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Game Thread for Round 2, Game 3: vs Hornets

Pop_tiny by AusTechSpur on

Anybody that has been reading the game threads knows I think the officiating has heavily favored the Hornets.  I think it has for two reasons:  1)  The Hornets were at home.  2)  They have been far more aggressive.

As the series moves back to SA, here's what I think the Spurs need to do to turn the series and the calls in their favor.

We have to hit our outside shots.  We have had a ton of open looks that we have passed up and we have missed a ton of open shots.  We need our shooters to shoot and we need our shooters to make shots.  NOTE:  This does not include Bruce Bowen shooting 20' jumpers from the wing on the break or having him curl around screens looking for his shot.

We have to play aggressive defense.  Our decision to back off Paul has killed us.  We have turned into a passive team instead of an aggressive team.  The way we are playing defense reminds me of how we play the Mavs some times.  In our focus to cut off penetration, by backing off Harris, we open up all the passing lanes and the Mavs could pass the ball without any pressure on their passes (neither the passer or the receiver is challenged).  This makes ball movement too easy.  Any decent team will shred you if they can move the ball around the court with impunity. 

Also, a lack of pressure on the ball allows the passer to throw much more accurate passes allowing the receiver to catch it where they want to establish their shooting rhythm.  The Spurs need to make the Hornets passers uncomfortable.

Lastly, the lack of aggression on the ball handler means that we don't have bodies around the guy with the ball.  This is the main reason the Hornets are getting calls and we are not.  When we drive the lane there is more than one guy with his body against or near our guy.  It is very difficult for the refs to call a foul, especially a reach foul, in a crowd.  However, if only one defender is near the driver then it is very easy to see contact.

In summary, we need to play aggressive Spurs defense.  We need to pick Paul up at half court.  We need to go over screens and have our bigs show like we do against Nash and Amare.  We need to pressure the ball constantly.  We need to make them uncomfortable.  They have looked way too comfortable on offense.

Poll
Spurs are down 2-0, how does this series end?
  • Spurs in 6
  • Spurs in 7
  • Hornets in 7
  • Hornets in 6
  • Hornets in 5
  • Hornets in 4

  237 votes | Results

0 recs | Comment 783 comments | Add your comment

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Comments

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As I said in another post, Bowen needs to get on Peja, and Finley/Barry needs to be on Mo Pete. Those guys have been shooting way above their regular season percentages because they have had smaller guys on them.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 12:48 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

really? 4 trophies in nine years and spurs fans are reduced to whining about home court calls? really? you know who also whines about calls not going their way in the playoffs? suns fans. usually when they are about to get bounced from the playoffs. 

it was a nice ride spurs, you won a lot, you experienced a lot. now its time to learn to lose gracefully.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 12:55 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

seriously?

Do you think you’re cool?

by pollackj on May 7, 2008 1:02 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

yeah

i do thnk i am pretty cool.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 1:06 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

You could at least spell his name right.

by Matthew Powell on May 7, 2008 1:06 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

meh, i would if i cared more. i’ll just spell it as it comes to me.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 2:43 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

haha

yeah i noticed i did that. meh, it happens. personally, i would like to see the spurs make a series of it. i enjoy watching hornets games, but since they have a television contract with the local cable affiliate here, i only get to see them in the playoffs. as for ginobili, ginobli, whatever, he is an abortion of a basketball player, and hopefully we aer all witnessing the beginning of his downslide. he’ll be your robert horry in two years.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 1:11 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

If you want people to take you seriously then don’t talk out of your ass. Manu was 7th in MVP voting this year and the 6th man of the year. He’s also a 3 time NBA champion. But go ahead, talk shit, just make sure you stick around when we even the series up.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on May 7, 2008 1:23 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

sure will. hornets will split the two games in san antone. we wont give you guys an historic beating like we did in the regular season (largest home loss ever for tim duncan’s spurs) but we will win one there all the same. still you guys a chance to even it up, in the sixth game but i doubt it. hornets will close it out at home in 5.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 2:35 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

dude, if you want me to take you seriously, read your own website. your little argentine didnt exactly finish in 7th. http://www.poundingtherock.com/2008/5/6/481603/that-sounds-about-right

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 2:57 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Wow you got me. I’m soooo busted…. I mistakenly transposed 7 for 10 after reading about Duncan getting 7th and Manu getting 10th. Seriously, you’re so right…. He was only 10th in the MVP race. What a fucking disgrace,or as you put it… an “abortion”.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on May 7, 2008 5:57 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

10th place (95th place votes) isnt exactly something i would be bragging about. 2 games up on the defending champs, however, is.

by ginobli sucks on May 8, 2008 9:40 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

How sad.

Are you seriously even making this argument? You’re calling a guy who won lead his team to a gold medal in the Olympics, 3 time NBA champion, Six man of the year, who happened to finish 10 in the MVP race an abortion. You sound like a child. A child thats giddy that his team has won a couple of games. This is sad. Enjoy the game tonight.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on May 8, 2008 12:15 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

is that the fear talking? you should try to find the calm.

by ginobli sucks on May 8, 2008 12:23 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I rest my case.

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on May 8, 2008 12:27 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

MANU 31 PTS, 6 ASSISTS, 4 REBOUNDS.... in game 3.

How you like them apples?

Superman wears Manu Ginobili pajamas to bed.

by CMoney on May 8, 2008 11:32 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Right On

Another person trashing the Sickness. Dude you’ve come to the wroooooong blog for that. ATS, I couldn’t agree more about the defense. For the offense to not click is one thing, but I mean the defense has been what has been killing them. Peja got way too many open looks in the first two games. Paul is going to get his regardless of who covers him, but I know Peja can be stifled. Bruce can make him a non-factor as opposed to the X-factor he has been.

I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a critic." - Richard Pryor

by DennardC on May 7, 2008 1:37 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

does that mean that bowen will knee peja in the crotch? or stick his foot under him when he is jump shooting? or will he kick him when he’s down? please. bruce bowen guarding peja? that is the solution to everything? congratulations spurs! way to come up with a solution to stopping the number three scoring option for the hornets. that’ll stop em.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 2:39 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Stojakovich scored 22 points on 9-15 shooting in game 1 and 25 points on 8-13 shooting in game 2. In both games he was the SECOND leading scored for the bees. In both games he shot well above his normal shooting percentage. Yes, he can be slowed, and it isn’t even going to cause Bowen to break a sweat.

Also note that Thomas and the Spurs in general have improved their defense on West. When the Spurs start knocking down those open looks that have been there all series, and stop turning the ball over, look out.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 2:58 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

for the season, and i am not 100% certain, but david west was the leading scorer, paul was second, peja was third. peja is doing well in this series, but to beat a dead horse, thats because the spurs havent exactly been putting on defensive clinics in the first two games.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 3:03 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

OK, so then do you finally get it? Peja is scoring well beyond what he should, and stopping him using first team all defense Bowen, will be a somewhat easy adjustment that will pay dividends for the Spurs.

Yes, the Spurs defense has been atrocious because we tried to get cute and put Bowen on Paul. When that experiment ends and you will find that the rest of the Hornets besides Paul will have a much tougher time making shots.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 3:57 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

if your all defensive first teamer “held” chris paul to 30 points and 12 assists, then what do you think he is going to do with mr longoria? bowen cant stop paul, but putting him on peja is not going to make a difference.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 4:09 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

About the same I’d imagine. It was a bad matchup for Bowen. Why is your basketball IQ so low and why are you so angry? Are you new to the game?

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 4:50 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

yeah im new to the game. i figured a spurs fanboy website is the perfect place to pick up a rudamentary understanding of the game of basketball.

by ginobli sucks on May 8, 2008 9:41 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

I’m gaining more confidence as the days go by, I hope our guys are too. I really hope as many have already said that Bowen checks Peja. I think Peja is the only starter in the NBA less athletic than Bowen. Anyone catch Pejas reverse layup attempt in the first half of game 2? I think he got 14 inches of lift and missed badly. When Tony is out I like the idea of Manu guarding CP3 because when he fights over screens he gets back to his guy quickly instead of just conceding that he got picked. Gino did this to Nash a bunch of times and created a few turnovers. And lastly Duncan needs to play HUGE. Close to a 20-20 game. That’s all.

by speedostuffer on May 7, 2008 1:53 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

A healthy Manu couldn’t guard Paul. Stop talking crazy.

by Matthew Powell on May 7, 2008 2:16 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

a truer statement has never been typed on this blog. “injury” or not, jinoblee can’t guard chris paul.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 2:42 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Of course not, and when Manu is healthy, nobody on the Hornets can guard him either.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 2:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i’ll disagree with you on that one. julian wright can. chris paul can. bonzi wells can. and morris peterson can. BUT since he is supposedly not healthy, doesnt really matter does it? since i brought up bonzi wells, how about that sweet karma when he took down bruce bowen in the lane? pretty awesome. the funny part was when bowen hit the ground grabbing his eyes, but the replay showed wells collared him by the shoulder/neck. what a douche. he needs to watch the film of pargo getting hard fouled by jason kidd. that is how you take a hard foul. you bounce right back up, you dont bury your eyes in your hands like you lost a contact lens.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 3:16 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

That’s hilarious. None of those guys can guard a healthy Ginobili, especially not Fatzi Wells.

Sweet karma? In case you haven’t followed Wells career, he’s always been a thug, even when he was a Jailblazer.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 3:59 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

moot point. genobly is injured, he stubbed his vagina in the first game. i read it on a spurs blog. but not anywhere in the national media has an injury been reported.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 4:07 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Unfortunately for you, “the national media” equates to Blues Clues.

It isn’t a moot point. Manu’s injury could heal, just like Paul could get injured. Also, this series isn’t the last time the Whornets will feel Manu’s wrath.

by VWolf on May 8, 2008 1:06 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

How is that crazy? Aside from Tony Manu is the quickest guy on the roster. I didn’t say Manu should guard him the entire game just when Tony gets his rest and Manu is out running the show. And Bowen should match Pejas minutes the way he does Melo, Kobe, Ray, etc… It’s better than Vaughn checking Paul, even if it’s just for 6 minutes a game.

by speedostuffer on May 7, 2008 7:25 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

No GS. Bowen is going to keep Peja from getting the open looks he has been getting. As I recall it, Bowen has owned Peja in the past. I don’t see that changing. Where did I say that making this switch will change the entire series?

I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a critic." - Richard Pryor

by DennardC on May 7, 2008 2:58 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

Peja’s career average with Bowen on him: 12.9 points per game on 37% shooting.

Peja’s average this season with Finley/Manu on him: 23.5 points per game on 61% shooting.

The facts speak for themselves.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 3:05 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

want to share the link where you gleaned this information, sonny?

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 3:12 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It’s super secret. It’s Peja’s player page on Yahoo Sports. You can see his career stats against the Spurs (and Bowen was on him in all of those games) and they aren’t pretty.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 4:01 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

so its a fact, because a spurs fanboy says bowen was guarding him then? those are statistics, of the spurs vs the hornets, but not necessarily of bowens success against stojokovic.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 4:04 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Sorry, not my fault if you don’t know how to sort through the stats. And yes, Bowen guarded Peja after he became a Spur, and he is responsible for Peja’s inefficient play during that period.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 4:12 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

its true because you say so? fuck that. just like ginoblie is injured? sure thing, some d-bag on the internets told me so!

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 4:19 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Manu’s injury is documented, as is Bowen’s defense on Peja. Why not look at every box score and game transcript of every Spurs/Sacto game, every Spurs Indiana game, and every Spurs/Hornets game, with both Peja and Bowen, or you could believe someone who knows that Bowen routinely put the clamps on Peja.

If you want recent history though, take a look at this regular season’s results. 11 points per game against Bowen and the Spurs is quite a bit different than the last two games.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 4:39 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

d bag

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=280508024

please investigate before you post. and yes he’s been injured this entire series, jackass.

by efantich on May 7, 2008 9:54 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i’ll now acknowledge he is “injured.” however, given the time stamp on that website, it wasnt online yesterday afternoon when i was posting.

by ginobli sucks on May 8, 2008 9:39 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It has been known since the before the playoffs started. You Whornets fans don’t keep up with hoops do ya?

by VWolf on May 8, 2008 11:45 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

boewn has “owned” peja and the spurs have won four trophies in the past. what the hell does that have to do with anything? should the hornets yield this series because of the spurs past accomplishments. face it, down 2-0 (and a bad 2-0, not like the magic who were gipped out of a win) the series doesnt look that good for you. but hey, always next year!

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 3:07 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

ha

everyone is patting themselves on the back for their brililant observation that bowen must guard peja. all i am saying is that it wont make a bit of difference. IF bowen shuts him down, then who guards paul? tony parker? not exactly an all star for his defensive abilities.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 3:11 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Man, you post faster than you can think (and read apparently). We have already said that Paul will get his buckets on Tony, but the key will be to stop everyone else. Nobody else on your team is unstoppable. Note that West has been figured out, that Peja is pedestrian against Bowen, and that Tyson is not a prolific scorer. Also note that Udoka shut Wells down.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 4:06 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

i read as well as you paid attention to games 1 & 2. little adjustments dont lead to 19 & 18 point blowouts. the hornets have been handling the spurs, paul has been doing whatever he wants, west wasnt found out you douche, paul was the focal point of the offense in game 2. you see, a diverse attack, unlike what the spurs have, is crucial to a successful offensive team.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 4:17 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Putting Bowen on Peja is not a little adjustment. It means Parker doesn’t have to guard Mo Pete as well. It will change the whole outlook.

Also, West was 2-11 with 4 turnovers in game 2. 15 times he was either stripped, blocked, or missed his shot (and you are calling ME a douche?). He was no longer the focal point, because the Spurs took him out of of the offense.

Do you really believe that the Hornets are going to be successful this season? They may get by the Spurs, but the only team in the West that has a good chance at beating the Lakers is the Spurs. Excuse me, if as a Spurs fan I measure success in terms of championships and not “good showings” like Mavs fans, Suns fans, and maybe even Hornets fans.

by VWolf on May 7, 2008 4:47 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

well, you wont be able to measure this post season on a championship, or a good showing.

by ginobli sucks on May 8, 2008 9:42 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Even down 0-2, the Spurs have more of a shot at the championship right now than the Whornets. If the Whornets advance, they will not get past the Lakers.

by VWolf on May 8, 2008 11:46 AM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

when they get past the spurs, no if about it. as for the lakers, the hornets match up better with them than the spurs, and that, not this should be a good one.

by ginobli sucks on May 8, 2008 12:27 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

No way. First, they have only a chance at getting past the Spurs. Second, they are dust if they face the Lakers. You know it, I know it, Kobe and Phil know it.

The Lakers fans are all rooting for the Whornets to take out the Spurs so they don’t have to face them in what would be a bloody, dragged out series. They would much rather cruise past the inexperienced Whornets. The gimmicky defense that Scott has employed against the Spurs would fail miserably against the Lakers. If he doubled Gasol, (the healthy) Kobe would roast the Whornets.

by VWolf on May 8, 2008 1:12 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

haha

inexperience? that old tired argument. the same reason they would lose to the mavericks? or to the spurs in game 1? or game 2? sure inexperience. that must be the reason.

by ginobli sucks on May 8, 2008 1:57 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Just because the Whornets beat an imploding Mavs team, and are up 2-0 on the Spurs, does not mean that inexperience won’t come into play. Also, did you notice that I didn’t just type the word “inexperience” in my post above. Do you have ADHD?

by VWolf on May 8, 2008 2:28 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

first off: this isnt the only imploding team the hornets are beating this post season. second: i have no idea you are talking about with that second commetn about adhd. third: lakers arent going to get past the hornets. lakers will want to run, and frankly the hornets will oblige. i think those games in that series will be, at the very least, more competitiveand entertaining than the ones in this series.

by ginobli sucks on May 8, 2008 2:32 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Bowen on Peja...

Can make somewhat of a difference and there are addition adjustments the Spurs need to make to win a game or 4 in this series, most notably disallowing open looks. All of that shit is moot anyway if Tony, Manu and Tim don’t score.

I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a critic." - Richard Pryor

by DennardC on May 7, 2008 3:03 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

it may make a difference in less points for peja. and it is moot. parker will continue to be owned by chris paul, leading to duncan’s continued struggles. jennobly will continue to appear to be on a different page than the rest of the offense, but i am sure it is because he is “injured”

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 3:24 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

It has to do with this series Ginobili Hater. Bowen will limit Peja’s effectiveness. Let me reiterate it will take a hell of a lot more than that to win the series, but it’s one adjustment to be made. Also, if you have viewed any of my past comments on prior posts, you will see that I give less than 5 shits about the Spurs past championships. The Hornets have a great team, but I happen to think the Spurs can play better. Just my point of view.

I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a critic." - Richard Pryor

by DennardC on May 7, 2008 3:24 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

ginolbee hater? guilty as charged. the man is to basketball what stephen a smith is to journalism. he is a fraud, and it looks like his career peaked at 10th place (9 fifth place votes) in mvp ballotting. oh yeah and a sixth man award. maybe he and dell curry can go hang out talking about how awesome it was to be the best bench warmer in the league. ginabli is on the decline, he isnt exactly getting younger. and with another playoff run, it will be an awfully short summer for the old man. doesnt he have a national team obligation this summer as well? meh, i could be mistaken. but i would think that all those games are going to start catching up with him.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 3:30 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

A fraud? WTF? He could give a shit about that sixth man award, all he cares about is winning. Hate on him all you want, but that’s what the game is about. So what if he is on the decline. His competitive fire isn’t declining that’s for damn sure. I’m really trying to have a legit b-ball discussion here and you are comparing Dell Freaking Curry to Manu Ginobili? I’m done.

I never met anybody who said when they were a kid, "I wanna grow up and be a critic." - Richard Pryor

by DennardC on May 7, 2008 3:46 PM CDT reply reply   0 recs

You’re not going to have a legit discussion on a Spurs blog with a guy named “ginobli sucks.”

by Matthew Powell on May 7, 2008 3:56 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

my hatred for ginobli has been around for years, well before he started going bald. that being said, you are probably right.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 3:57 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

both won the sixth man award. seems legitimate to me.

by ginobli sucks on May 7, 2008 4:01 PM CDT to parent up reply reply   0 recs

Yeah, I knew better, but I’m bored so I thought