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.