This is it. Game 7. One team will advance, the other will go home.
On one side we have the visiting Spurs: A wily veteran team who've been there before and will resist the youth movement to get there again. Or are they just broken heroes on a last-chance power drive? And then we have the Hornets, a team that's cost me countless hours and emotions in the past six months. Are these guys for real? Can they stay strong, topple the defending champs and advance to the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. Or will we have to suffer disappointment, and wait another year for this funky bunch to take the next step?
It all unfolds tonight.
Stuff to know...
Game Time: 7:30pm Central.
TV: TNT nationwide.
Radio: This one's being broadcast on a whole bunch of radio stations. More info here.
Linkage:
- Ryan Schwan: I heart the Hornets
- Our latest news wrap
- Spurs blogs: 48 Minutes of Hell | Pounding the Rock | Project Spurs | Spurs Dynasty
Should be a memorable night at the Arena. It will either be the end of one helluva season, or the best time of my life. I'm betting on the latter.
Let's go, Hornets.
34 mighty comments post your own
John
05/19/08 12:46 PM
OK, let me put on here something that none of my fellow Spurs fans want to admit, but is probably true: At their best, the Hornets are a better team than the Spurs. If the Hornets win tonight, this is it: the Hornets rule the West for the next 10 years behind Chris Paul the way the Spurs have ruled it for 10 years with Tim Duncan. There, I said it. The question becomes then are the Hornets ready to come out and take that from the Spurs? The Hornets have been great when there's no pressure on them at home, but when the pressure came on the road they haven't been able to stand up to it- and don't give me any of that "they don't lose their composure under pressure, they just haven't played well on the road"; if they weren't subject to feeling the pressure when they're out of their comfort zone, they wouldn't go from +19.5 at home to -17.5 on the road. You just can't chalk up a huge margin like that up to chance. And even though the Hornets are home tonight, now that they're facing elimination, don't they have to feel a little bit of that pressure that's rattled them on the road? I don't know. But in my mind, the answer to that question is what's going to determine the outcome of this series: the Hornets are the better team, player-for-player, but the Spurs are so disciplined and capitalize on every mistake, so the Hornets will have to come out and play nearly perfectly to put the Spurs away. It seems silly to suggest that the Hornets would crumble to the pressure now that they're home, but that's the way it is when a first-time playoff team faces a 4-time champion: until they're beaten, the champ gets all of the benefit of the doubt. So I'm going to let my bias show a little bit and pick the Spurs; even though I think the Hornets are a little better than the Spurs, I'll take the Spurs experience in the pressure of game 7. Above all, here's to a good game 7, Hornets fans! If my Spurs lose, I can think of many far-worse consolation prizes than getting to see Chris Paul work his magic for at least one more series.
#1
Spurs Fan
05/19/08 01:09 PM
John, I hope you are using reverse pshycology or just taking a page out of the Suns book by always saying that, but do you really believe it? Come on, player for player really? Paul is the best player on the court no doubt. Then there is West, but you have Duncan, the best PF to play the game, Parker and Ginobili. I think (hoping) experience comes to play, but we will see.
#2
ticktock6
05/19/08 01:10 PM
But... who would Bruce Springsteen root for? ;-) Way to be, John, btw. Great post.
hornetshype.com #3
Jon
05/19/08 01:28 PM
Go Spurs Go! Regardless of how the game goesit seems this will be the last night I'll have need to visit this blog. Peace!
#4
Jon
05/19/08 01:28 PM
Go Spurs Go! Regardless of how the game goesit seems this will be the last night I'll have need to visit this blog. Peace!
#5
John
05/19/08 01:42 PM
@Spurs Fan: Notice I said "at their best." That's taking into account the matchups in this particular series. As you've said, Chris Paul is the best player in this series. But the Timmy-David West matchup is a lot closer than you would think. If they were playing one-on-one, I'd take Timmy in a heartbeat, but in reality Tim has to take on Tyson Chandler and often a double team while at least a large percentage of the time West will be in single-coverage against Oberto or Thomas- and we've seen what he can do when he's at the top of his game (38pts, 10reb, 5blk or some such ridiculous numbers). As much respect as I have for Tim and everything he's accomplished, he's just not going to go off for 40 against Tyson Chandler and help. It doesn't mean I think David West will go off like that again, it's just that when the two teams are at their absolute best (and that includes when Peja is shooting lights out), I give the Hornets a slight edge player-for-player given what the matchups are. At least for me, there's no other way to justify why the Spurs would get continually crushed by the Hornets in New Orleans when we know the Spurs are usually such a good road team- since we know the Spurs aren't letting being on the road get to them, it has to be that the Hornets were just the better team in those three games. I meant what I said that I think the game will largely come down to how the Hornets react to the pressure of a game 7, and I mean that times a hundred for David West; I just don't understand how a guy can get 40 one night and then just 10 the next in the playoffs. Is he just a streaky player, which would mean he could be either way tonight, or is there actually something that gets to him about the pressure games (like being on the road and, I hope, facing elimination)? How is he going to react when the Spurs put together a 6-0 or 8-0 run tonight in the second half; is he going to keep his cool and stay focussed on turning the Spurs back, or is he going to start barking at the refs like he has when things haven't been going their way? We know what we'll get from the Spurs tonight, but we're going to learn a lot about what's between the ears for the Hornets tonight. Like I said, I like the Spurs' experience to close the gap in talent and matchups, but I'm certainly not exactly comfortable when I'm essentially saying "I think the Spurs need the other team to mess up in order to win." I really do think that Chris Paul could be that guy who, like Tim Duncan, just owns the Western Conference for a decade.
#6
John
05/19/08 01:51 PM
Just as a clarification to what I was trying to say in my (longwinded) post: I do think the Spurs will play better tonight than they have in their first three games in New Orleans; but the fact is that we're -19.5 per game in New Orleans, and you can't explain all of that away by saying that we just weren't on that night. Some of that is the Hornets legitimately being a stronger team. We'll close some of that gap by playing better, but to win I think we'll need some of New Orleans' inexperience to finally show as well. If it turns out that the Hornets really are as mature as they've looked all series (and all season)... well, lets just say I couldn't honestly tell my friends and family to put money on the Spurs tonight.
#7
Spurs Fan
05/19/08 01:59 PM
John, with what you just said, Tim will never get 40 because of the double team which is very true. Thats when Parker and Manu have to step up and make his points. Well the game is fixing to start and all of this won't matter in about 3 hrs. I just hope that basket doesn't shrink again in the second half. Go Spurs.
#8
Steve H
05/19/08 03:13 PM
Ely is completely worthless- and Bonzi is working his way steadily onto my shit list as well. AAARRRGGGHH
#9
LeoneL
05/19/08 03:29 PM
And the Hornets are up by 1 with 3:34 left in the first half.
sportcetera.blogspot.com/ #10
LeoneL
05/19/08 03:31 PM
Argh! Manu's three and Parker's layup gives the Spurs a four-point lead. Now this is a Game 7!
sportcetera.blogspot.com/ #11
MC Welk
05/19/08 03:35 PM
Chris Paul = Kevin Johnson
#12
Mark
05/19/08 03:42 PM
Either step up the rotation or stop doubling Tim Duncan. Geez. I've been saying this ever since he won: Coach Scott needs to do something other than rely on his point guard to earn Coach of the Year. Same ol' game, same ol' results. Let's play better the second half.
#13
Steve H
05/19/08 03:43 PM
I don't want to see either Pargo or Ely again this game. Wouldn't mind seeing JuJu get some burn as Ginobli's shadow in the second half- but please oh please- no more Ely or Pargo this game.
#14
Steve H
05/19/08 04:22 PM
I am absolutely stunned at how bad we are playing. Down 13 with 3:00 to go in the third. An it's not that the Spurs are playing that great- we are just stinking up the gym.
#15
Dejan
05/19/08 04:24 PM
.....
#16
Dejan
05/19/08 04:25 PM
im shocked
#17
Steve H
05/19/08 04:26 PM
Fuck it- I give up.
#18
Dejan
05/19/08 04:28 PM
whateveri just hope the lakers whip these dirt bags...
#19
Dejan
05/19/08 04:53 PM
cmonn one last chance
#20
John
05/19/08 04:53 PM
Um, yeah... no more Pargo please...
#21
ty
05/19/08 04:58 PM
pargo is way too full of himself a coach of the year would let him know this he's done well, but now he thinks he should be only one to handle the ball
#22
milo
05/19/08 05:01 PM
Pargo is fine. Peja is way over paid.
#23
krukow
05/19/08 05:09 PM
Hey, spurs fan here. Keep your heads up, you kids have one hell of a future. You will be back here, and next time you'll advance. Good series guys.
#24
joesph
05/19/08 05:11 PM
i guess thats it. but we had one hell of a season
#25
joesph
05/19/08 05:13 PM
its kind of hard to win also when wacky players like robert horry makes 3's. and one of the worst rebounders in the game in kurt thomas gets offensive rebounds
#26
Jon (Spurs fan)
05/19/08 05:15 PM
Just wanted to stop by and give the Hornets some props! That was helluva fight! They have a bright future. They just ran into the Dynasty of the Decade in the Spurs. No shame in that. I wonder if Hornets fans (after the sting of losing wears off) can actually gives some props to the Spurs? After watching their interviews, can yall see how classy they really are? Not one bad word said about yalls squad. Nothing but praise. And Manu, what kind of All Star is ok with coming off the bench or starting, whatever the team needs? That's rare. Don't believe everything you read in the media. Go Spurs Go! Another tough series awaits in the Lakers.
#27
awesomejohnson
05/19/08 05:17 PM
we shot like shit...i've never cared about basketball so much...i hope i don't have to get used to this losing feeling twice a year now...it was easy to not care about the hornets as much as the saints (whom i grew up watching)...but now i know all the hornets' names, numbers, colleges, strengths, weaknesses etc....this is the penultimate sickening feeling... oh well, how long before i'm on the sedrick ellis bandwagon??? i can't even fucking think right now...
#28
joesph
05/19/08 05:18 PM
spurs are the most boringest team in the league. and i wonder what kind of cheap shot robert horry will do on kobe bryant
#29
kal
05/19/08 05:25 PM
Next season. Right now i'm just upset/angry/in shock What happened to A) our 3 point shooting B) our bench C) a player to REALLY step it up and hit the big shots. Not existent = loss ::Frustrated::
#30
Spurs Fans
05/19/08 05:26 PM
Even with the hater comments, New Orleans has a great team and will be in this position for years to come if they can stay intact. Great site, Later.
#31
Juncti
05/19/08 05:29 PM
This team gave us all more than we imagined, so I thank them for that. Spurs just executed better, we still had our chances, but couldn't rise to the occasion. As to Spurs class, once a series is over of course, everyone is gentlemen, but while the fight is on, they can be a dirty bunch. What rubs everyone the wrong way is that they are dirty while screaming "who me?". Own up to it, you want to win, and you will fight for it. Nothing wrong with that. Like Horry, says he had no idea West had a bad back, come on. Everyone knew he had a bad back, it's all the reporters were talking about for days. Just come out and say I had a chance to get a good back screen, took it and that helped tweak a little soreness. Hell of a lot more respect if you own to it, it wasn't illegal, so why hide. Oh well, that said I'm rooting for spurs now, if we must lost, I'd rather lose to the eventual champs. We'll see the Spurs again, and I'd wager the result will be different next time.
#32
john
05/19/08 05:31 PM
Ok , first off congrats to the Hornets for a great season. I am proud of the way we played in the toughest conference probably EVER in the NBA. That being said, I am dissapointed in our coaching for waiting until the 3rd quarter to stop doubling Duncan. I(and many others) have been correctly saying throughout this series to stop doubling that whiner and giving dead eye shooters wide open 3pointers. Duncan's is a good offensive player not a great one, Tyson is a great defender, plus Duncan whines so much that they don't give him many calls. It's almost a no brainer. I was not upset at Pargo like many others will be. He almost singlehandedly got the Hornets back into it with his gutsy play. No one else was making anything, and he tried to step up for his team. Peja and DWest were cold as ice and I think CP3 was worn down. Its ashame that the best team lost, but u gotta hand it to the Spurs. They made enough shots and stops to win.
anytimeweather.com #33
awesomejohnson
05/20/08 04:45 AM
@juncti....my normal philosophy is to root for whoever eliminates you for that self-same reason...but i live in san antonio and it hurts to listen to the radio today and i gotta face coworkers tomorrow...so i'm completely detached...i honestly don't give a shit right now... "http://www.nola.com/saints" is about to become the most popular url in my browser lol... so do we want to talk about offseason moves for the hornets? or are we not there yet emotionally?
myspace.com/quindelljohnson #34