16th
Spurs win Game 6, 99-80. Series tied 3-3. What had been a chess match between the two head coaches is now a 1-game Russian roulette. Some good signs for the Spurs are the success they had with Ginobli spelling Parker at point, Robert Horry’s positive minutes in the #2 power forward spot, and the arrival of Ime Udoka’s bigtime game. Some questions for the Hornets are the lack of productivity from Bonzi Wells and Jannero Pargo, David West’s health, and the prospect of Mo Peterson and Stojakovic somehow getting good looks and hitting if West is less than 100%.
The simultaneous arrival of Udoka and disappearance of Bonzi and Pargo gives Popovich maybe a better chance to make moves during game 7. But betting on any of those bench guys to show up, or on anyone on the Spurs holding fort against a maybe/maybe not 100% David West, or on Tony Parker and Chris Paul going toe to toe for the full 48 is ‘who knows?’ That’s what makes Game 7 Russian roulette. But if David West is solid, and Mo Pete gets his good minutes, and Chris Paul continues to wear out Tony Parker in the second half, the only thing left to save San Antonio is a monster game by Duncan against Tyson Chandler (could happen, especially if there’s foul trouble) along with large numbers of out of the blue points from guys like Udoka and Bowen, and continued timely shooting from Ginobli.
