Two games left in this, the longest road trip of the season for the Hornets. They'll wrap it up in Florida, playing the Orlando Magic tonight and the Miami Heat tomorrow. The Heat suck, the Magic don't.
Instead of an image today, we'll go with a random video clip from the last time the Hornets played in Orlando...
Pity we lost that game.
Info ahead of tonight's showdown in O-town...
Hornets (W-L): 50-22
Magic (W-L): 47-27
Game Time: 6:00pm Central.
TV: CST
Radio: KMEZ 102.9 FM in New Orleans and WIBR 1300-AM in Baton Rouge.
Linkage: A serious announcement accompanies Ryan's game preview | Third Quarter Collapse | At the Hive Q&A with TQC
3-1 on this trip so far, and here's hoping the Hornets can finish it out strong on this back-to-back. Let's step up the defense and get a win, fellas.
[UPDATE] The Hornets dodge bullets for the win, 98-97.
46 awesome comments post your own
Ron Hitley
04/01/08 12:38 PM
Ha! CST pulled their April Fool's in the pre-game show, announcing that Byron was switching to the role of player/coach and would occupy our final roster spot. Bob Licht even interviewed Byron about it. Funny stuff.
www.hornets247.com #1
Steve H
04/01/08 01:32 PM
Oh its on now. These Orlando announcers have been talking some serious shit- along with R. Lewis apparently. Lets beat these bitches like they stole something!
#2
Ron Hitley
04/01/08 01:37 PM
They have? What did they say? First quarter done, down 6. Damn, foul trouble. The Magic seem determined to make life hell for West on both ends of the floor. They're playing him real well so far.
www.hornets247.com #3
mW
04/01/08 01:45 PM
While the 3FG% is close, 50% for us and 57% for them, they've hit twice as many as us so far (2 to 4). Let's hope that changes. Other than Ju-Ju's sick block seconds ago, they're not closing well on the perimeter.
www.hornetshype.com #4
mW
04/01/08 01:58 PM
Wow...the two guys guarding David West (Lewis & Garrity) have 5 fouls now.
www.hornetshype.com #5
Ron Hitley
04/01/08 02:08 PM
That's the cost of playing him so aggressively I guess. If I was Orlando I'd maintain that pressure on West (seems to be hindering him) and hope guys don't get fouled out.
www.hornets247.com #6
Ron Hitley
04/01/08 02:14 PM
Down 9 at the half, but I don't think we're playing too badly. Foul trouble is hurting us the most, but I'm loving the play of Mo Pete and especially Tyson Chandler. He's challenging and altering shots as well as I've seen him do all year, and he's out-rebounding Howard so far (6 to 5). JuJu, Pargo and Bonzi have given us some nice minutes too. Bonzi seemed to slow Lewis a bit while he was in. Just need to get CP rolling now and that should open things up for Peja and West. Defensively I think we just need to close better on the perimeter and we're golden. 6 triples for the Magic already. We're doing a great job helpying and denying on Howard inside, but it's costing us a hand in the face of their shooters.
www.hornets247.com #7
Steve H
04/01/08 02:22 PM
"Hornets are not a very attractive team to watch" One of them surmised that we didn't have much of a chance come playoff time because of our undersized fron line- though we might get lucky in the first round with the right matchup. David west is one of thebiggest whinersin the league along with Tim Duncan (OK- that one is true) Tyson doesn't have any offensive skills- though he has become a "serviceable" and "above average" center while playing with the Hornets. They did the usual dissing of Peja's defensive abilities and called Coach Scott's mother a slut (that last is an outright lie, but they COULD have said something like that during the commercial) Al in all, I am feeling thoroughly disrespected by these homer announcers, and am looking for the Bees to shut them up in the second half.
#8
mW
04/01/08 02:42 PM
Such a toughgame to watch. Streak of 8 in our favor, then 8 against, over and over...I'm going to faint...
www.hornetshype.com #9
saltandcarbon
04/01/08 02:44 PM
Why isn't J.J. playing? Oh, wait... Mo Pete, I take it all back. All those hurtful things I said, and how I taked about you behind your back, and how I didn't call. Just please don't miss again until the end of the playoffs.
saltandcarbon.blogspot.com #10
Bob Loblaw
04/01/08 02:44 PM
cp looks lethargic=whole team sucks when everyone sucks=mo pete gets hot...go figure when was the last time we lost a close game? it seems like we either lose by a mile or spank.
#11
Emir lidan
04/01/08 02:49 PM
peja and cp3 cant hit a basket tonite hopefully things change
#12
mW
04/01/08 02:51 PM
I'm a little surprised Dwight Howard has twice hammered a Hornet and then looked surprised...the Magic are much more physical than I realized...a lot of really hard fouls here. Twice I've seen two guys hammer our player, not illegal, just tough. On the flip side, Hilton's playing really well with TC in foul trouble.
www.hornetshype.com #13
Bob Loblaw
04/01/08 02:52 PM
oh yea byron needs to learn from van gundy when to call a time out
#14
Ron Hitley
04/01/08 02:55 PM
We got ourselves a ball game here. Down 2 entering the fourth. Should be a good finish. Mo Pete is kicking ass.
www.hornets247.com #15
mW
04/01/08 02:55 PM
Yeah, Stan V has pretty much cut off every Hornet run with a time out. Who knows. Others like Phil J. refuses to call those timeouts, forcing his guys to work through it. I'm not always sure why Byron calls his when....
www.hornetshype.com #16
saltandcarbon
04/01/08 02:55 PM
Wow, a two way foul-fest and one possession in it. But I am outraged that we are shooting worse from the line thana team where Dwight Howard has played 30 mins through 3 quaters. Why did he have to pick today to learn to pop free throws.
saltandcarbon.blogspot.com #17
LSUhornet504
04/01/08 02:57 PM
So is that an alien or a clone playing in Mo Pete's place?
#18
mW
04/01/08 02:59 PM
Yeah, they're calling this a really tight game. Which makes one wonder why Howard has picked up two stupid fouls under the basket after we got the rebound and the play was essentially over...
www.hornetshype.com #19
Chris C
04/01/08 03:01 PM
Am I being a Matty Goukas level homer or are the refs killing us tonight?
#20
Chris C
04/01/08 03:05 PM
I take that back we have more foul shots. I guess I am a Matty Goukas level homer.
#21
mW
04/01/08 03:13 PM
I thought a couple of the early ones on CP were weak, but most of the game, I'd say it's pretty fair. Just a quick whistle on both sides.
www.hornetshype.com #22
Chris C
04/01/08 03:21 PM
Does anyone else thing Steve Van Gundy looks like ron jeremy?
#23
Dejan
04/01/08 03:23 PM
wow peja has been playing horrible all game, i was about to blaime him for the loss, and he comes up clutch.
#24
Ron Hitley
04/01/08 03:23 PM
Man, we're getting very lucky with the calls here at the end of the fourth.
www.hornets247.com #25
mW
04/01/08 03:25 PM
9.4....come on guys!
www.hornetshype.com #26
Abdul
04/01/08 03:27 PM
Peja is the King OF Clutch
#27
Dejan
04/01/08 03:28 PM
wow paul... wow .. this is reminding me of the raptors game..... dissapoiting
#28
joesph
04/01/08 03:29 PM
wow either paul is havn a off game or he is not clutch at the line
#29
Chris C
04/01/08 03:29 PM
Hedo is the key on this last play
#30
Dejan
04/01/08 03:30 PM
tht was an ugly game, but a win is a win.
#31
Ron Hitley
04/01/08 03:31 PM
Dodging bullets in Orlando. What was the other game this season where CP missed 2 late free-throws?
www.hornets247.com #32
Jared
04/01/08 03:31 PM
Was trying to follow on GameCast...what happened with the 4-point play towards the end? Peja fouled while shooting a three?
#33
mW
04/01/08 03:32 PM
Thankfully this one didn't end like the Raptors game earlier this year...big defense down the stretch and at the end. Nice.
www.hornetshype.com #34
saltandcarbon
04/01/08 03:33 PM
Ron Jeremy just died on the sideline. Dooling with the rock and the game on the line?! Great D, CP had an off shooting night but redeemed on the last play. Try shooting with CP glove on. Ugly, scary and sweet as win.
saltandcarbon.blogspot.com #35
Bob Loblaw
04/01/08 03:33 PM
@chris c: yea we joked about that when he was in miami game ball goes to whoever it was that fouled mo pete on the inbound pass...hi 5 buddy cps performance might go into the basketbawful diary tonite... dudes spoiled us so rotten we take a "mediocre" night for granted
#36
Abdul
04/01/08 03:35 PM
Peja scored our last 6 points but, did he have a 4 point play. I was following the game on game cast and it wasn't clear, please someone enlighten me....
#37
ticktock6
04/01/08 03:37 PM
Mo Pete was fouled before the inbound pass. Peja took the one shot, then the Hornets got the ball and he hit the 3.
hornetshype.com #38
Dejan
04/01/08 03:38 PM
@Abdul: mo-pete was fouled on an inbound play and peja got to shoot a technical foul, and then he hit a three.
#39
Ron Hitley
04/01/08 03:41 PM
I'm gonna get my head right and throw together a recap.
www.hornets247.com #40
Abdul
04/01/08 03:42 PM
Thanks guys, Peja goes 1-9 all night and hits the game deciding 3 and the free throws, ugly win but I like iss nicee..(Borat Ref.) I think a win like this builds character and I am gonna get drunk happily tonight, peace out ladies and gentlemen.
#41
Emir lidan
04/01/08 03:42 PM
peja came through i gues just like i said in my earlier comment from what i hear cp didnt but we still needed him and he did his best im sure of anyway
#42
mW
04/01/08 03:56 PM
I've never known another NBA player that has such absolute faith in himself with everything on the line, who his players have faith in, who the coach has faith in, after starting 1-9 and putting up 3 points after all but a few minutes in the game. Peja is unbelievable.
www.hornetshype.com #43
Emir lidan
04/01/08 04:13 PM
mw thats what u get when u pay 60 million to a player that no1 else had faith in because of his injuries he has come back and showed all the teams that traded him and the ones that didnt want him why he is one of the best
#44
sparks
04/01/08 05:12 PM
peja was clutch when it mattered most. mo was great. hilton had a good rebounding game for the first time in a long while. why does pargo attempt as many shots as he does? chris looked like he didn't want the mvp award or first place. with the heat up next, first place is ours for a while! f the spurs! lol.
#45
sparks
04/01/08 05:15 PM
<strong>key to the game : offensive rebounds 21 to 2!</strong> we shot 40%, they 50%. they hit more threes. i didn't know we could rebound like that! and it wasn't all the big guys. peja, mo, bonzi and hilton did a good job on the offensive boards.
#46