What a series so far, the up’s and downs, the emergence of Chris Paul unbelievable, I personally wonder how many journalists would like their MVP vote back. This playoff run has saved basketball in New Orleans this team was essentially the only team without a home court advantage during the regular season as any away team that played in the Hornet’s nest had more supporters than the home team. But now season ticket sales for next year are way up, numerous stars were courtside and their the hottest ticket anywhere. They should honestly do an NBA where the “improbable happens” commerical for this years Hornets, 39 wins to 55 plus, quite the Cinderella story and honestly who’s favorite player right now is not Chris Paul he has been brilliant and done it in such an entertaining way as Greg Popovich put it “he turns games into an organizied playground.”
The Game goes Monday May 19th and is the Can’t miss game of the year.
Keys to Victory for the Spurs
- Clutch Shooting, the Hornets have doubled Duncan fairly effectively so the Spurs need to make the Hornets pay for doubling him, especially Ginobli if he gets going he can be unstoppable in big games
- Contain CP3, the Spurs have made a great coaching adjustment here by placing Bruce Bowen on Peja, your not going to stop CP3 from getting his points but if you can contain him from getting everyone else going he can’t beat you alone.
- Patience, I said to a buddy before the Suns vs Spurs series you didn’t need a shot or game clock to decide this series just give each team 10 possesions and who ever executed them the best would win the series; this game will be the same the Spurs are an exceptionally patient team setting and re-setting plays, experience here is everything, if they control the games Tempo and don’t waste possesions they’ll roll into the West finals again.
Keys to Victory for the Hornets
- CP3, Chris has been amazing and to beat the Spurs he’ll have to be on Monday, the key is to get other players involved early, if he can get Peja and West going the Hornets have a shot, that being said it won’t be enough just to get them going he will have to shoulder the load on offense as well, To win he’ll need another 30 point 10 assist night any less i see this Cinderella story coming to an end.
- Foul Trouble, The Hornets have really only two people capable of playing Tim Duncan one on one with any effectiveness; David West and Tyson Chandler if either gets into early foul trouble it will be a long night as they’ll have to double nearly every touch and leave the perimeter open. Chandler is maybe slightly more disruptive defensively because of his length and may be the real key here.
- Moment, the Hornets can’t get sweeped up in the moment and force turnovers and waste posessions but if they feed of the crowd, run the break, get an alley-oop, or a replay worthy play that positive Cinderella adrenaline can sweep the team, arena, city and can carry them through a major upset. I just love the turn around of this arena the last home game not a fan would sit for nearly the entire first half.
Prediction
I am trying to have some kind of bias here but let’s face I too have been sweeped up in the performance of CP3 and the Cinderella story of the Hornets, plus I have endured enough of the Spurs their dynasty has seemingly no end in sight, I won’t buy into that their boring thing, they play the game with a medical precision have unselfish players, the best power forward ever to play the game, a fantastic coach, hit big shots, even in this series came back from the brink; it’s just that I’m sick of them, it’s like that awkward moment now they have hung around too long for them to be interesting to me anymore, if they win it all again honestly give Tim a statue like MJ but someone please force him to retire.
Final Score: Hornets 103 Spurs 98
Last post (s) by Terry Shilton
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Tags: Basketball, Chris Paul, CP3, David West, Game 7, Hornets, Manu Ginobli, NBA, New Orleans, Peja Stojakovic, San Antonio, Spurs, Terry Shilton, Tim Duncan, Tyson Chandler, Upset, Western Conferene
12 Responses to “David West vs Goliath ~ Tim Duncan (Game 7 Hornets vs. Spurs)”
Posted: 05/16/08 at 2:40 pm
I really don’t follow basketball too much, but I agree that I’m just sick of the Spurs. I honestly haven’t followed this series too much, but I’m curious as to what you think of the Cleveland/Boston series.
Posted: 05/16/08 at 3:01 pm
Tim the Cav’s/Celts series has been amazing as well has a kind of prize fight quailty to it real scrappy play both teams are tough defensively and foul hard. Really the key has been homecourt who can break the cycle and win one on the road. I have a feeling if the Celt’s don’t close it out tonight they’ll regret it. Lebron played the best individual basketball I have ever seen last year vs the Pistons, (I saw Magic, Jordan, Bird, Isiah in their primes) he seems to be searching for that game he’s been great but not legendary, but mark my words if they win tonite break out the “WITNESS” t-shirts for game 7.
Posted: 05/16/08 at 3:09 pm
Thought of this after my post I actually believe because of Lebron’s other worldly series last year the Pistons would prefer to see the Celt’s in the East finals; defensively the Cav’s gave them fits and really took Chauncy off his game.
I get the feeling the Pistons think they match up better with the Celt’s than the Cav’s for whatever reason…
Posted: 05/16/08 at 3:33 pm
Makes sense! Lebron certainly did go wild last year…and it was games 6 and 7 too wasn’t it? I hope the Cavs can pull it off, as I would like to see Cleveland get a championship!
Thanks for the insight, especially since it didn’t really have to do with the nice piece you put together.
Posted: 05/16/08 at 5:09 pm
No problem I’d also like to see Cleveland get a ring, Lebron to me is still under appreciated ridiculous stats in a number of categories.
He may have to avg a triple double to get an Mvp; this year better than 30 points nearly 50% from the field, add to that 8ish boards and assists a game, a block and 2 steals yet finished third not even close to winning.
On a team that without him would have been looking forward to the draft Lottery as one of the league’s worst.
I don’t think another player in the league carries more expectations and because of that we fail to appreciate how good a player he is.
Posted: 05/16/08 at 7:16 pm
Nice piece Terry! How ridiculous is it that Game 6 played on Thursday and Game 7 is not played until Friday. So bizarre. The NBA looks like the NHL with their scheduling on this one. No games on Saturday and 2 potential game 7’s on Monday with the Lakers/Jazz as well.
Posted: 05/16/08 at 7:17 pm
Oh and I am sick of the Spurs! GO HORNETS!
Posted: 05/18/08 at 11:15 am
Terry,
Any prediction for today’s game?
Posted: 05/18/08 at 10:16 pm
Celtics continue their homecourt dominance.
Tonight should be great, BEAT THE SPURS!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 05/19/08 at 5:24 pm
yup the truth Paul Pierce was crazy haven’t seen him play like that in a while.
I cannot satnd the thought of a Pistons Spurs final, c’mon Hornets
Posted: 05/19/08 at 7:14 pm
Not looking good for the Hornets. They are getting blown out. I HATE THE SPURS!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 05/19/08 at 9:36 pm
The NHL just doesnt get it by not starting the Cup Final until Saturday. 4 nights of no hockey, out of sight and out of mind, the NHL will never get it. Just take a look at the NBA Conf. Finals schedule.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/schedule