Second Round: Hornets vs Spurs

2. Hornets (56-26) vs 3.Spurs (55-27)
Regular Season Series: TIED 2-2
Point Differencial: NOH +7.0

The new pups against the old savyy dog. Despite the age and experience diference this are two teams relatively similar. Their are lead by their point guards, they have great power forwards and a deep bench. Naturally each of these matchups are going to be key in this series.

Even though considering the fact that Phoenix never put much defensive resistente, both Duncan and Parker were unstoppable against them and they look as hungry and they have look in years. They executed the pick and roll prefectly and Parker was hitting the jump shot becoming unguardable for the Suns. Finley, Oberto and Ginobili had their moments but they were pretty unregular. They need more from them. They need a lot more from Ginobili. Lots of experts predicted that San Antonio were going to win the last series thanks to the Ginobili factor but he was held in check (by his standards) and the Spurs still won the series but this is a thougher more solid team and Manu needs to prove right here right now that he can be as clutch and valueable (hint) as a Kobe or a Paul. The athleticism of New Orleans front court could put Duncan and Thomas in foul trouble so their bench needs to play good and play smart.


This Hornets are a treat to watch. Paul plays with a passion that is very rare to see in such a young player and they are highly efficent. They can drain the three like free throws (.389%, 3rd in the league) and their offensive rating is 5th in league. Their defensive numbers are good (7th in the league in defensive rating) because they control the tempo of the game and the although they can run, they prefer to run the pick and roll and find open shooters in half court schemes. They are young but they are not dumb.

Duncan vs West, Parker vs Paul, Bowen vs Peja. This are going to be matchups were are going to enjoy and you can almost expect good series from those guys. This is going to be a more defensive series than the previous one both teams had. In this one the bench players are going to be THE KEY (yeap capital letters) . Mainly Manu Ginobili. The Hornets doesn't have an answer for him, a few teams do (actually Raja Bell defends manu amanzinly and this year wasn't the exception) he needs to explode the matchup and go right to Tyson Chandler. At some point defense most collapse but before that he needs to make his jump shots which he wasn't doing it against Phoenix. The Hornets must rely on their team defense. That defensive discipline and Paul have take them this long and could easily take them farther.

X Factor: Manu.

Basketball Gods' prediction: SAS 4-2