I've been a Spurs fan all my life. I've read/known about PtR for about 3 or 4 years. I really dig the insight you guys bring to the table. ESPN SUX, the national media in general sucks (Spurs rarely get props they deserve) and I would take it personal when these putzes (is that a word?) would either make little to no mention of or take a crap on the Spurs. Prior to PtR I was pretty much limited to mysa.com, the opponents newspaper websites and the local news for anything in depth. Anyhow, I'm new to PtR as a blogger so what was meant to be a post I mistakenly left as comment on another post so here it is........

Although the Horn Nutz ARE talented and they DID hand us our asses twice during the regular season, it was just that, the regular season. As you all know, the playoffs are a different beast altogether. For those teams that are talented enough to make them repeatedly, and smart enough to learn from their previous attempts to get past the first round or beyond, there is a learning curve involved in understanding and attaining the increased intensity level that it takes to advance far into the playoffs and hopefully end up the last team standing. Unless you're team is supremely talented and they completely outmatch their series opponents, it’s extremely difficult for young, first time (even second or third time) playoff teams to advance far into the playoffs and win the whole thing. Timmies rookie year (I still feel we were robbed), Mikes Bulls, Lebrons Cavs (still waiting on them), the Dynasty Pistons, even these current Pistons ect, ect. have had to overcome an experienced ballclub, usually a few times, who always handed them their lunch. They had to take  their medicine and go home young, a little more playoff hardened and empty handed. In this league, you have to take your lumps, get bounced a couple of times (at least once) FEEL that pain of knowing their season is OVER, no more games to play in or prepare for, and that ALL the hard work, the bumps, bruises, the induvidual awards if applicable, were in the end…...for nothing. They have to chalk it up to experience, spend the offseason thinking what if, working on that jump shot/ free throw shooting/ game plan/ overall self and team improvement. Above all, they take the experience gained from actually being there, the pain of losing and going home early, job unfinished, and try again next season with a better understanding of what it REALLY takes to get there. CP3 is awesome, I like the Hornets and it should be a competive series. In the end though, they’re taking on the 4 time and current defending champs, they're in the 2nd round for the first time since they we’re in Charlotte (I think) and taking on a Spurs team that is now officially in PLAYOFF MODE. They will NOT see the same, somewhat disinterested team they spanked twice earlier this year. They will learn from this series and they themselves, end up having to chalk it up to experience and hopefully for them, learn from it. It's the way of the world, to be the best, to succeed at ANYTHING you do (unless you're smokin HOT and have everyting given to you of course) you have to put in the work. You have to experience failure. Horn Nutz, you have experience SPURS PLAYOFF MODE. Spurs in six