Can I get a bounce back?
The Hornets will try to move along quickly from their loss to the lowly Warriors in New Orleans last night when they take on those old familiar Spurs in San Antonio at 7:30pm Central.
The Spurs are 31-14 on the season, 17-7 at home and winners of 6 of their last 7. They just got done beating Utah and Phoenix on the road this week. Pop will likely roll with a first five of Parker, Mason, Finley, Duncan and Bonner. Ginobili came off the bench for 30 against the Suns on Thursday.
No usual preview from Ryan today so I'll do my best impression:
Off Efficiency: Spurs 108.3 (12th), Hornets 109.8 (7th)
Def Efficiency: Spurs 104.9 (5th), Hornets 105.9 (11th)
That's all I got.
50 masterful comments post your own
Mikey
01/31/09 04:38 PM
Mad props to Dariusz for the banner. That is really something special.
#1
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 07:41 PM
Looks like Bonner isn't starting after all. Kurt Thomas gets the nod. Pop must have read my prediction and decided to mess with me. Last time I put plastic wrap over his toilet bowl.
www.ndoherty.com #2
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 07:48 PM
Nice start. We're pushing the ball well and getting some easy buckets, but the fast pace might come back to haunt us since we're on a segababa.
www.ndoherty.com #3
Dejan16
01/31/09 07:58 PM
its going to be a long night....
#4
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 07:59 PM
Wow, that turned around fast. Offensive fouls killing us, and we bit on a few fakes that gave the Spurs easy buckets. They're moving the ball real well now, too.
www.ndoherty.com #5
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 08:07 PM
We did well to get back within 6 at the end of the first. Giving up 28 won't cut it though. 8 points for Parker already, all layups of course.
We were up 12-6 before Manu came into the game. Then we trail 22-28 seven minutes later.
www.ndoherty.com #6
Dejan16
01/31/09 08:11 PM
what are we doing on defence ****, stay on finley !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#7
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 08:12 PM
Man, they are schooling us with ball movement and open looks. Finley 5-5 from three. Eat your heart out, Peja.
Down 11 now. Nice block by Marks, but he made up for it with a travel seconds later.
www.ndoherty.com #8
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 08:16 PM
Nice plays by Devin Brown. He's made some smart moves the last few trips.
www.ndoherty.com #9
Dejan16
01/31/09 08:20 PM
devin is keeping us in this game right now..
#10
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 08:27 PM
Hmm, Devin might have been on the floor a little too long. Team getting sloppy now.
www.ndoherty.com #11
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 08:32 PM
How can Manu be lying on his back, ball in his hands, then get up, still with the ball in his hands, and not be called for a travel?
www.ndoherty.com #12
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 08:34 PM
@ Niall: I think Posey got the technical for arguing that.
www.ndoherty.com #13
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 08:37 PM
Down 50-42 at the break, but I'm okay with the way this game is going. The Spurs didn't do much wrong, shot the lights out from downtown and didn't have to worry about CP for most of the second quarter, yet we're still within striking distance.
If David West can get his jumper working again, we should be fine in the second half.
www.ndoherty.com #14
JChangNZ
01/31/09 08:37 PM
@Niall
That's what I thought too. Apparently it's not a violation in the NBA but the rule exists for FIBA. I had a look through the NBA website..maybe I missed it?
Here it is:
http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_10.html?nav=ArticleList
#15
Mark
01/31/09 08:41 PM
I could've sworn that's a travel, no matter what league, what age.
www.dogpile.com/ #16
Dejan16
01/31/09 08:43 PM
that was a travel for sure....
#17
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 08:43 PM
@ JChangNZ: Thanks for the link. This part implies that what Ginobili did was a travel, since both his feet left the floor:
Section XIV-Traveling
g. If a player, with the ball in his possession, raises his pivot foot off the floor, he must pass or shoot before his pivot foot returns to the floor.
www.ndoherty.com #18
Mark
01/31/09 08:44 PM
I wonder if you can roll around on the floor with the ball. Ginobili and Wade seem to do that alot.
www.dogpile.com/ #19
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 08:45 PM
Ha. CST did a Hornets Super Bowl predictions bit at halftime. Hilton deadpans that the Oilers will win, 61-19. And it looked like a balled up piece of paper bounced of JuJu's head just as they cut to him. Poor guy is still getting the rookie treatment.
www.ndoherty.com #20
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 08:48 PM
Just so I don't sound like a homer complaining about the officiating, I have to disagree with Bob and Gil about Hilton's offensive foul in the first quarter. To me it was a good call because Hilton set the pick, then turned into Parker and ran over him. It was like Hilton was boxing out TP only facing him.
And Gil's explanation of Kurt Thomas' illegal pick was wrong, too: "You can't set a pick on an offensive player who is moving. The offensive player has to be standing still."
www.ndoherty.com #21
JChangNZ
01/31/09 08:59 PM
We need to calm down
#22
ticktock6
01/31/09 09:00 PM
"18,000 paying officials."
Monkeys... Shakespeare... I guess if Gil talks long enough, he'll eventually say something funny.
hornetshype.com #23
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:00 PM
Parker's been a handful. I really wish our guys would stop arguing with the officials. Spurs quietly extending this lead, could be a blowout before we know it, especially with Manu coming back in.
www.ndoherty.com #24
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:08 PM
15p game. Spurs making big plays. Ginobili on Armstrong was nasty.
Keep an eye on Peja when he's on offense. The Spurs are shadowing him off the ball, discouraging the pass. Then they seem to get right up on him when he has the ball, not giving him space to get up a shot.
www.ndoherty.com #25
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:12 PM
Byron Scott should fine our guys when they get a technical for arguing calls. That's just not smart. Three techs for us in this game.
www.ndoherty.com #26
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:17 PM
Chris Paul imposing his will at the end of that quarter. Looks like he really really doesn't want to lose this one. I can see it ending one of two ways; either CP goes supernova and destroys the Spurs in the fourth, leading us to a win, or he gets frustrated trying in vain and gets ejected.
www.ndoherty.com #27
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:23 PM
Okay, Paul is achieving a new level of sickness with these three-pointers. That last one defied the laws of the universe.
We just need someone else to step up and help him. Still down 7.
www.ndoherty.com #28
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:31 PM
Down 12 with 4:22 left. Taking out Chris Paul hurt us, but I guess it had to be done. Spurs shooting the lights out. Looked like Byron Scott got caught muttering out the F word on the sideline after Parker hit a J.
Spurs have six guys in double figures.
www.ndoherty.com #29
Mark
01/31/09 09:33 PM
I can only listen to the game, but I'm still going to blame coach Scott.
One of these days when I can watch a game, I'm going to refrain from watching CP's greatness and instead focus on the coaching.
www.dogpile.com/ #30
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:40 PM
Okay, we're down 15 with 1:41 left. Let's empty the bench Byron.
www.ndoherty.com #31
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:41 PM
Thank you.
www.ndoherty.com #32
Mark
01/31/09 09:41 PM
I heard (via Spurs commentators): 'Paul, alley-oop!... Armstrong out of bounds.' Does that pretty much summarize this game?
No double-double for Paul.
www.dogpile.com/ #33
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:43 PM
@ IHBH: It looked like the officials messed up that call actually. Should have been off the Spurs out of bounds.
www.ndoherty.com #34
Mark
01/31/09 09:45 PM
Heh. It just sounded really pertinent. Paul creating space, getting the pass up, then one of our teammates not really paying attention and TO.
Sigh. Looking forward to the recap to see what we did wrong. Besides lose, that is.
www.dogpile.com/ #35
Andrea
01/31/09 09:46 PM
Being -8 after the first quarter hurt us. Scoring in the second was even, we were -1 in the third and -4 in the fourth. Last night's loss combined with this one is sickening. My night here is done. I'll be fine in the morning.
#36
Caleb462
01/31/09 09:46 PM
"Taking out Chris Paul hurt us, but I guess it had to be done."\
Why? He got extended rest in the 2nd quarter... and we all know Paul is a guy who doesn't need and/or want a whole lot of rest anyway. I can't think of a single other coach who would pull his superstar player right in the middle of a fantastic hot streak which is helping his team fight back into the game. That was unexplainable.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #37
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:48 PM
The Spurs were just better than us tonight. Chris Paul gave it his best shot, West is still working his way back into form, Peja was locked up in the first half and forgotten about in the second. Parker and Ginobili got in the lane whenever they wanted. We missed Tyson there. 54.5% FGs, 9-18 3FGs, 13-15 FTs for the Spurs. We only attempted 11 free throws. We had the edge on the boards, 41-31. Spurs had 26 assists to our 10, 10 turnovers to our 14.
www.ndoherty.com #38
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:50 PM
@ Caleb: Good point about CP's second quarter rest. I'm guessing he might have asked for a breather in the fourth though. Usually he'll tell Byron he's okay to stay in the game even if his minutes are high.
www.ndoherty.com #39
Caleb462
01/31/09 09:51 PM
Agreed that we were completely outplayed. And if CP3 had been kept in the game... odds are we still wouldn't have won, but it was still a monumentally dumb decision to do that... I don't understand it.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #40
Caleb462
01/31/09 09:53 PM
Maybe. If that's the case... then okay, I withdraw all the ranting I just did over at At The Hive. But that's not CP3's style... so I kinda doubt it.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #41
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:53 PM
Chris Paul's turnovers tracking back through the last eight games: 4, 6, 5, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5. Has he just been sloppy, or are we asking him to do too much?
www.ndoherty.com #42
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 09:54 PM
@ Caleb: Like I said, I'm just guessing. You could be right.
www.ndoherty.com #43
Caleb462
01/31/09 09:55 PM
I'd pin it on the injury situation. He's had to do even more than usual... and his usual is already a ton. Should level out ultimately...
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #44
emir
01/31/09 09:58 PM
d west took 21 shots and made 8
peja took 6 shots made 2
seriously he is just coming back from injury why does he get so many shots right away
#45
Caleb462
01/31/09 10:01 PM
Agreed emir... Peja seemed to be completely left out of the offense
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #46
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 10:07 PM
@ emir: It's easier to get West shots because he can post up, call for and catch the ball easily, then work his man one-on-one. Or he can get open by rolling/fading off the pick and roll with CP. It's tougher to get Peja shots because you have to rely on the defense sagging off him on the three-point line, or for the help to be slow when he manages to go by his man.
I think Peja could be used much more effectively by a different coach, but I can't criticize too much tonight because the Spurs (Michael Finley in particular) did a really good job sticking to Peja in the first half. Roger Mason was guarding him for a stretch in the second half and he was sagging off. That would have been a good time to try get Peja going but it seemed like his teammates had already given up on him by then.
You could make the argument that we could get the ball to Peja easily by post him up more, but I'd rather have D-West catching down there. He's usually more of a threat from that spot.
www.ndoherty.com #47
Niall Doherty
01/31/09 10:09 PM
Alright, I'm done for the night. Ryan's got the recap coming for this one. I'll leave the Parker/Paul header up for a little longer just because it's so damn cool.
Now, should I go get me some drinks or go to bed early so I can be up to cheer on the marathoners tomorrow morning?
www.ndoherty.com #48
Apple
02/01/09 01:53 AM
Wonderful banner, Dariusz!
Wonderful game! Right?
Wrong!!!! (sigh)
appleita.blogspot.com/ #49
Niall Doherty
02/01/09 08:18 AM
Just in case anyone wants to see that banner in future, here's the link:
http://www.hornets247.com/stylesheets/images/themes/20090131-1700-hornets-spurs.jpg
www.ndoherty.com #50