San Antonio at New Orleans (05/19/2008)

              PRESSURE BUST PIPES

For the first time this series ,the pressure falls on N.O. more so than the spurs.both teams have edges though,but S.A. has more....

N.O. edge is homecourt.thats it.

S.A. edge is they have already played in this series with the pressure on they backs by responding while down 0-2,and responding in game 6.Also this is where experience will kick in.

S.A. is 3-0 ats leading after the 1st qtr. and at halftime in N.O. this postseason.What has been the difference maker is the 3rd qtr., which i doubt SA will get outhustled and outplayed knowing that this could be their last game.Right now S.A. has the momentum, while N.O. has the pressure on their side...N.O. is young ,inexperienced in game 7's as well as pressure situations.how they play in these situations remains to be seen, as their back is against the wall as much as S.A.

THE MOST LOGICAL PICK WOULD HAVE TO BE THE SPURS...

SA-1ST QTR

SA-HALF

SA-GAME

SA-MONEYLINE 

are you kidding?   Take New Orleans minus the chalk and just relax and watch the game.

No & Sa  1^st ½  &   2^nd ½   info

 

 

1^st ½ …..

 

Date - Saturday, May 3 

San Antonio at New Orleans

49

45=94 over

 

Date - Monday, May 5

San Antonio at New Orleans

43

42=85 under

 

Date - Thursday, May 8

New Orleans at San Antonio

56

54=110 over

 

Date - Sunday, May 11

New Orleans at San Antonio

42

55=97 over

 

Date - Tuesday, May 13

San Antonio at New Orleans

47

44=91 over

 

Date - Thursday, May 15

New Orleans at San Antonio

47

58=105 over

 

 

 

 

 

2^nd ½ …….

 

Date - Saturday, May 3

San Antonio at New Orleans

 33

56=89 under

 

Date - Monday, May 5

San Antonio at New Orleans

41

60=101 over

 

Date - Thursday, May 8

New Orleans at San Antonio

43

56=99 over

 

Date - Sunday, May 11

New Orleans at San Antonio

38

45=83 under

 

 

Date - Tuesday, May 13

San Antonio at New Orleans

32

57=89 under

 

 

Date - Thursday, May 15

New Orleans at San Antonio

29

41=70 under

 

listen, i know you're supposed to take the emotion out of betting, but you can't count out a player's heart, particularly chris paul.  I've personally met chris, watched him play in college and the kid has more heart than anybody you'll ever meet.  if you don't believe me, watch this video and you'll gain some insight into the kind of person that he is:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ci7uWy-bG-U

i'm not trying to say that just because chris paul dropped 61 in a hs game to honor his grandpa that died that he will absolutely beat the spurs and cover tonight--that would be stupid. but i would like to point out that his college coach, skip prosser, died last july and that he isn't playing for himself. he is playing for something much larger than any NBA player.  his emotion and passion is contagious to the rest of the team. he is playing for all of new orleans. these people had nothing when he was drafted and the hornets, mainly driven by chris paul, have brought that city so much excitement this playoffs and given everybody a glimpse of hope.

i really dont care who you bet on so you can take what i just said however you want it.  we saw tremendous heart from lebron and paul pierce yesterday, but it came down to the supporting cast.  the same will happen tonight.  the team with the better role players is going to win tonight (not one of the boldest statements ever made...). but the hornets will be so fired up by that crowd and the energy that cp3 brings that they're going to win and cover.

my money is on cp3 and the city of new orleans -4..and if i lose, at least i went down behind the heart and tenacity of that whole city and the leadership of chris paul.  i'm telling you..you can take the emotion out of betting, but dont ever count out a player's heart..peace.

I hate to bet against the Spurs as they may just pull this one out, but I think if they were going to make an effort in this series on the road, Game 5 would have been it.  But they got blown out in that one as well.  I don't see the trend changing, unless the Spurs can have a HUGE 2q & 3Q.  I may just lay off this one, but if I bet it will be NO.

Might have to wait out the 1st half and bet on the second half.  Waiting to see who Big Shot Bob will try and hurt in the 1st half, my money is on West again.

 

Just a BS statement

I don't remember seeing any picks from you, so your record as far as I'm concerned is 0-0.  There is only one way to get respect on here, and that's by POSTING winners, not just ANNOUNCING winners. 

I do agree with the Hornets -4 pick however.  I've been saying it this entire series, the Hornets are just a much different team at home.  They hit more shots, they move the ball around better, and they step it up on the defensive end.

The Spurs are only 23-23 this season on the road SU, and a miserable 16-30 ATS.  The playoffs do step up big time in intensity, but a bad road team is still a bad road team. 

Playing on 3+ days rest, the Spurs are only 4-5 ATS this season, while the younger, fresher Hornets are 6-2.

In the 2nd half of games played in New Orleans, the Spurs have been out-scored by 19, 23, and 25 points.  They have also been outrebounded in every single game. 

Everybody keeps touting how much more "experienced" the Spurs are and how they've been there before.  The only other Game 7's the Gregg Popovich/Tim Duncan have seen were all played IN San Antonio.  The last ROAD Game 7 the Spurs played in was 18 years ago today...they lost to the Blazers.  Overall, yes the Spurs have been there before, they are playoff tested and should feel slightly less nervous.  But watching the Hornets in the interviews and in practices they are relaxed, and ready to go.  Chris Paul is a special kind of player, the rare type that makes EVERYONE on the court better...unlike LeBron James...and for the most part unlike Kobe Bryant.  The biggest factor that could hurt the Hornets is the health of David West.  If he is able to give anywhere above 70% I think they will be fine. 

We saw it yesterday with the Celtics/Cavs game...the home team wins...and just like everyone keeps saying....

WHAT HAS CHANGED??

Spurs +2  first half
OVER  92  1st half
Hornets -4 game
OVER  183  game

Prediction:

Spurs   48   Hornets  47    Halftime

Hornets   102     Spurs  90   Final

Hokie, I laid my bet at -4 on Saturday but would still take it up to -7. Take it now at -4.5 because I don't think it will drop down to -4 again and shows more likelihood of climbing to -5 or more by gametime. I don't bet quarters of halves, but like Angry Tiger said, expect this to be close at the half and then another 3rd or 4th quarter rout by NO once SA is wearing down, shooting desperation 3's and their bench is getting schooled. 

My 2 cents.. Each of these teams have dominated on their home court all season long save for the first two match-ups where the each won on the other's home floor.  I was in NOLA for games one and two and the city was insane.. everywhere I went it's all people were talking about, Hornets Jerseys were everywhere.  Like in game six of the Celts/Cle series.. I don't think New Orleans will let their Hornets lose this game.  That city is still suffering and many places are still in shambles.   That city wants this as much as anything right now. 

SA has lead all three playoff games in NOLA at the half but the Hornets have made the necessary adjustments at the half and played inspired basketball to dominate the second half.  I look for this to be much closer this go-round as the Spurs know there is no tomorrow if they lose. 

It's gonna be close at the end of the first half and end of the game.  I look for a similar situation as both closeout games this weekend.  Both teams will be in the penalty late in the first half and game.  Both teams will get to the line often and will push the totals over.
I wouldn't be surprised if both score in the mid 90's to low 100's
something like 101-97 with the foul fest at the end of the game pushing this one over... and for what it's worth.. I like the Bees to cover -4.5..

BOL all 

Check out the 8:04m mark of this clip and let me know which person got leveled more - West or Parker.  People are eating what the media feeds them about Horry's pick, but Chandler's was a lot worse (especially with his kick and walking over Tony afterward when he was down).  Besides, West was perfectly fine the next day.