Cheap Shot Bob Strikes Again

The New Orleans Hornets have been one of the most pleasant, fun-to-watch surprises of the NBA Playoffs this year (which, by the way, have been miserable - how can the playoffs be this uninteresting after such a great regular season?), but their run is in jeopardy after last night's Game 6 blowout to the San Antonio Spurs.

It is not the prospect of Game 7 against the defending champs that is so daunting. The Hornets have dominated the Spurs at home all series. The prospect darkened late in last night's game when Robert Horry set an illegal, dirty back screen on New Orleans' David West that sent the big man to the locker room in considerable pain.

If you have forgotten, it was Horry who checked Steve Nash into the boards during last year's playoffs that ruined the best series of the playoffs and potentially cost the Suns their best chance at a championship.

Coincidence?

At this point, the 37-year old Horry moves like a grandpa and shoots like me. He is good for six fouls and the occasional cheap shot when Bruce Bowen isn't on the floor. These goons are rightfully loathed across the country and shamefully beloved in San Antonio. In fact, the idiots in the Alamo City chanted "Horry" after he knocked West out of the game.

Classy.

As for the specific play, don't let anyone fool you into thinking that was a legitimate play. Horry had West in his sights after West left to double the ball. It was a back pick, which is a great way to clean a player's clock in basketball. Not only did Horry set the pick, he moved himself into it with the force of his shoulder. He was blindsiding an unexpecting player - one who just happened to light the Spurs up for 38 points in Game 5.

This type of play could happen at any point in a basketball game. If you want to head hunt star players with back picks, you can. It is dirty basketball. It is Spurs basketball. Whether it is Bruce Bowen moving into a jump shooter's landing space (ask Vince Carter) or Robert Horry clobbering star players, the Spurs are hated as much around the NBA for their dirty play as much as their boring style of basketball.

Forget the big shots and the seven rings (it is nice to play with Hakeem Olajuwon, Kobe & Shaq, and Tim Duncan), Robert Horry is a remorseless thug who plays for a franchise and before fans who lack class and basic sportsmanship. We are likely to be stuck with another round of the Spurs if David West cannot play in Monday's Game 7.

Kobe - watch your back.