The Best Defense Is A Good Offense

The Spurs have figured out that they can't stop Chris Paul. It took them two game to do it, but they learned their lesson. So, the new strategy is such: let Paul score 30+. Don't double, don't waste Bowen on him, and bait him into taking long jumpers. Obviously, the Spurs listened to their fanbase, and started Parker on Paul.

Paul will score and create. It's inevitable; he's a freak. Those giant ears given him some type of superhuman sonar that allows him to know where everyone is on the court. You can't stop that.

What the Spurs can do is stop the peripheral players. "Bear Chest" got Bowened (8 points on 2-7 shooting), Pargo disappeared (1-7 shooting), and Bonzi Wells faded (6 points). David West still got his, but the duo of Paul and West wasn't enough.

But, for all the adjustments (including shorting the rotation, starting Manu, and playing zone), the Spurs found that the best way to stop the Hornets isn't reacting to them, but attacking them. To win, the Spurs are going to have to outscore the Hornets, not keep the Hornets from scoring. Pop has to let the reigns off, and let Parker and Manu take over the game. Let New Orleans get 95-100 points...but the Spurs need to score 100+.

At the end of the day, this series can only be won by the Spurs' backcourt. If the Hornets continue to collapse on Duncan (which they will), Parker needs to continue to attack the lane (which he will). Manu, as always, is the wildcard. If Parker can play Paul to a draw (a tall order, but he's proven he can), Ginobili is the guys NO has absolutely no answer for.

Yes, Tim Duncan will become a secondary option. But the kick out game from Duncan has proven too inconsistent. The backcourt was what got the shooters involved, what got the assists up and the turnovers down. We need Manu to play with reckless abandon. The Spurs need Tony to get knocked to the floor 10 times by driving into transitioning big men. Duncan needs to do less of posting up, and more off the pick-and-roll, freeing up the lane for dribble penetration.

Whether the Parker/Manu duo can carry the Spurs to 4 wins is debatable (let's face it, they won't hit 62 every night out). But, at this point and time, the team's championship hopes are going to be in their hands. And, for once, not as much in Duncan's.