May 28, 2009 by editor.

We are finding out a lot about different players in these 2009 NBA playoffs—who is stepping up, who is taking it to the next level, who is going to be the next hero, and who is going to be the next goat?

One player that no one is talking about is Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics.  His absence has probably had the biggest impact on these playoffs, more so than any other player.

For Boston, the impact was devastating.  They went from being the favorite in the East to a middle to lower-tier playoff team.  That drop is significant because the Celtics have two other All-Stars on their roster, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

They struggled against the seventh seeded Chicago Bulls who were minus Luol Deng—arguably their most complete player—and they eventually succumbed to Orlando in a great series that went seven games.

KG makes everything the Celtics do come together on the court defensively as well as offensively.  He guards the basket on defense and allows everyone else to be aggressive because they know he is the last line of defense.

Garnett has a way of intimidating his opponents also, and gets into their heads.  He often has his counterpart beat before the game is done because they know he is intense, relentless, and willing to get in your face if necessary. 

Chicago continually went to the basket with no fear because of a lack of presence inside by the Celtics.  This isn’t an indictment of Kendrick Perkins, but he is just not the player that KG is.

Last season, we saw how Garnett totally frustrated Gasol of the Lakers and played a big role in controlling Kobe Bryant in the championship series.  Physically, the Laker front court was no match.

Over the course of his career, KG averages 11 rebounds per game.  That means less opportunities for the opposition to get second-chance points.  If it took Orlando seven games to beat Boston without Garnett, I can’t help but believe that the Magic wouldn’t have had a shot to win that series if KG was healthy.

Orlando would not have been able to double Pierce, and KG would have kept Dwight Howard occupied on both ends of the court. 

Boston runs a lot of their offense through Garnett because he is an excellent passer from the post and recognizes how and when to get rid of the ball when double-teamed. 

The Celtics struggled mightily in the playoffs because they didn’t have a low-post presence on offense.  KG would have been able to score in the low post, and set up his teammates for easier shots.

He can also step out and consistently hit the f15-foot jump shot, which would have brought Howard and any other centers defending him away from the basket.  KG is the ultimate team player that does everything for his team.

Unfortunately, many fans don’t realize his true worth untill he is not in the line-up.  The regular season is one thing, but you cannot make up for an MVP type player of KG’s ability, even if you have two other all-stars on the team.

If you look at the big picture, KG has had more of an effect on this series than anyone else.  The Lakers are considered by most to be the favorite, but when you see them get pushed around by teams that are more physical (Houston and Denver), I can’t help but think that Boston would have the advantage with a healthy team.

Orlando is on the cusp of making to the NBA finals because Garnett is hurt, and Cleveland is affected because they have had problems defending Orlando’s superior wingmen each time they have played in the regular season (and now in the playoffs).

KG is always close to the top of my list when it comes to MVPs because of what he does for his team, not just for where his team finishes.  He is not appreciated as he should be because he is not selfish and plays the game the way it should be played.

His imprint is all over these playoffs, even though he was sidelined.

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November 22, 2008 by editor.

In one day the New York Knicks managed to undo two of the major acquisitions from the Isiah Thomas era and stay on course to free up enough cap space to lure Lebron James and another all star caliber free agent.

Jamal Crawford went to Golden State for Al Harrington, and Zach Randolph went to the Clippers along with Mardy Collins for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley.  While this doesn’t make New York better now, Donnie Walsh is staying true to his master plan to resurrect this once proud franchise.  In order to do that he had to get rid of their highest salaried players that have contracts that run past 2010.

Many Knick fans will question this move because they are tired of the Knicks being one of the laughing stocks of the league, and they will have to endure at least one more year of losing.  One has to remember that New York has been mis-managed and in bad shape for so long that they needed a complete overhaul from the front office down.  That doesn’t happen over-night.

They brought in Walsh to run the show.  They brought in Mike D’Antoni, a high profile coach that has a track record of success, and they have a plan to not only make the Knicks competitive in the short run, but to make them perennial championship contenders.  The plan is bold, but it is well calculated and better than the hit and miss strategy of Isaiah Thomas. 

They hope to lure Lebron James to the Garden and make it his home and work on his legacy.  He has money and fame, but he doesn’t have championships and a legacy.  Resurecting the once proud Knickabocker franchise and bringing back the glory days in the city that never sleeps, the mecca of professional basketball, sounds better than languishing in Cleveland.  He doesn’t have enough help there and it is time for him to move on.

The beauty of this for New York is that there is a bumper crop of all stars that are free agents aside from James.  Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh,  Steve Nash, and Amare Stoudemire will be available to name a few.  Pairing James with Bosh and a good point guard and a supporting cast would ensure that you have a title contender for years to come.

Let’s say they don’t get James.  There are enough studs available where they can still sign more than one of them.  Keep in mind that the players know that they have a better chance at success if they are paired with another star, Ala the Boston Celtics, then they do if they go to a team by themselves.

Other teams are starting to model what Boston did in a bid to get in on free agent frenzy in 2010.  Chauncey Billups was traded for Allen Iverson to get Detroit more cap flexibility and other franchises are being very careful how they spend.   

The Knicks still have more work to do to completely wipe away the memory of the past regime.  They have to permanently sever ties with Stephon Marbury.  Many of the fans resent how Marbury has been treated, but D’Antoni as the coach has the right to play or sit whomever he choses, and it is obvious Starbury is not in the Knick’s future plans.  It is unfortunate that he is not playing, but they don’t owe him anything except his salary. 

They have to do what they feel is best for the team, and right now Marbury is basically an expiring contract.  The culture is changing in New York and for the better.  They weren’t going to contend for a championship with what they had anyway.

There is one more move that they need to make and it will be the toughest.  Moving Eddy Curry and his huge contract will take some doing because he is out of shape and not playing right now.  Getting  that done gives New York the opportunity to not only bring in James plus another all star, but they would be in a better position to re-sign David Lee and Nate Robinson.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Steve Nash takes a look at the Knicks if they snag James as well.  What better way to finish his career than to be in the system he is comfortable with along with his former coach, and in position to win a championship.

If things fall right for New York they could have three all stars playing for them in 2010.  Of course there is a chance none of this pans out, and the Knicks end up settling for second tier all stars, but it is worth the gamble.  The elite players in the league know that their best chance to win it all is to play with each other not against each other.  Boston did it, and now New York is in position to do it.

There are probably angry Knick fans because they want to win now and are tired of seeing an inferior product on the floor, especially since they have looked a lot better so far this year.  Be strong of heart.  This is not a step backward.  They had to be torn down so they can be built up the right way, and that takes time.  Don’t let impatience dim your vision.  The goal is a championship, not a decent team that gets the eighth spot in the playoffs.

I think they get Lebron, and if that happens others will follow.  The Cav’s will be in New York to play the Knicks on Tuesday.  Think Lebron will be asked a few questions?  Nah, this is just another game against another team in another city.

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June 29, 2008 by editor.

The Chicago Bulls need help at the General Manager position to turn their team’s future around.  They have been helped by the horrible management and judgement of the New York Knicks, but still can’t get over the hump.

The Chicago Bulls seemed poised to make the jump from a rebuilding team, to a perenial contender for the Eastern Conference championship after the 2004, and 2005 seasons as they made the playoffs two years in a row showcasing their young talent.

Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Chris Duhon were drafted, and along with Kirk Hinrich, made the fans and management believe they turned the corner and were ready to make the jump to the next level.  After a successful 2004-2005 season where they made the playoffs, John Paxon made a bold move that should have put the Bulls in a position to get everything they needed.

He traded Eddie Curry to the Knicks for Michael Sweetney, Tim Thomas, Jermaine Jackson, a first round pick  and two second round picks.  The net result of all of Paxon’s wheeling and dealing with the Knicks over the years was two first round picks where they could switch positions with New York.

With Chicago’s best players being perimeter players, this was their opportunity to upgrade their front line with a proven post up scorer and add a serious front line presence.  While the league laughed at the Knicks, the joke was on Chicago as they turned a plethora of draft picks and trades into a dysfunctional and confused team.

In the 2006 draft, Chicago drafted LaMarcus Aldridge which was a good move and filled a definite need, but they proceeded to trade him for Tyrus Thomas, who has no concrete offensive game and is a tween-er.  That move made no sense at all.

Chicago was one of the best defensive teams in the Eastern Conference, but they made another mistake in trading Tyson Chandler to the Hornets for   P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith.  Chandler may not have been a go to low post option but he guarded the basket and rebounded the ball very well.  Big mistake.

The worst mistake of all was violating my Jason Williams rule (former New Jersey Nets power forward who had no offense, but was a good defender).  They foolishly gave Ben Wallace a larger than life contract even though he was an offensive liability and couldn’t shoot free throws.  I know he was a great defender, rebounder, and played excelent team defence, but my rule is never, never, ever pay that kind of money to someone that offensively challenged.  I cringed when the news came out about the signing.

With their other first round pick they got from the Knicks they took Joakim Noah.  Another offensively challenged big man that couldn’t help them on the offensive end.  What Chicago should have been looking to do is package that pick, plus one of their perimeter players and trade for a power forward who could score (add players to make up dollar difference).

What they were stuck with this past year was an over-rated team with malcontents that didn’t fit well together.  Scott Skiles paid for that with his job, but Paxon was the one that caused it.  One last miscalculation for the Bulls.  With Kobe wanting a trade and Kevin Garnett on the table to be had, supposedly Chicago didn’t want to include Deng in  hefty package for either.  How can that happen?  How can you not trade Deng, and either Gordon/Hinrich, in addition to a pick, or another young player for Garnett or Kobe? 

They saw how Garnett helped Boston win a championship, but they were afraid to pull the trigger.  Now that they have Derrick Rose, here is what I would do.  They still need an inside presence, and veterans like Rasheed Wallace and Antonio McDyess may be available.  I would also call Houston and see if Yau Ming would be available.  He may not be, but you have to make the call.

Houston hasn’t gotten out of the first round with him, and he can’t seem to stay healthy for a whole season so I would at least inquire about him.  Carlos Boozer is someone else I would find out about.  Andres Nocioni, and Ben Gordon would be nice sign-and trade bait for the soon to be free agent power forward. 

Presently constructed, the Bulls don’t work.  Rose will make it a little better, but in order to contend they need a stud up front.  Deng won’t be enough.  Every on the team in my view would be considered expendable except for Rose.  Paxon balked at moving pieces that he should have moved to get star quality players.  I wouldn’t.  I wouldn’t play fantasy basketball like Isiah Thomas, but as long as I don’t compromise my defensive philosophy, I wouldn’t be afraid to upgrade my roster.

Are you listening Chicago?

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June 22, 2008 by editor.

When we talk about which sport has the best athletes, we have to define what it means to be a good athlete.  The ability to sustain speed, strength,  and agility simultaneously in competition, displaying the skill to excel at more than one sport. 

Jim Thorpe comes to mind when we talk about men in the sports arena that were head and shoulders above everyone else.  He won gold medals in the pentathlon, and decathlon in the 1912 Olympic games in Sweden, and played professional football and baseball. 

His accomplishments landed him on the 1911 and 1912 All American football teams.  Thorpe was considered the greatest athlete of his time.  Who are the greatest athletes of our time?  Every sport boasts good athletes, but which sport has the best?

For one, we can eliminate baseball players.  While there are some studs that are in the major leagues, you don’t necessarily have to be in top physical shape to play.  There are quite a few pitchers that are overweight and sport oversize midriffs, but it doesn’t inhibit their ability to throw or hit the baseball. 

This doesn’t mean that they aren’t considered athletes, it just means that a lack of fitness doesn’t preclude them from doing their jobs.  Add to that the fact their game is not very fast, and if you are not pitching, catching, or hitting you are basically waiting around for something to happen.  For the most part they would not be good candidates for other sports like basketball and football. 

Let’s compare football players and basketball players.  Football players have to be in excellent shape to play.  Lineman, linebackers, defensive backs, running backs, all have to be in tip top shape to compete.  Their combination of strength, agility, and speed that is necessary to excel is unparalleled. 

You have defensive lineman that are 250 plus pounds running down quarterbacks and running backs who are supposed to be faster.  The players on a whole are much faster than they were in the 70’s and 80’s, and it is not uncommon any more for receivers, backs, and defensive backs to post forty yard dash times of 4.3 and below.

It’s not just all about the speed.  Agility and quickness is evident at almost every position.  Many defensive lineman (especially defensive ends) over match their counterparts by being too quick off the edge, or shooting the gaps.  Offensive lineman may be the most un-athletic of the bunch, but the better ones are strong and quick, with good feet.

Bo Jackson and Deon Sanders come to mind.  Both excelled at football and played professional baseball.  Jackson stared with the Oakland Raiders and played baseball for the Kansas City Royals, and Sanders won super bowls with the 49ers and Dallas in the NFL, and played in a world series with the Atlanta Braves.  They were football players first, baseball players second.

You don’t see baseball players transitioning to football, but we have seen football players play baseball.  Many college football players have played on their school’s basketball teams as well.  Regardless of their size their athleticism translated over well to the hardwood. 

Charlie Ward of the Florida State Seminoles won a Heisman Trophy playing football, and was the starting point guard for their basketball team.  He elected to play professional basketball and was a serviceable point guard for New York.  His athleticism allowed him to choose between the two.

Outside linebackers may be the most athletic bunch of all, because they have to be strong enough to shed blockers and offensive lineman, fast enough to cover and run down backs and receivers, as well as quick and agile enough to get after the quarterback.

Looking at basketball players, their athleticism can’t be denied.  They have to have more body control than the other athletes in the major sports because so much of their time is spent in the air.  Having jumping ability is one thing, but being creative and agile while in the air is something totally different. 

We have become used to watching the exploits of Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Kobe Bryant, Dominique Wilkins, Julius Erving, and many others as they have defied gravity and done the unimaginable with no tera-firma to support them.  No other sport requires as much in-the-air time as basketball.

What makes them special is the fact that they are very vulnerable while in that position,  but have to focus on scoring, shooting, blocking a shot, and executing dunks.  From a strength standpoint there are quite a few players coming in the NBA now that are not physically mature due to their age.  You can get away with it if you are very talented (see Kevin Durant), but you can’t get away with it in the NFL.

Hakeem Olajuwon is a good example of a professional basketball player that was an exceptional athlete.  His nickname was the dream, because there was no one you could compare him to with his cat like quickness, assortment of low post moves, and rare physical ability.  At six feet and ten inches tall, he was constantly among the league leaders in steals, which was unheard of for a center.

Originally from Nigeria he excelled in soccer and played collegiately with Clyde Drexler at Houston (Phi Slama Jama).  Olajuwon didn’t play basketball until he was seventeen years old but loved it immediately and realized that was the sport for him.  He is generally regarded as one of the best to ever play his position.

Soccer professionals are good athletes, but we have not seen a professional soccer player cross over to another sport successfully.  You have to use your hands well when it comes to the major American sports, and soccer players don’t use their hands.

Hockey pros are known for their skating skill and speed on the ice, in addition to their fighting.  Their creative abilities on the ice are excellent, but don’t necessarily mean they are naturally athletic.  The primary abilities needed in hockey are not needed in other sports, so they really stand alone as a sport.

Raphael Nadel is probably the most athletic of all the tennis players, with all due respect to Roger Federer.  He shows his strength, speed and agility every time he plays, especially on clay.  The women’s game boasts some good athletes as well, but the percentage is not that high if you look at tennis players as a group. 

There are great athletes in all sports and we applaud them, but I believe football players for the most part are the best athletes in the world.  It is a close call, but our gridiron professionals exhibit all the necessary attributes to make that claim.  Their speed, strength and agility is demonstrated more on the football field then any other arena. 

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June 15, 2008 by editor.

As Boston looks to close out Los Angeles and add another NBA championship to their arsenal, it is not hard to figure out why the Lakers are having a hard time deciphering the Celtics.

For starters, it’s Kobe versus Boston’s whole team.  No one has stepped up to be that consistent number two threat to take some of the heat off of Kobe.  Pau Gasol was supposed to be that guy, but he is having problems scoring one on one versus Perkins and Garnett.

Lamar Odom hasn’t been a consistent second scoring option either.  That leaves it squarely on the shoulders of Kobe to not only take over the game when necessary, but to create good scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Sasha Vujacic has provided a spark at times, but against the longer, athletic Celtics, he has been inconsistent. 

Boston hasn’t had that problem.  They know if Paul Pierce is struggling they can look to Garnett and Ray Allen to carry the load.  They play with a confidence that sooner or latter, at least one of them will get hot and spark the team.

The Lakers much publicized bench has been marginalized by the Celtics bench and physical play.  We forget that James Posey and Sam Cassell have championship resume’s and are used to pressure situations.  P.J. Brown and Leon Powe’s physical play and rebounding have made Ronnie Turiaf a non factor.

Jordan Farmar has not been able to provide a consistent spark like he did in the regular season as well.  Boston’s transition defense has forced the Laker second unit to play a lot of half court offense, and they have not thrived.

Boston has just been tougher than Los Angeles also.  They are the ones willing to mix it up and put a body on someone in the paint.  The Laker bigs are not matching them, and I don’t think they can.  

Los Angeles only chance is to run and get easy baskets as opposed to standing around on offense and waiting for someone to make a move.  They need to push the tempo on every Celtic miss, but too many times they have been tentative.

Bottom line: Boston is a better team and too tough a match-up for this Laker team.  My last word on this is my original prediction.  Boston in six. 

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June 7, 2008 by editor.

San Antonio can take away something from the series between the Lakers and the Celtics, and prepare themselves for the new order of elite teams in the NBA.  The sting of being eliminated in five games by Los Angeles is still fresh, but that should give their organization the impetus to make the necessary changes to stay close to the top.

It was evident that even a defensive minded Spurs team couldn’t slow down the quicker, faster, and longer Laker team.  One of the things that San Antonio needs to consider is the over-all athleticism of their players. 

In game one it was clear that Boston’s combination of physical play and athleticism on defense bothered Los Angeles.  Kevin Garnett starts at power forward and is excellent at guarding the basket, and Kendrick Perkins at center cleans up everything left behind by KG.  Paul Pierce is an above average defender and a good rebounder at the small forward position, and up until this year’s playoffs, was one of the more underrated stars in the NBA.

Fabricio Oberto is serviceable, but he is not athletic enough to adequately defend the David West’s and KG’s of the world.  Unless he is matched up against other plodding power forwards he will not be effective.

Tim Duncan needs another David Robinson type player next to him so he can be at the power forward position and not have to defend the basket by himself.  The Spurs have gotten away this, but since the landscape has changed in the NBA, Duncan will need more help on the inside (someone with size and athleticism).

Kurt Thomas is a crafty veteran, but again is at a disadvantage against forwards like KG and Lamar Odom.  At the small forward position, Michael Finley can shoot, but is not the greatest one on one defender to say the least, and really doesn’t rebound.  Manu Ginobili is good on the defensive end, but because of his size, he can be marginalized by posting him up, like Los Angeles did.

Bruce Bowen is their best perimeter defender, but he can be a liability on offense.  San Antonio excels at playing team defense while relying on Bowen to neutralize the other team’s star player.  That works fine, except when your opponent is athletic and has size.

In game one, the Lakers were not as accurate shooting over the Celtics out stretched arms as they were against the Spurs.  Boston closed out on the shooters well, and their sagging defense as a team shut down the paint.  When Kobe looked to pass when double teamed, the Celtics were able to force some turnovers because of their size and quickness. 

Boston needs to improve their defense against the pick and roll as they at times played like they never saw one before, but on the whole they shut down Los Angeles.  The most telling stat was the way the Celtics man handled the Lakers on the boards 46-33. 

Too many of the Spurs parts proved to be one dimensional.  They need and infusion of six foot eight to six foot ten players around their core group that are effective on both ends of the court.  When I say that I mean players that are able to score within the system, defend, and rebound. 

San Antonio has too many problems scoring points when either Duncan and Parker are not in the game, and that was evident against the Lakers and Hornets.  They beat New Orleans because of their experience and the fact that the young Hornet’s had never been on this stage before.

Changes are needed for the Spurs to get back to winning championships.  Not to the core, just to their supporting cast.  If all else fails maybe they can convince David Robinson to come out of retirement.

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May 26, 2008 by editor.

Home sweet home.  That is what San Antonio must have been thinking when got back to Texas after game two.  They played inspired basketball and drubbed the Lakers 103-84 in game three of their seven game series.  Manu Ginobili led the charge with 30 points, including a barrage of three pointers.

He has become the central figure on the Spurs because they can’t seem to win when he doesn’t play well.  San Antonio’s big three all had good games and their defense got back on track as well.  Tim Duncan had a monster game with 22 points and 21 rebounds, and once again out-played Pau Gasol.

With the Spurs trailing early, it was Ginobili who hit a couple of three’s to keep San Antonio close and change the momentum.  Kobe Bryant was his usual spectacular self, especially late when he tried to single-handedly bring the Lakers back, but it was too little too late.

San Antonio executed their game plan on defense as they kept Kobe off the foul line and made the league MVP work for his 30 points (23 shots).  The Spurs kept him from being a facilitator and held him to one assist, and made the other Lakers work hard for their shots.

Lamar Odom struggled for L.A., and he never got on track.  He was 3-8 from the foul line and 2-11 from the field.  San Antonio knows that Kobe cannot win the series by himself, so it is imperative that they shut down Odom and take him out of the equation.  The Spurs really don’t have anyone with Odom’s size and skill level that can effectively guard him one on one and keep him off the boards, so it will have to be a team effort.

Kurt Thomas has the experience to deal with him on his post-ups, but would struggle from the perimeter.  I liked the fact that Brent Barry got significant minutes and hit a couple of three pointers.  It is important that San Antonio have shooters on the floor at all times so that the Lakers pay when they decide to double Duncan.

The Spurs entire bench was energized, as they rebounded and defended well and kept Los Angeles at bay. 

Chances are we know that Duncan will dominate his match-up, and if Parker is aggressive then he will be effective, but the Spurs are in big trouble if Ginobili doesn’t show up.  He was their leading scorer during the year and he has to contribute for the Spurs to beat a very good Laker team.

He doesn’t have to score 30 every game, but he has to show up.  He showed up in a big way in game three.  Let’s hope this is a for-shadowing of things to come for the Spurs.

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May 21, 2008 by editor.

The San Antonio Spurs dispatched Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets 91-82 to advance to the conference finals against Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.  The game seven win was significant for a number of reasons.

It was a road win, which the Spurs previously were unable to do.  All of the games in New Orleans were blow-outs, and San Antonio looked old and confused in those games.  Their detractors doubted whether they had enough in the tank to throttle the younger and more energetic Hornets.

San Antonio didn’t shoot well either in those road games and struggled to score, while New Orleans thrived in the second halves of the contests in their building.  They played like the team that was confident they would win.  We must not forget that winning on the road has been a rare commodity in these playoffs, so it is understandable that the pun-dents doubted the Spurs could get it done.

What happened to the Hornets in game seven is what happens to a lot of upstart teams when they realize they are on the cusp of doing something special, and have never been that way before.  They played scared, and panicked when San Antonio delivered the first hard shot.

In the first half, the Spurs, led by Manu Ginobili, were on fire shooting from the outside, and from three point land.  They took a nine point lead into half-time, and early in the second half found themselves down seventeen points.  The Hornet’s response was to rush shots, forget to run their half court sets on offense, and become completely unglued.

They wilted under the poised pressure the Spurs put on them, and they forgot that they were down at the half before and went on to win handily.  This is what happens to young teams in this position, and this is just part of the progression that New Orleans has to go through to get to the next level. 

Now they know how it feels, and mentally they won’t shrink in those situations in the future, and instead, use this as a springboard.  When you really look at this, what happened in this game was really predictable.

What was surprising to me was the fact that Jannero Pargo stepped up and took over the game for the Hornets in the fourth quarter and didn’t play afraid.  I would have thought that Chris Paul would have played that role but he actually deferred to Pargo.

In the end, the Spurs knew how to win, and wanted it more that the Hornets.  Under pressure they were the better team, and in this type of pressurized environment, poise and experience will win you some games.  I can’t help but think that the Lakers were secretly hoping that the Hornets would win.

San Antonio matches up very well with them, and they know the Spurs will not fold.  Spurs in six, and say good bye to that Celtics-Lakers match-up the media has been dreaming about.

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May 10, 2008 by editor.

The defending NBA champions finally showed why they will be a tough out in this years playoffs.  They beat Chris Paul and the Hornets 110-99 and avoided being down three games to none, which in effect would have ended the series.

Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili each had 31 points, and San Antonio played with an energy and passion that was missing in the first two games.  Tim Duncan chipped in with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Parker and Ginobili were finally able to attack the rim off the dribble and they kept New Orleans off balance for most of the game.  This was the big difference from the previous two games.  New Orleans looked a little confused at times as to their defensive assignments as the Spurs eclipsed the 100 point mark for the first time in the series.

Chris Paul did a lot of damage (35 points and 9 assists) as well as David West, (23 points and 12 rebounds), but this game belonged to San Antonio.  The Spurs stirred the pot a little and started Ginobili instead of bringing him in off the bench. 

He gave the Spurs the spark they needed to hold off New Orleans in the fourth quarter with a couple of threes early.  Another key to winning this game was their ability to prevent Peja Stojakovic from from being a major contributor.  They held him to seven points on 2-7 shooting.  Peja burned them in the first two games, but San Antonio was more focused defensively and didn’t give him many looks.

San Antonio showed the resolve and determination of a champion with their backs to the wall.  The big question is how will New Orleans respond?  The Spurs are hoping that they start doubting themselves and lose some of their confidence.

I can see that happening if San Antonio plays with the same resolve in game four.  Byron Scott will have to figure out a way to keep Parker and Ginobili in check if they want to take back the momentum. 

San Antonio still needs to hold serve and even the series up.  One good effort will not get them to the next round.  We will find out which one of these teams want to get to the next level more.  We know the Spurs are champions, but just how bad does New Orleans want it? 

San Antonio can’t do much with Chris Paul, but they can limit the damage the rest of the Hornets inflict.  That is their recipe for success.  The first game Peja doesn’t go for at least 20, the Hornets lose.  Defense, not offense, will be the key to the Spurs getting to the next round. 

The Hornets believe they are the next big thing, but as the saying goes, to be the champs, you have to beat the champs.

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May 7, 2008 by editor.

The New Orleans Hornets followed a familiar script as they won game two going away 102-84 over San Antonio.  Once again, the Spurs had a lead going into half-time, only to find themselves out worked and out-played in the second half.

Chris Paul ran circles around San Antonio in the second half and finished with 30 points and 12 assists.  The Hornets played with more energy than the Spurs, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

It is clear that the Hornet’s length and athleticism is bothering the Spurs.  Whether it is Julian Wright, Morris Peterson, or Bonzi Wells, they will not let Ginobili turn the corner going left, which is his signature move.  Tony Parker can’t get to the rim either.  He gets doubled as soon as he begins to make a move to the basket. 

When they try to pass out of the double teams, New Orleans is quick to recover and contest shots.  They have the Spurs thinking to much on offense instead of being creative and instinctive.

San Antonio has been uncharacteristically sloppy on defense.  Time and time again Peja Stojakovic (25 points, 5-7 on threes) found himself open for three point shots.  You would figure that the Spurs would be in good shape with David West going 2-11 with 10 points, but that was not the case.

Stojakovic has been their most steady scorer so far in this series, and you would think that he would be the most easy to defend.  That brings us back to Chris Paul.  He is so dangerous as a passer, scorer, and floor general that he forces teams to commit more than one defender to keep him in check. 

When you do, he beats you by setting up his teammates.  If you play him strictly man to man, he will be a scorer and get you in foul trouble.  Paul is also at his best in the open floor, and he can beat you in so many ways.

Going into game three, San Antonio’s game plan should be clear.  They have to get out on the break and run so they can get more fast break points.  Popovich must put his shooters on the floor at the same time if the Hornets continue to pack it in and keep Parker and Ginobili out of the lane, even if it means giving Brent Barry more minutes.  He can make the Hornets pay for leaving him alone.

Michael Finley needs to give the Spurs more than four points.  He has got to be part of the solution shooting from the perimeter.  In the half court, Duncan must score, or at least find cutters going to the basket.  They have got to get more aggressive and creative at getting to the rim in their half court sets.

On defense if you shut Stojakovic down, you are in both of those games.  We will find out if the Spurs can hold serve at home.  All of a sudden, all those years are showing up on San Antonio.

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