Paging Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic.  You both need to show up in a big way tonight or your team is done. 

For as good as New Orleans looked in Round One and in the first two games against the Spurs, they looked equally outmatched in the last two games.  Much of this I think has been due to adjustments made by Gregg Popovich (and of course homecourt).  Pop saw that no matter what he did against Chris Paul the Hornets point guard would be able to score and get his numbers.  So instead he moved Bruce Bowen onto Stojakovic who has summarily disappeared from this series.  Chandler has gotten into foul trouble early the past two games as well. 

The Hornets need Chandler and Stojakovic to score and ease the pressure on Paul and David West.  San Antonio has found its groove, and figured out how to play against New Orleans.  Scoring from Chandler and Stojakovic would change this dynamic, and once again swing the edge to the Hornets.  Coach Byron Scott needs to implore his team to up its intensity and focus because San Antonio is too good, too disciplined, and too efficient to simply think that playing at home will solve its problems.

AccuScore has New Orleans winning 64% of simulations by five points on its home floor.  While the simulations take into greater account recent results, it still cannot factor things like momentum and the mental state of the players’.  I think Scott should take a page out of Popovich’s book and single up against Duncan, and tell Chandler to not foul in the first quarter.  A few extra buckets is a fair trade to keep the athletic center on the floor.  Julian Wright might also need to get more minutes to guard Manu Ginobili.  I believe that coach Scott will make some of these changes, and more going into tonight’s contest because he knows if he loses tonight, the series is more than likely done going back to San Antonio for Game Six.  This game should be the first truly close game of this series, but I see the Spurs being able to eke out yet another win.