HOW ARE THE HAWKS DOING THIS?

Yes, the Atlanta Hawks have won again, this time, against one of the most formidable teams from the West!

The New Orleans Hornets came in with a perfect record and were scorched from rainbow land by the looking-ever-so-good Hawks, who buried 12 3pointers.

Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 24 points while Chris Paul led the Hornets with 22 points and 11 assists.

BLACK MAMBA IN CONFERENCE FINALS!

That was a fantastic series.

Whatever else it was, no one can deny that it was a fantastic series.

In a Game 6 that was mostly comfortable for the Lakers, the Jazz dismantled a 16point deficit with about 8 minutes left in the fourth to cut it down to 2pts with about 8seconds left.

With main man Carlos Boozer out of the game, it was the fleetfooted Deron Williams who led the charge, capped by 2 crucial 3pointers from the cool as ice Andre Kirilenko (aka AK47).

What was really surprising about this was that Kirilentko had gone 0-9 from three point land in this series, but he had no hesitation at all in launching and making those threes. Still wondering why this guy won MVP in the European Championships? That's why.

So, the Lakers move on in 6. Now I'm really excited to see who they go up against. For their sakes, they better hope its the Hornets.

HERE COME THE SPURS!

Well, well, well. Look at who just got their championship form back.

Yes, all the Spurs needed were some home cooking, some home cheering and the 6th Man awardee to become a starter.

Manu Ginobili started in Game 3 and he started out hot. By the end of the Spurs' Game 3 110-99 victory, Ginobili has logged in 31 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds.

Tony Parker came back with a vengeance with another 31 points and 11 assists, negating Chris Paul's excellent offensive game (35points and 9 assists).

David West had a monster game with 23 points while Tim Duncan had a solid game with 16points.

But for me, the biggest reasons why the Spurs won were the disappearance of Tyson Chandler (foul trouble) and Peja Stojakovic (8 points in 2-7 shooting, as contrast to Game 2's 25points) and the timely offensive contributions of Michael Finley (3-5 three's in the 2nd quarter) and Bruce Bowen (4 three pointers in the 2nd half).

Now we get to see how fast the Hornets adjust to playoff basketball.

STUNG AGAIN!

I knew it was going to happen but I didn't know it was going to be this bad.

Game 2 was supposed to be the game where the Spurs start feeling their way back into the series. And for about 24minutes, they did.

Too bad it was the first 24minutes of the game. As soon as the second half started, it went back to being the Hornets' game to lose...so they didn't lose.

The Hornets may be young but they have CP3, who is one of the two best young point guards in the NBA right now (Deron Williams is the other), David West, who is fast becoming the premiere power forward of the Western Conference, as well as Peja Stojakovich, still as deadly as ever from the perimeter. Add to that Tyson Chandler and you have a pretty potent team.

Of course, you can't ever count out a team with TD, Parker, Manu and Pop in it. You just can't do it. The Spurs are just like that movie monster that gets shot, incinerated, crushed by a ten wheeler and then decapitated...and still stands up to go after the hero.

I'll believe the Spurs are dead once the Hornets win 4games...not one game too soon.

CAN THE SPURS STEAL GAME 2?

They can but they probably won't.

The Hornets' biggest advantage is that they are an unknown playoff team. No one really knows their identity and character, things like who steps up, who chokes, who passes up his normal shots and stuff like that.

I think the Spurs need another game to determine how to attack the Hornets...then the fun begins for them.

Popovich is among the best coaches in the game (in fact, second only to Jerry Sloan, in my humble opinion). He'll figure out how to take West away, maybe with Robert Horry or with Kurt Thomas. He'll figure out how to tire CP3 out and maybe get Bowen to shut down Peja.

All in all, I think it'll come down to championship experience...and the Hornets just don't have the bling to bring down the defending champions...yet.

Spurs in 6games.