Live To Fight Another Day

I hate to even say it, but the Spurs played the like more experienced team. 

The Hornets will certainly have their shining day, just not this day, not this year.  Chris Paul is of another world, Byron Scott could be the best coach not talked about on SportsCenter (other than when he wins an award), and the rest of that team (really, only the other starters and Jannero Pargo) is constructed perfectly around their superstar.  Do they need a bench?  Certainly, but New Orleans’ flaws are for another day.

On this night, what seemed to plague the Hornets was the lack of anyone that could rely on something other than the previous games in the series as a sort of, “OK, I know what to do here, give me the ball”.  Content to ride out Pargo’s hot streak, the Hornets seemed to become very stagnant on offense, inexplicably letting the offense run through Pargo’s hands.  Which, despite his hot shooting, meant that no one else, on most offensive trips, touched the ball.  That’s a problem on most teams, particularly those with Chris Paul on them.  One way or the other, the Hornets did get some good looks, and certainly didn’t play poorly, just not well enough.

The Spurs on the other live to fight again.  According to Tony Parker after the game during an interview on TNT, the Spurs had already packed their bags—they’re heading to L.A. tonight.  Far as they should be concerned, the pressure’s off them in the beginning of the series.  Win one of two on the road, take care of business at home, and let the rest of chips fall where they may.

Though, if the Spurs plan on getting run out of the Staples Center like they did in the Hornet’s gym three out of four games, this one could be over in what likely amounts to a Los Angeles minute.

Here’s to a day off.  Here’s to fighting to play for another day.  And here’s to at least one more road trip.