Somehow I just knew (with 2 minutes to go in the FIRST QUARTER) that New Orleans was gonna lose. Guys weren't hitting shots, San Antonio was guarding Peja like a freshman watches its lunch money and the Hornets just weren't handling the ball well.
The Hornets went a PATHETIC 5 for 19 (26%) in attempts in the 3rd . David West did the majority of shooting and he was only 2-8 that quarter. Foreshadowing of doom?
Let's talk about what COULD HAVE BEEN: I might be inclined to say that the non-call for what appeared to be a VERY obvious foul at the buzzer before halftime was the defining moment but many are saying that the "ball wasn't out of CP3's hands by the time the red light went off" and thus ... no call, no basketball, no foul. I think it's bullshit because, although INTENT is not what they base foul/no-foul decisions ON, it was clear to me Chris Paul was not simply dribbling to get it AWAY from the Spurs players. Dribbling to the corner of Nowhere Lane and No Basket Boulevard HELPS NOBODY .... So if he was going to just get it away from them, he could have just batted it far enough away such that they wouldn't be able to reach it once time expired. That being said, he was OBVIOUSLY going to throw it up (from half-court or somewhere just beyond that) for an attempt. That to me spells THREE SHOTS. Manu Ginobli CLEARLY tripped him and was in the CLEAR PATH of a shot attempt. Had it not been for the tripping, he'd have been fouled by Parker either BEFORE the shot left his hands (TWO SHOTS) or in the act of trying to get the ball UP (THREE SHOTS). Just because they're stupid to even be fouling at the end of the quarter ANYWAYS, I think they should have awarded him 3 shots. Either way, I think Bavetta COMPLETELY DROPPED THE BALL.... Literally and figuratively.
Those 3 shots would have put the Hornets at a dead heat going into the 2nd qtr and I think it would have given a much different mentality to the game. Within the last 6 minutes of the game, New Orleans was within 3 ... and had they had those 3 pts from before, it would have been DEAD EVEN. Instead, they spent the entire 2nd half trying to play catch-up to a game they shouldn't have been behind in in the first place.
I for one, as a devout Lakers fan, am not really looking that forward to watching the Sourpuss Spurs & Deer-In-The-Headlights-Duncan run their tired bullshit ONE MORE TIME. On an up note though, I made a bet with a VERY lofty bet with my friend Dr. Jack. (no, not Ramsay) who is a stanch Spurs supporter. LOL. Jack, get your checkbook ready.
What Will Be For The Hornets Next Season?
Jannero Pargo has a $2m option to come back next season. Given the show he put on in the 4th today, I predict a "$3.5M or I walk" holdout session in progress. I feel like a first-class a-hole for ever having dissed him when he played for the Lakers, but let's face it ... He NEVER PLAYED so he was rusty every single time he stepped onto the court. Granted, he wasn't Kwame bad but that's a rant for WHOLE OTHER ARTICLE.
Birdman, Bowen & Bonzi are open for the taking and none of them will most likely be back. MAYBE Bonzi but that's even a stretch considering he made almost $2.3m this season and didn't really have to do much. My SUGGESTION is to look into maybe getting Mo Evans as a back-up SG or possibly Kareem Rush. Kelenna Azubuike might also be a nice fit to their young team, That is, if they could lure him away from Boom Dizzle & The Bay Area Bad Boys. Also, Chris Paul needs a break every once in a while so why not look into Earl Boykins to join your Tiny Terror Squad.
Better luck next year guys! I was pulling for you to advance but I guess it wasn't meant to be. Take the summer to regroup and bring back the buzz to the Bayou next season. :-)
The Hornets went a PATHETIC 5 for 19 (26%) in attempts in the 3rd . David West did the majority of shooting and he was only 2-8 that quarter. Foreshadowing of doom?
Let's talk about what COULD HAVE BEEN: I might be inclined to say that the non-call for what appeared to be a VERY obvious foul at the buzzer before halftime was the defining moment but many are saying that the "ball wasn't out of CP3's hands by the time the red light went off" and thus ... no call, no basketball, no foul. I think it's bullshit because, although INTENT is not what they base foul/no-foul decisions ON, it was clear to me Chris Paul was not simply dribbling to get it AWAY from the Spurs players. Dribbling to the corner of Nowhere Lane and No Basket Boulevard HELPS NOBODY .... So if he was going to just get it away from them, he could have just batted it far enough away such that they wouldn't be able to reach it once time expired. That being said, he was OBVIOUSLY going to throw it up (from half-court or somewhere just beyond that) for an attempt. That to me spells THREE SHOTS. Manu Ginobli CLEARLY tripped him and was in the CLEAR PATH of a shot attempt. Had it not been for the tripping, he'd have been fouled by Parker either BEFORE the shot left his hands (TWO SHOTS) or in the act of trying to get the ball UP (THREE SHOTS). Just because they're stupid to even be fouling at the end of the quarter ANYWAYS, I think they should have awarded him 3 shots. Either way, I think Bavetta COMPLETELY DROPPED THE BALL.... Literally and figuratively.
Those 3 shots would have put the Hornets at a dead heat going into the 2nd qtr and I think it would have given a much different mentality to the game. Within the last 6 minutes of the game, New Orleans was within 3 ... and had they had those 3 pts from before, it would have been DEAD EVEN. Instead, they spent the entire 2nd half trying to play catch-up to a game they shouldn't have been behind in in the first place.
I for one, as a devout Lakers fan, am not really looking that forward to watching the Sourpuss Spurs & Deer-In-The-Headlights-Duncan run their tired bullshit ONE MORE TIME. On an up note though, I made a bet with a VERY lofty bet with my friend Dr. Jack. (no, not Ramsay) who is a stanch Spurs supporter. LOL. Jack, get your checkbook ready.
What Will Be For The Hornets Next Season?
Jannero Pargo has a $2m option to come back next season. Given the show he put on in the 4th today, I predict a "$3.5M or I walk" holdout session in progress. I feel like a first-class a-hole for ever having dissed him when he played for the Lakers, but let's face it ... He NEVER PLAYED so he was rusty every single time he stepped onto the court. Granted, he wasn't Kwame bad but that's a rant for WHOLE OTHER ARTICLE.
Birdman, Bowen & Bonzi are open for the taking and none of them will most likely be back. MAYBE Bonzi but that's even a stretch considering he made almost $2.3m this season and didn't really have to do much. My SUGGESTION is to look into maybe getting Mo Evans as a back-up SG or possibly Kareem Rush. Kelenna Azubuike might also be a nice fit to their young team, That is, if they could lure him away from Boom Dizzle & The Bay Area Bad Boys. Also, Chris Paul needs a break every once in a while so why not look into Earl Boykins to join your Tiny Terror Squad.
Better luck next year guys! I was pulling for you to advance but I guess it wasn't meant to be. Take the summer to regroup and bring back the buzz to the Bayou next season. :-)
