Home Sweet Home

What in the same hell is going on in the NBA playoffs this round?  How does one explain the incredible effectiveness of the home teams in this round?  20 and 1, is the record of home teams.  The only road team to win game this round, the only team to already have advanced—the Detroit Pistons.

 The Spurs go from destroying the Hornets in San Antonio in Game Four, to getting manhandled in Game Five, to resuming dominance in Game Six.  It begs the question, is there room for optimism in Game Seven?  Why, suddenly, does a team that never has had trouble winning playoff road games, never had trouble showing enough intensity in the playoffs, suddenly not have enough to even make it competitive on the road?  If I could answer these questions, I’d be working in an NBA front office.

 From last night’s game, there were obviously a few positives to take out.  First, Ime Udoka put together a great game, not only not missing from the floor and connecting on all three of this three point attempts, but playing some sparkling D as well.  The highlight of his night of course came when Jannero Pargo thought he had a layup off a Spurs turnover, and Udoka came from the backside to smash the attempt off the glass. 

Spurs doubters point to the fact that the home town boys might have got a little of that home cooking, that their shooting percentages will and should fall when in New Orleans.  While previous games have no way to dispute this, I must say, I have a feeling things will turn around.  First, that decisive sequence in the third quarter (all of the sudden, in this series at least, the quarter to decide all quarters) where Chris Paul was called for two offensive fouls for using his off hand to push off and David West was called for two fouls as well were all well deserved.  Paul pushed off twice, West did once, and the other time West got his caught with his hand in the cookie jar on a patented Duncan drop step.  As far as the shooting goes, while I’d imagine West, if healthy, will make more jumpshots at home, the Spurs don’t have any reason to fade.  This is a veteran team, with guys that “have been there”.  I hate to overrate that, but, what I can’t stand is to see a team that’s done it before, inexplicably choke in the third quarter of a game, simply because it’s on the road. 

Are the Hornets a good team?  Damn straight.  But, does that mean the Spurs shouldn’t be able to keep it close with them?  Certainly not.  Here’s to hoping David West doesn’t get back to 100% by Monday night.