Kleeman's Last Word

Spurs' stinky third quarter play lets Hornets grasp series momentum

THE SPURS MOTIVATIONAL TOMBSTONE: THEY CAN AND SHOULD STILL WIN THIS SERIES

The Spurs stunk up the first half of Tuesday night's game five, opting for low-percentage jumpshots instead of ball movement and penetration. They somehow managed a three-point lead at the half for the fourth consecutive game in New Orleans.

Then, the Hornets marched out of the locker and stampeded the Spurs to take a 3-2 lead and control of this Western Conference semifinal series. Another ugly third period-with the Hornets mounting a furious 28-11 run-doomed the Spurs into their third straight blowout defeat in the Big Easy. Every game in this series has been a blowout in favor of the home team.

We know how great the Hornets are, so this post will not talk about what they did right. This piece will address how awful and lethargic the Spurs were in a must-win game. If the guys in black deserve praise for winning four championships in nine years, they also deserve scorn when they play like cow shit.

I was worried this would happen. Winning a championship, especially when your route to the trophy is the rugged Western Conference, requires a hunger no amount of practice can produce. Sometimes, you just have to want it more. Sure, the Spurs played with some passion in games three and four to even the series, but that was supposed to happen. Tuesday night wasn't.

Tim Duncan and crew look more and more like a team willing to accept defeat. Maybe when Steve Kerr said the Spurs don't need any more championships, they took the Phoenix Suns general manager's words to heart.

The Spurs looked like a five titles in ten years squad in the first round against Kerr's Suns. Now, they look like a better team resigned to let a younger, shallower squad of youngsters out-hunger and hustle them.

This series is there for the Spurs if they want it. But, that is the question. How bad do they want it? The Hornets are a talented bunch almost sure to finish the playoffs without a championship (but the Hornets do not and should not think that). They appear to be the Dallas Mavericks of 2006, expending all of their energy just so they can say "we beat the defending champions." The Spurs had a chance Tuesday night to get pissed off about such a scenario and they lost lying down.

If you think Chris Paul doesn't believe he can win a trophy right now, you haven't watched him play. Consider this post the equivalent of the tombstone the Houston Chronicle published to summarize the horrible first half of the only Astros season to end with a World Series berth.

Tim Duncan - this team plays in the mold of their winning coach Byron Scott and they want what you have. Time to get mad and knock them out. If you want a fifth championship, do something about it.
Tony Parker - if they're not letting you in the paint, force your body in there, kick someone in the balls and pick up the offensive foul. Scott will do anything he can within the rules to punish your penetration, so punch back.
Manu Ginobili - your passion will be critical if this team is to win in seven games. Your excess turnovers are unbecoming of a player who legitimately deserved MVP consideration.
Role players - I know you are tired but this is no time for excuses. It would be nice if you could nail some second half shots on the road.

I write this in hopes that the team will realize it is letting some else deny their repeat hopes. "We just didn't play well. Sometimes, things happen. We need to play better." That will not cut it.

The fiery anger of which I speak is what the Spurs will need if they want to navigate the toughest West in years. This series was never about age or experience. The team that wants it more will head to the Western Conference Finals.

SOME SIDE NOTES
-How many Spurs fans would be satisfied with a series loss if a Spurs big man could block one of those stupid ass Chris Paul to Tyson Chandler lobs? Where the hell do those come from?
I am still convinced those "lobs" are just bad shots by Paul that Chandler intercepts and dunks. I have seen many current NBA duos lob and it looks nothing like what these two do. If Parker tried doing that with Duncan, the officials might call goaltending. It's hard to criticize Chandler for being enough of an athlete to the get the ball up that high and slam it.

-The Hornets have better role players, according to TNT's Charles Barkley. OK, let's compare Chuckster.

Spurs have a Big Three (Parker, Duncan and Ginobili - all of which play on both ends). Hornets have two superstars (that's one less) who play on both ends and a cadre of young and veteran specialists.

Spurs role players: Michael Finley, Brent Barry, Kurt Thomas, Fabricio Oberto, Damon Stoudemire, Ime Udoka, Matt Bonner, Jacque Vaughn, Robert Horry.

Hornets role players: Morris Peterson, Peja Stojakovic, Ryan Bowen, Julian Wright, Bonzi Wells, Janeero Pargo, Mike James, Melvin Ely, Hilton Armstrong.

Edge on paper? Spurs by a mile. Wells played one great series against the Spurs in 2006 and has not done a damn thing since. Ely was on the Spurs 2007 championship roster but did not play in a single playoff game. Gregg Popovich called him a "practice player." He and Armstrong are West and Chandler's only backups. I'll give the Hornets an edge with Pargo and Wright's energy but that's it.

Again, this series has nothing to do with physical talent. Who wants it more? Tuesday night, I saw David West score a career high 38 points with a sore back. The Spurs were just an eyesore in the second half.

If the Spurs play another third quarter like that, the NBA should consider this slogan: "the NBA: where going from defending champs to defenseless chumps happens."

Don't like what I just wrote about you, Mr. Duncan and company? Now is your chance to go out and do something about it.

Get pissed off about it. The Hornets are and it shows.

posted by Robert Kleeman @ 3:20 PM