the biggest adjustment you see Pop making on the flight back tonight?

I've been thinking about it. Maybe you just have to let Paul beat you? Stop caving in on him when he drives?

I don't even know who you'd ask to guard him one on one with no help coming on the drive.. tough matchup.

[Donald Kaufman]

^^^^ Hopefully instructions on how to remove their heads from their asses and play like a team that is defending a title.