The Great David West

If the Hornets go on to defeat the Spurs, one succession of plays will sum up the series.

Tonight, with the Spurs making their expected fourth quarter run, the Hornets isolated David West on the right block. En route to 38-14-5-and-5, West steadied up against Tim Duncan.

All-Defensive First Team, Tim Duncan. 4-time NBA Champion Tim Duncan.

Palming the ball and extending it with his right arm, West stared down Duncan. With a quick shimmy, he went baseline. Two steps. Underneath the basket. Reverse lay-up in Duncan's grille. Youth takes down experience.

83-70 Hornets, 6:22 left to play.

Immediately, with Tyson Chandler out of the game, the Spurs isolate Duncan against West. Post him up. Then right to the basket, Duncan charges at West. Left hand lay-up. And David West swats it off the back-board. Youth wins again.

83-70 Hornets. 6:05 on the clock. They go on comfortably to win, 101-79.

More than anything though, those back-to-back plays capture the Hornets moxie in this series. Going right at the older, champion Spurs. Scoring in Tim Duncan's face AND then blocking his shot 17 seconds later.

The regular season standings suggested a changing of the guard. These Hornets can punctuate it.