The forgotten contenders host the Hornets tonight in San Antonio, trying to push their winning streak to 10 and keep the pressure on the Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference.
I find it pretty ridiculous that still no one talks about the Spurs. The plaudits for the Thunder come fast and furious. Lakers, Heat, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Memphis – these teams get features and articles and commentary.
The Spurs? They are playing with a limited Tim Duncan, have missed Ginobili for most of the season, traded away their starting SF for Stephen “Radioactive” Jackson, sent away George Hill in the off-season. And guess what? They have the same number of losses as the Thunder, whom everyone have annointed as a lock for the Western Conference 1st seed and playoff champion.
Don’t sleep on the Spurs, my friends. So how do the Hornets, armed with “Deadeye” Gordon stop the streaking Spurs? My keys to victory:
- Rotate defensively with alacrity. The Hornets offense allows the third most three point attempts in the league. They also defend those shots extremely well, with opponents posting the 2nd worst three point percentage against the Hornets. However, San Antonio shoots prolifically from three and converts them better than any other team in the league. The Hornets will have to be focused and sharp on their rotations to keep this from getting ugly. If they pull it off, this could work in the Hornets favor.
- Free throws. The Spurs own a major advantage night in and night: They are the stingiest team in the league at giving away free throws while drawing an average number themselves. They are, however, one of the worst teams at making free throws. If NO can hit their free throws, the advantage in numbers is negated.
- Protect the ball at all costs. The Spurs are the second best team at protecting the ball in the league, but also are the third worst at forcing turnovers. If the Spurs aren’t going to help you out, then you have to make sure you aren’t coughing up the ball and helping them out.
Enjoy the game!
15 responses to “Game On: Hornets @ Spurs”
I think this year Spurs are really dangerous. You have the prefect mix of veteran guys with young blood, but mostly everybodies playing well and unified.
Honestly I like the pick up of Jackson for them.
I can’t see us winning tonight. Who slows down Parker?
Let’s lose! Yay!!
If I were a Spurs fan I’d be extremely P/O with the national media. I mean, an organisation with as many championships as they have, and doing as well as they are right now, you’d think they’d be getting more praise than the Thunder.
But image and brand sells, and the media are whores to a good story, like the Thunder and their young, up-start roster. I guess at one time the Hornets were that and the national media did give us our props.
But San Antonio took that away in an instant. I wouldn’t be surprised if they did the same to the Thunder and send them into a disarray that no other organisation could recover from.
Lessons learned from past make good teachings for the future.
The real question is if Gordon will make it 2 in a row, a feat never before achieved in the Creole Blue.
The undiscovered country, the life after the seeming death. What shall we see?
To teabag Duncan or not to teabag Duncan, that is the question.
Yeah, and assuming he does play, how long and how well he plays? (If he plays 25+ minutes at least as well as against Denver, then people will wonder if he could have been ready earlier but was held out to guarantee at least a 3rd worst finish.)
Safety first?
Anyone see the NBA ticker that says he has a knee contusion?
Several people here say they have and provide a link I can’t see. Thread starter has a small histoey, but drama-free and a good attitude.
http://www.hornetsreport.com/HRForums/showthread.php?69375-Eric-Gordon-doubtful
in defense of no one talking about the spurs…they were the number 1 seed last year and were bounced by the grizzlies in the first round..i dont see them as a threat or OKC or even the lakers….but maybe because i’m not a huge fan of them haha
a threat to*
I don’t think the Spurs and their fans want the national media attention. When’s the last time San Antonio, the city, was the subject of national attention like LA or New York? Besides, being under the radar while everyone focused on loud superstars has gotten them 4 titles so far. Popovich doesn’t go to ESPN and talk about how they’re being “disrespected” like some other coaches do for their teams, and you never see their players doing that. It’s the way they like it, and the result is that unless Tony Parker is nailing his teammates’ wives, they have no distractions. It’s a great way to go through life
Dare we hope that Golden State or Toronto can catch the Twolves?
Dude EG10 is one bad mamba jamba. Has all the makings of a top 15 player.
would a trade that includes okafor and another player(either ariza or jack) possibly get the hornets another top draft pick to get some talent to this team. hustling and heart only goes so far, trade those players and get davis, robinson or sullinger, then with the obtained hopeful top pick get drummond, and then with the minnesota pick get kendall marshall.
PG-Marshall/vasquez
SG- Gordon/belinelli
SF-Aminu/henry
PF-(one of the PF’s that we draft)/landry/ayon
C-drummond/smith
there is talent in that roster if that happens.
I don’t know why people keep assuming we can trade Okafor’s crap contract + any other player not named Gordon and end up with a top 10-15 pick.
Im hoping, i highly doubt but its hope at this point in time, what realistically could happen is that the hornets are stuck with him until his contract runs out.
I think we should should try and get Kemba Walker from Charlotte, maybe trade our Minnesota pick and Aminu to Charlotte?
Starting lineup next year:
PG: Walker
SG:Gordon
SF: Ariza
PF: Robinson
C: Okafor
if you get lucky and land Davis you have a contender