Open Thread: David West still holds a grudge against Robert Horry

A ten-year grunge still lingers.

The 2008 Western Conference Semi-finals will always be a memorable series for Spurs fans. Facing a talented young New Orleans Hornets squad spear-headed by Chris Paul just entering his prime and lacking home-court advantage, the Spurs were facing an 0-2 deficit as they limped back to the AT&T Center. What followed was the Spurs’ only comeback from such a deficit as they would win four of the next five (while staving off two elimination games) in what would only be the start of CP3’s second-round curse.

Some might recall former Spur David West was also on that team, where he averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds that season. He played well in that series, but it wasn’t enough for the Hornets to end the defending champion’s season.

However, there is another part of that series he still remembers to this day: a screen in Game 6 that may or may not have been a dirty play by Robert Horry, but the result was some back pain for West that hindered his performance (he only registered 10 points and 6 rebounds in a decisive 99-80 Game 7 loss). You can see the play below, starting at the 27 sec mark:

Speaking to the Mercury News, the current Warrior hearkened back to his days in the Big Easy and how it helped shape who he is today. However, that doesn’t mean he’s forgotten what happened in that game:

West also took time to look back on the then-Hornets’ last appearance in the Western Conference semifinals, a Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in 2008. He still holds a grudge against Robert Horry for a “dirty” screen that aggravated a back injury and — as he recalls — cost them a shot at a championship:

“Without a doubt, I know we would’ve won that series. I don’t know what would’ve happened after that,” he said.

The Spurs would go on to lose the Lakers in the Conference Finals (albeit not without their own grudge-worthy brush with controversy), and there’s no telling if the Hornets would have beaten them. There’s also no doubt Horry has had his share of cheap plays. Heck, he’s even said enough to get under the skin of Spurs fans lately.

However, this doesn’t seem like the dirtiest play out there, and it’s not like West is known for being gentle himself. Regardless, he has his championship now and perhaps more to come, so maybe it’s time to move on.

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Source: Pounding The Rock