We look at the rematch from ten days ago and point out some keys for a Hornets victory.
Just ten days ago the Hornets lost a heartbreaker to San Antonio at home, as Tim Duncan had his best game of the season and capped it off with an ugly hook in the final seconds to give the Spurs a 104-102 win. What’s scary for the Hornets is that the Spurs are a much more dangerous team at home, as they have gone 11-1 at the AT&T Center this season (compared to 3-8 on the road). If the Hornets are going to win their fifth game of the season tonight, they are going to have to compete for all 48 minutes. These last few games, they have only seemed capable of giving 24.
Keys to the Game:
1. Keep Tony Parker out of the lane
Easier said than done, I know, but possible nonetheless. The Spurs will continue to run pick and roll after pick and roll, so the Hornets will have to pick their poison. Last time these teams met, the Hornets hedged or tried to trap Parker on a lot of those pick and rolls, and the result was a season-high 17 assists for Parker. Why not just go under the pick instead? Make Parker beat you with the 18 footer all night, and stop the San Antonio bigs from getting easy buckets.
2. Dominate the boards
The Hornets did this in the last meeting, outrebounding the Spurs 40-27 overall and 11-4 on the offensive glass. The Hornets have younger and more athletic front line players and can use that to hold the Spurs to one shot per posession, while getting multiple shots themselves. The Spurs are a far more efficient offesnive team, so the Hornets simply have to match quality with quantity if they are going to win this game.
3. Protect the three-point line
The Spurs shoot well at home, about 41% from deep (compared to 36% on the road). Richard Jefferson and Matt Bonner, specifically, really see their numbers go up and Gary Neal is starting to heat up as well. None of those guys I just mentioned can beat you off the dribble or create their own shot, so defenders can not be afraid to be aggressive in their close outs. If they pump fake, and get around their guy, the help defenders must be disciplined as well. Don’t leave Matt Bonner open behind the arc to prevent Gary Neal from taking an open 14 footer. This sounds like common sense, but watch any Spurs game and you will be shocked by some of the decisions defenders make.
10 responses to “Game On: Hornets @ Spurs”
eric gordon is asking fans on twitter what the keys to victory tonight are…maybe he should just check out this site
Greivis Vasquez will start?
Vasquez will start tonight..jacks out with a sore knee..squeaky to come off the bench..let’s see what Vasquez got tonight starting at the point
Greivis is starter #11 on the season for the Hornets
The General looks good early on.
vasquez startin eh…lookin good early though…hornets can win this, im not impressed by the spurs
i like ariza on parker too
you know a lineup of grievis,gordon,ariza,smith, and okafor…and jack,xavier/marco,aminu,landry, ayon as our bench isnt half bad…jack could jus look to score has a super sub off the bench
Dear Mr. and/or Mrs. future Hornets owner please help this team !!!!!!!!
The Hornets is like having to go to the mental hospital for shock treatment and still comeback more insane than you came in.