http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...k.36047ee.html
Spurs notebook: NBA review doesn't find problem with Horry's foul on Hornets' West
By Mike Monroe and Mike Finger
The NBA's basketball operations staff determined during a review Friday that Robert Horry's foul on David West in the fourth quarter of the Spurs' Game 6 victory over the New Orleans Hornets was routine.
A back-pedaling West crashed into an Horry screen while trying to deflect a Manu Ginobili pass during Thursday night's game.
Horry had moved up on West from behind and positioned himself as Ginobili began a drive to the basket past Jannero Pargo.
Ginobili left his feet to throw a crosscourt jump pass, which West attempted to deflect. While still moving backwards in the air, West crashed into Horry's screen and crumpled to the floor.
Having begun Game 6 with a sore back from an injury suffered in Game 5, West had to be helped to the Hornets' locker room. He did not return.
The play had made its way to the “YouTube” video website by early Friday morning and there were suggestions in some media outlets that Horry had intentionally tried to injure West. Hornets coach Byron Scott told Yahoo Sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski, “... if I didn't know Robert on a personal level, I'd say that was a dirty shot. Yeah, if I didn't know him the way I know him, I'd say it was a cheap shot.”
Horry was suspended for two games in last year's conference semifinals against Phoenix after he hip-checked Suns point guard Steve Nash out of bounds. Suns stars Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw were suspended for leaving the bench in the excitement that followed that foul.
Ginobili rose to Horry's defense Thursday when it was suggested Horry had once again impacted a series with a questionable foul.
“I think he changed more seasons making shots than hitting people,” Ginobili said. “I don't think what he did had anything to do with last year's series. He just pushed Steve out of the court. The problem was their players getting on the court.
“He just made a hard foul last year, but it was their fault.”
Calling out the fans: The Hornets didn't complain about Horry's actions on the play that led to West leaving the game with a back injury, but at least one New Orleans player had a problem with the AT&T Center crowd's reaction to it.
Hornets point guard Chris Paul said he was taken aback by what he heard when West was still face-down on the floor after backing into a hard screen by Horry.
“The crowd started chanting for Robert Horry,” Paul said. “Our guy's getting hurt, and they're chanting for Horry. It's crazy.”
No excuses: West, who already was battling back problems before Thursday, said the injury did have some lingering effects in Game 6. But he was quick to point out that wasn't the reason he struggled during a 4-of-14 shooting night.
“I was a little tentative,” West said. “I didn't want to overextend anything. But I just missed shots. Wide-open shots.”
West said the injury he suffered on the Horry screen wasn't serious, and that he will be ready to play in Game 7. His teammates said they expected nothing less.
“D-West is a fighter,” Paul said. “He's going to come back from this. Luckily, we have about a week before Game 7, so we can get some rest.”
The whistles turn: In Game 5, it was the Spurs who were showing their frustration about the officiating. In Game 6, it was the Hornets' turn.
The Spurs were called for two more fouls than the Hornets on Thursday. But what drew New Orleans' ire was the third quarter-stretch when Paul and West were called for five combined fouls in a 1:23 span.
“We really caught a tough break during the third quarter with some bad calls that didn't go our way,” Hornets center Tyson Chandler said. “I feel that foul calls really stole the momentum of the third quarter and gave the Spurs an advantage.”
. *sigh* at least we have TVs at my job that will have the game, but still it sucks!
