Do you guys think Byron Scott is outcoaching Pop?
So far, that would be a fair statement. But it is hard to rule out what the Spurs have accomplished in the past, so let's see if the Hornets can take one in San Antonio first. All the Hornets have done has been to hold onto home court. If they can take one of the next two, the coaching would be the reason, yes.
Therein lies the real issue, Pop's AND the team's experience versus Scott's limited experience and his team's lack of it altogether. To my way of thinking, it it precisely true that NO only did what they HAD to do, hold home court, but the trouble for the Spurs is that they did not look like they were in over their heads in doing so. I really do not expect the Hornets to take the Spurs down in SA and thus I think this series will go 7. If it goes that far, it would definately favor the Spurs.
Popavich does have mental lapses that defy explanation but I don't think there are many that can flat out outcoach him. 3rd quarter in game 2 was a good demonstration of his ability to adjust and change things up, it almost worked and so the onus was on the Big 3, not the coach. Scott did a brilliant job of disrupting SA's rhythm offensively, and let his team's speed break down SA's zone defense, it got pretty physical but that same 3rd quarter proved NO can be rattled by aggressive defense, look for Pop to key on that with the likes of Udoka, Bowen, and Thomas applying more physical pressure. West is a powder keg from what I can see, I counted at least 2 T's he got away with, pressure him harder in a tight game and Paul may not be able to hold him back.
'Rattled by aggressive defense' is a good turn of phrase to express what the Spurs HAVE to do before the end of this series. What is going to be interesting to see is the Paul/Parker matchup, though it appears that Pop is having Bowen cover Paul defensively. Bruce is not as fast, so his "other" talents will be needed to slow CP3 down, and it could fail.
If Duncan is kept just enough off-balanced by what the Hornets apparently did defensively to him in the first two games, the Spurs can't compensate for it.
Whoever is not being guarded by Bowen could cause the most problems for the Spurs. If this leaves Peja wide open on most possessions and if you let a pure shooter like Peja get comfortable, you might as well break out the fishing gear. Ginobili doesn't quite have the height to match up there, but certainly can pressure the Hornet defense from the offensive side. David West is going to have to be contained better then he has been as well. The Spurs defense is still one of the best, but the Hornets have a lot of weapons and that is where Scott's coaching abilities are going to be exhibited. He will have to figure out where the Spurs are weakest and exploit it and hard. Pop will know this and try to counter, but I am seeing some strong fortitude coming from the Hornets - more then I think we originally gave them credit for, and you have to think that comes from Scott.
I am thinking the Hornets just might have enough to get one win in S.A.
