This is a great Game 6 recap by Charley Rosen

by bones on May 16, 2008 9:20 AM CDT Comment 25 comments

Below is Charley Rosen's take on Game 6. This is an outstanding re-cap. One of his best of the year. However, given the format, I wonder if he ether got really tired or had a very quick deadline. Either way, he spells it all out for you. He is also about the only member of the larger national media that I would ever give any credence to.

Spurs shoot their way into Game by Charley Rosen

1) REPEAT! REPEAT! San Antonio wins whenever it shoots well from the outskirts. Before garbage time filled the tail end of the fourth quarter, the Spurs shot a collective 20-for-37 from outside. Included in this total was a 11-for-21 mark from downtown.

2) Tim Duncan played lock-down defense on David West. The latter was 4-for-14 for 10 points, a far cry from his stupendous 38-point output in Game 5. Duncan's length, footwork and aggressiveness did the trick. Also, TD played up in West's chest, forcing him to drive to help spots.

3) Manu Ginobili came to play — 9-for-15, including 6-for-9 treys, for 25 points. No surprise there.

4) Gregg Popovich designed a game plan that would free Duncan — usually by running screen-and-rolls that involved two other players, then having TD make dive-cuts at the appropriate times.

5) In the second half, the Spurs doubled Chris Paul on screen-and-rolls and also whenever and wherever else they could corner him. By taking the ball out of CP's hands, the Spurs forced his teammates to make the ball-distribution decisions Paul usually makes. That's primarily why New Orleans totaled only 13 assists (on 33 baskets) to go with nine turnovers. In Game 5, its numbers were 24 assists and six turnovers.

6) Ime Udoka had the game of his life off the bench — 5-for-5, including 3-for-3 triples, 2 assists, one steal, one block, and 13 points in 21 minutes.

7) Tony Parker made a total of eight faulty decisions with the ball, ranging from ill-advised passes to forced penetrations. Even so, he managed 6-for-13, 4 assists, 2 steals and 15 points. Yet the most redeeming aspect of Parker's game was his jump shooting — 3-for-5.

8) The Spurs' ball movement was superb. Extra passes were the rule and unselfishness was their guide. Credit them with 28 assists on 38 buckets.

9) While the Spurs didn't run too many screen-and-rolls, they got good production whenever they did — eight points on eight screen-and-rolls. David West was frustrated by Tim Duncan, then reaggravated a back injury. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

10) Fabricio Oberto — 2-for-4, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 points — passed well, set sturdy screens and played excellent position defense.

11) What might be the most significant key in Game 7 was the crushing back-screen that Robert Horry set on David West. If West is still hobbled Monday night, the Hornets' season will be over.

All in all, a highly predictable resurrection game by the defending champs. If there were several keys to the Spurs win, there were also several locked doors that the Hornets were unable to open.

1) Duncan's aforementioned defense on West, who seemed to so unnerved by this surprise matchup that he missed several wide-open jumpers.

2) They never could get any kind of handle on Duncan. On 13 sequences, the Hornets doubled TD on the catch and the Spurs wound up connecting for 20 points. TD was doubled twice on the move, with the Spurs scoring two points. Duncan was played straight up five times, with the home team generating six points. The Hornets fronted Duncan once and he tallied a dunker.

3) The Hornets' dreadnaught high screen-and-rolls were just about negated by the Spurs' two-timing tactics. Twenty times the Hornets undertook their money play, and it produced only 12 points.

4) Paul had a solid if not explosive performance — 9-for-18, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers (all on offensive fouls), and 21 points. However, most of his scoring was created by his individual brilliance.

5) Except for Tyson Chandler's occasional quickness to the ball, the Hornets' defensive rotations were tardy.

6) West was especially inept in defense of screen-and-rolls.

7) While Peja Stojakovic has his moments on offense — 5-for-10, 13 points — and took it to Bruce Bowen by design, his defense was atrocious. Especially against Udoka.

8) The Hornets got nothing from either Bonzi Wells or Jannero Pargo when they needed a boost.

Besides excitement, the impossibility of a blowout and a rip-roaring crowd in New Orleans, what else might be expected in Game 7? San Antonio will likely have Duncan guard West for most of the game — probably after Oberto bangs him around for a few minutes. The Spurs will also concentrate on having Parker cut down on his mistakes. They must find a way to prevent Paul from killing Parker in the low post. And, rest assured, Paul will have to combat double-teams at almost every turn.

For the Hornets to win, they should have Chandler (and Melvin Ely) play Duncan straight up, conceding TD his 30 or so points, while staying in touch with Ginobili, Parker, Bowen and Udoka. Post CP against Parker and see how the Spurs react. To neutralize the double-teaming of Paul, use Pargo as the lead guard and have CP3 curl, drive and/or pop off weak-side screens. Monday night is precisely why we love this game so very much — because Game 7 is NBA heaven.

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Yessir. This is a great recap. He had it up on the site by midnight last night.

I think the key to the victory was Peja flat-out abusing Bruce to start the game. That pissed off Pop and he sent in Udoka to replace Bruce. And we end up with a monster game from Ime and very little FinDog.

You have to give Pop some props for going to Ime in an elimination game.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on May 16, 2008 9:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i was surprised to see peja #1 get more aggressive and #2 succeed by making some shots on bruce. pop didnt waste much time on yanking him off that match-up. definite props for that.

spurs took off from there – and who’d have thought that was both ime and bowen on the floor? not me. ime also got wells to pull an o-fer as well. they never went back to wells too much, probably because his brand of defense would have only made our hot shooting that much worse for them.

either way, ime was the man last night. maybe its him again, but either way one of the other guys will have to give us a serious contribution if we are gonna go down there and win monday.

by bones on May 16, 2008 10:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, when Charles isn’t writing about how overrated and lackluster David Robinson is he writes a pretty good recap.

Couldn’t sleep last night rewatched the game to break it down (how nerdy is this, by the way, when you have no connection to the organization and you stay up til 4AM watching game film?) and noticed a couple of additional things.

1.) The Hi/Low Tim’s running with Fab or vice versa needs to continue. So many buckets as their rotation was late or confused by our placement and the fact that Fab CAN actually pass/score baskets.
2.) The trapping of Paul on the P&R is absolutely necessary from now on. If they’ve adjusted greatly to it and are prepared by spacing the floor and hitting jumpers, we’ll back off. But we must continue because of how successful in Game 6 at disrupting flow and preventing distribution.
3.) The turning point of the entire game occurred with about 9 minutes to go in the third. It was all attributed to our hustle and energy, and smart basketball. We were only up 60-55, and the following sequence transpired within 2 minutes.
-Offensive Foul – CP, drawn by Bruce Bowen (allowing Paul to lead with elbow and taking charge)
-another Offensive Foul – CP, drawn by Bruce Bowen (allowing Paul to lead with elbow and taking charge)
-Personal Foul – West, drawn by Manu (allowing West to rough on a screen and selling the foul)
-Personal Foul – West, drawn by Tim (going at West in the low post and creating the contact)
-Offensive Foul – West, drawn by Kurt Thomas (allowing West to muscle on a drive and taking charge)
-Technical Foul – West, frustration TF
-High/Low from Tim to Fab for the score.
-Turnover New Orleans
65-55 with 8 left in the 3rd, and we never trailed by less than 8 after this point.

Watching it again, and you can really see- it’s all about the smarts and experience. We’ve all beaten it into the ground but it couldn’t be more true. If we play with poise and control, we’ll take this series. If we throw a mix of traps and single-coverages at CP forcing him into only being a scorer (keep his assists under 10); if we rough and pressure their bigs getting into their heads and getting them into foul trouble; if we seal off the perimeter and take away their outside shot…...... we GOT this thing. Great game guys, I’m really looking forward to Monday but like bones am going to do all I can to just not think about it. It’ll come soon enough, and hopefully Pop will have paid attention thus far this series.

by SgtinManusArmy on May 16, 2008 12:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The things we've learned in these playoffs...

Who knew before these playoffs that Fab could run the point with his passing skills and we could spot up Tim from behind the arc?! I love this team.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on May 16, 2008 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see you bring up experience...

“Watching it again, and you can really see- it’s all about the smarts and experience.”

Did you read my reasoning about why I feel so confident about game 7? I left it for you in the 2nd half game thread.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on May 16, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I did see that, thanks for explaining- I was going to respond directly this afternoon but you beat me.

I see what you’re saying and completely agree. The problem is, what about the other 3 games in NO? We were just as experienced then… and we let it go. Where I’m coming from is that had we held our poise, showed our experience, played our game and STILL gotten beat…. I would be okay with that. But completely beating ourselves and handing them a game, SEVERAL times, erases my confidence in their “experience” and “poise.” Those are precisely mistakes that an experienced and poised team DOESN’T make in the playoffs, or at least learns from! We haven’t seemed to learn from anything!

All of this comes from the fact that I used to be an athlete, and we laughed at the theory of “no team beating Team A four straight times.” At first, it sounded right on and sounded comforting. But then we realized, that YES it can be done! And it can EASILY be done!! All you have to do is win one. Then win one. Then win one. Then win one. You’re not winning 4 in a row or a series, you’re winning one at a time; so for Game 7 it carrys the same %s as if the first time we’d ever met. You take each game at a time, and you don’t look back at all; so consequently, each game is the first ever AND the last ever. In fact if anything, it gets easier to keep beating that team because you’re eventually in their heads.

I really do see the experience and poise argument though, I do. My faith in that was just terribly shaken after we failed so miserably and uncharacteristically in Game 6. Bottom line is- Game 7 is going to be tough. Nobody should be talking about how NO is going to be nervous, and how they’re new and don’t know pressure yet, and how they won’t know how to deal with the situation. They’ve dealed with every situation thrown at them so far this postseason with incredibly impressive poise for a rookie team, and we have to look at them as seasoned veterans in a Game 7. They’re going to be bringing it and they’ll have the crowd. We CANNOT let up and cannot allow anything to disrupt our poise and experience. We must stick with what works (this means the PtR philosophy, and possibly the Pop one as well depending on which Pop shows up) and not deviate from the formula for beating this team.

by SgtinManusArmy on May 16, 2008 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah, and thanks again for explaining. Good times there, reflecting on basketball theory with a fellow PtRer. God I love this site

by SgtinManusArmy on May 16, 2008 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You’re absolutely right. Each game is an individual game. It’s the same as if you flipped a coin 10 times and the first 9 times it landed heads. Your gut obviously tells you that the next flip has to be tails. Even though there is still a 50% chance of heads or tales. This concept applies here except it changes when you incorporate experience. You and I are both firm believers that you learn equally from your losses as you do your victories. Now ask yourself… Has Pop, Tim, Tony, & Manu learned anything from these 3 road losses? Of course they have. This series has been a situation that we have never seen and one that the NBA hasn’t seen in over 20 years. But experienced championship teams know how to put it all together at the right time. We adapt… (Bruce on Peja, Duncan on West). We rely on past experiences… (Paul getting the Nash treatment = didn’t work. Then we gave him the LeBron treatment = did work). I honestly can say that I just don’t see us putting up a repeat game of 1,2,& 5. We’re too good for that.

As far as game 7 goes. I feel we do have an advantage as well. We know what it’s like to win and lose a game 7. We understand the pressure. We’ve felt the nerves before. We’ve had our back against the wall with the gun to our head. They haven’t. Game 7 is a different animal. I’ve been to a game 7. I don’t know how to describe it but there is this electricity in the air. The tension is suffocating and I know both teams will be feeling it on Monday night. Thank god this isn’t our first time…

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on May 16, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

One other thing. Not only is it a Game 7, but it is the first time this team has faced an elimination game. This is the first time they have been in a position where a loss sends them home. My guess is that different guys handle that kind of pressure differently. I’d assume Paul will handle it well initially. But if they get down 8 early, will he continue to execute or will he try to take over for the team. That’s the kind of stuff that experience gives you, the know-how to not panic when things are down. Like in the Game 7 against the Mavs when we got down 20. We didn’t panic, we ratcheted it up. Sure, we lost it in the end, but not from choking or panicking.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on May 16, 2008 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, you’re right. I guess the thing I’m still struggling with is the frustration over Game 5. Everything you said was spot on….. directly before Game 5’s tip off. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to rain on the parade or be an annoying devil’s advocate. I’ve been a loyal SPURS fan since Gervin. I’ve never been a bandwagon fan, and even when we were losing (pre-Duncan lottery) and even after we’ve been eliminated I still love and proudly proclaim my Spurs-ness. I will forever bleed Black and Silver, regardless of what’s in the W column.

I was at the Game 7 in 2005. You’re dead on; the experience is undescribable and not for the faint of heart (ie: the 2008 Nooch). The experience comes out completely in that environment, and we’ll have the definate poise advantage. But I thought those same things in the ‘must-win’ of Game 5. I felt Pop understood what needed to be done, and had “figured out” the Nooch system enough that there wouldn’t again be another Nawlins loss, much less a blow-out. Consistantly throughout the game I found myself wondering if someone had simply put on a Pop-mask and was pretending on the sidelines. Nothing that even we’d all noticed or discussed was being followed. Yeah we had Crawford there, but I certainly expected us to be stronger than that and not allow so many dramatic mental lapses.

So that’s what gives me pause before this game. I normally would be supremely confident, with all that you’ve already described and with what we both know about this team. But Game 5 shook that, and I don’t have the same faith in Pop and our ability to rise above. Maybe it was just our —-—- game, and that’s fine. I’m just wanting to be extra careful going into this one that my confidence is not TOO high. I’m not sure that the favorability is as far to the SA side as many are saying, though it’s impossible not to recognize our edge. I guess what I’m saying is that I truly wouldn’t be surprised if we came out and finally demonstrated (a la Game 6) our dominance and abilities. But I also wouldn’t be shocked to see Pop completely stray from what’s been working in the wins, and go off the reservation leading to something really really unfortunate. The fact is we have GOT to have a full 48 from EVERYONE, and we’ve got to keep pounding them in the directions proven to be effective. I have to make the decision to put aside my frustration, and trust in the coach that has gotten us 4 rings in under a decade being brilliant and strategic.

by SgtinManusArmy on May 16, 2008 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay, guys, I know what you’re saying, and I completely agree. However…

“You gut” doesn’t tell you anything when it comes to the law of averages and probability. You both are confusing the probability of a coin toss going your way with the probability of 10 consecutive heads. I’m not going to pontificate about math in a basketball blog, but it’s not the same to win four in a row than to win once. At least not when something has so little factors to consider as a coin toss.

Now, basketball is a completely different beast. First of all, the games are played by humans, and they all react differently in different situations. Hence ATS’s comment about this being the Hornets’ first game 7. And that’s only one factor of the million and one that can influence a game’s outcome.

Even then statistics and probability aren’t completely useless. Hollinger is a man who sometimes seems to lose himself in the numbers behind the game, but an average or a probability is just that: one outcome is more likely than another based on past history, but it isn’t set in stone.

I’m not saying anything new, or revolutionary. The engineer in me just reared its ugly head when I was reading your comments. I simply didn’t want to confuse a player’s mentality going into a game (“This isn’t at all related with past victories or losses”, “I have a 50% chance”, etc.) with the chance of winning a number of consecutive games. Otherwise the Rockets’ run this year wouldn’t have been at all special, just guys “winning one game at a time”.

Okay, that’s the end of this rant. Sorry ‘bout that.

by LatinD on May 16, 2008 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right.

That’s what I’ve been trying to say. My argument is not that “we’re due”. My argument is based on our experience and that during the championship era 24 out of 27 series, we’ve won a road playoff game. 13 out of 27 times, we’ve won more than 2 on the road and 2 times out of 27 we’ve won 3 on the road. Our experience is the factor that I keep coming back to. You give our guys 4 tries to win 1 game on the road and I love our chances.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on May 16, 2008 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but you know, I’m still in there today….can’t yet let it go just yet…....

One thing that was clear to me in retrospect: To your point #1 – How much more Timmy was able to get open and/or be effective offensively when Fab-O is in the game. The ball movement is better, Fab-O sets solid screens and knows where to be on the floor. Perhaps he is the larger version of Brent Barry…..

I was really happy defensively with the way Pop was willing to switch up the looks on the fly. He moved the defensive assignments around a lot, which helped our cause, I think. Haven’t seen him do this all year…but when your back is up against the wall….....

by bones on May 16, 2008 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah bones, I’m actually full of shit though. There’s no way I’m going to be able to let Game 6 go no matter how hard I try. It was just too beautiful. Each time they’re replaying clips on espn today I’ve tuned in, though I’ve virtually memorized the commentary at this point. We’re riding high, and we deserve to hang onto that. I’m just gonna stop the charade and enjoy it now before we have to start prepping for 7.

by SgtinManusArmy on May 16, 2008 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Any of you still think Chris Paul isn’t an immature little punk content on not acting with class or sportsmanship?

From after Game 6-
"It’s like they got a phone call at halftime," Paul said of the referees. "And they said, ‘Let them boys win.’"

Quality guys don’t say things directly like this after a miserable loss on the road. But I guess now if they win, that’ll be the explanation. I hope this comes up either way in the postgame of #7.

And while I’m hating today, I’m just about done with Henry Abbott and his obvious anti-SPURS bias. At first I thought it was just a pro-suns stance, but as time has gone on and as the series’ go by, it appears more and more just simply vindictive of San Antonio. If you’re easily angered, you might want to just avoid his site today.

by SgtinManusArmy on May 16, 2008 4:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I guess I'm glad to be able to ask:

Who’s Henry Abbott?

jrw

p.s. And, yes, I know I can google it.

Everytime the Spurs pass the ball like that, an angel gets its wings. - Hipuks in G6 vs NOOCH

by jollyrogerwilco on May 16, 2008 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He’s the guy behind ESPN’s flagship blog, and he posts links daily from around the association. Over the last few weeks he’s “coincidentally” posted many anti-SA links with very very few pro-SA links, and has even attempted on several occasions to deflect this accusation by elaborating on his “unbiased” journalism.

If I wasn’t filled with hatred over the media onslaught against our boys, I’d post his link. But you’re really not missing anything that Matthew or some other independent blogs don’t already bring to the table very well.

by SgtinManusArmy on May 16, 2008 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Although, he DID link ATS’s writing awhile back, and that took him momentarily off my douche radar. But he’s definately back now.

by SgtinManusArmy on May 16, 2008 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look for True Hoop on espn. It’s the blog run by Abbott. The lead story for his Friday bullets is from the basketbawful blog. It is a truly ridiculous assessment of the Horry foul. (I think SiMA might be a little sensitive today, btw. I’m guessing it’s the lack of sleep).

Abbott is an admitted fan of the Suns. Apparently, he likes their no defense style. He’s really a Blazers fan and since they have sucked for a few years now I guess he has to get on board with somebody. It’s kind of strange really, to think he is a Blazers fan and he doesn’t like physical playoff basketball. The Blazers of the late-80’s and 90’s were very VERY physical. Porter and Drexler were attacked the basket hard and Buck Williams is the right up there in the all time list of tough motherfuckers who would put a whomping on you. Man, I hated him back then. He was like Kurt Thomas, but with a mean streak.

Most likely, now, Abbott is just bandwagoning on the Hornets, like most espn commentators. Partially because they are a FEEL good story and partially because they aren’t the Spurs. Nothing new here, really. The Spurs and their lack pop appeal just isn’t what people are attracted too.

by Wayne Vore (ATS) on May 16, 2008 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So tough to be a Spurs fan today

Horry’s foul and the stupid “Horry! Horry!” chant from the crowd last night just gave a lot of blogger enough ammunition to rip into the Spurs from all directions.

Whatever. I fear the day we’re no longer hated. Even worse, I abhor the idea of other teams “respecting” us. That will be the day the Spurs are no longer contenders. I say we give them someone to despise for 3 or 4 more year, then rebuild and come back for more.

by LatinD on May 16, 2008 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hating cont.

And what is the deal with the talk of rules to stop the hack-a-shaq and penalize flopping. Why all of a sudden is there so much noise to come up with rules for these things that have been apart of the league for 15 and ~10 years, respectively? Don’t these people have the potato sacks to say what they really mean, a rule stop the hated Spurs?

who are you who can summon fire without flint or tinder? there are some who call me ... tim.

by ptruser on May 16, 2008 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I seriously doubt they will do anything about the “Hack-a-loser” and/or penalize flopping. Seriously. If they wanted to change that rule, they would have done it when Nelson used it against the Lakers to have the Mavs win 4-5 years ago. And if they start penalizing flopping, then the Suns(who throw themselves around at times like the court is a ship in a storm), the Cavs(Anderson Varejao makes Ginobili’s “flops” look like he got mugged by the Mafia), the Lakers(Fisher) the Kings(anyone), etc etc etc. will also be equally hurt by the rule, and everyone knows it.

The only reason the Spurs get picked on so much is simple.   Everyone is their b^%$*.

by Nixiack on May 16, 2008 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well my point wasn’t to debate the virtue of the rules. i was just questioning the current noise surrounding their support.

who are you who can summon fire without flint or tinder? there are some who call me ... tim.

by ptruser on May 16, 2008 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol, it got cut off. What I was going to say is this :

The only reason the Spurs get picked on so much is simple. Everyone is thier b**.

by Nixiack on May 16, 2008 7:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well it’s simple…Not too many people are going to like a team when they’re winning championships and their teams aren’t. I’m very glad to see at least see the Spurs win four championships in the last nine years.
As far as hack a any free throw shooter below 52%, I think that they should get rid of it. It does slow the game down and it doesn’t feel like winning when you play that way. What I’d like to see is some consistency in those calls in those lane violations by O’neal. In one game it was being called by Stevie Javie I think and the next game it wasn’t. And I think that ref was Joey Crawford which everyone knows.
Back to the Hornets.
Yes I strongly would like to see the Spurs be a bit more physical like those early Blazers, but overall they’re not like that. And anyways the Blazers didn’t win any championships during those two decades because of their bruteness, but they did beat up on the Spurs a few times. I remember that. And when Portland played Mike’s team in the championship, the Bulls team didn’t back down from them. Champions shouldn’t back down from anyone.

James Stewart

by BigDaddyStewDog on May 17, 2008 3:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs