Here we go, the final game of the regular season, and the Hornets will close it out against the Mavs in Dallas. Early start of 6pm Central, don't forget.
As mentioned in yesterday's recap, this game may decide who the Hornets play in the first round of the Playoffs. The Denver Nuggets host the Memphis Grizzlies tonight (8pm Central), and a Nuggs win coupled with a Mavs loss means we'll be seeing Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson in New Orleans this weekend. Any other combination of results tonight, and it will be Hornets vs. Mavs in the first round.
Stuff to know for game 82...
Hornets (W-L): 56-25
Mavericks (W-L): 50-31
Game Time: 6:00pm Central.
TV: CST locally, ESPN elsewhere.
Radio: KMEZ 102.9 FM in New Orleans and WIBR 1300-AM in Baton Rouge.
Linkage: Millions...
- Ryan's game preview
- At the Hive: Q&A with Mavs Moneyball
- Hoops Addict: Calculating Chris Paul's Bid for MVP
- Empty the Bench: Coach of the Year picks
- Mavs blogs/sites: Mavs Moneyball | Dallas Basketball
- SonicsCentral.com: Trying to keep the Sonics in Seattle, and you can help
I'm hoping for a win tonight. I don't care if that lands us with Dallas or Denver in the first round. We can beat both of those teams in a seven-game series, and methinks it's important to win this game and head to the Playoffs strong like a wrecking ball.
Late notice, I know, but there's another watch party for the game tonight at Bruno's uptown. That kicks off at 5:30pm. I won't be there, but I'm sure the Honeybees will make up for my absence.
Comments welcome as usual. I'm interested to hear who you guys would rather face in the first round. Dallas or Denver?
[UPDATE] Hornets fall in Dallas, 111-98. The regular season is done, and we'll be seeing the Mavs when the first round tips off this weekend.
25 super-fantastic comments post your own
Stefan
04/16/08 12:46 PM
I'd rather face Dallas. Denver shows up in the playoffs, Dallas doesn't.
#1
Chris
04/16/08 01:28 PM
I really want the Hornets to go into the playoffs with momentum, and I think they can beat both the Mavs and the Nuggets in a 7 game series...but I feel a lot more confident about playing the Mavs. CP absolutely owns J Kidd, and the Mavs just don't look right this year. Denver is the craziest team in the league; they'll score 40 points in a quarter, and then score 50 the rest of the way. You just never know with them. So I'll be happy if the Hornets win tonight, but I won't be super upset if they lose.
#2
Chris
04/16/08 01:28 PM
I really want the Hornets to go into the playoffs with momentum, and I think they can beat both the Mavs and the Nuggets in a 7 game series...but I feel a lot more confident about playing the Mavs. CP absolutely owns J Kidd, and the Mavs just don't look right this year. Denver is the craziest team in the league; they'll score 40 points in a quarter, and then score 50 the rest of the way. You just never know with them. So I'll be happy if the Hornets win tonight, but I won't be super upset if they lose.
#3
saltandcarbon
04/16/08 01:48 PM
Echoing the sentiments of the game preview thread, thanks a million to the R & R cats for their Bee-love and near-daily entertainment. Hornets247 is at the top of my bookmarks (and for ticktock6 and mW, Hornets Hype is a regualr visit too). I totally agree with Chris. I'll take the Mavs in seven over Denver. Although the Nuggets are allergic to man-on defence, they can play decent team defence, and AI and Melo can score you out of any game. If those dudes and one of their streaky bench shooters is on, and our boys have one of those cling-wrap-over-the-rim shooting nights, we're cooked. And those games can happen a bunch at a time. On the other hand, I totally trust our ability to grind out more wins than losses against the Mavs. CP3 owns Kidd like Paris owns trashy, and I like D-West on Dirk. I'd say the rest is in our favour too. But whatever. We be Heros in a Half Shell, and we'llcowabunga our way to the conference finals! Turtle Power!
saltandcarbon.blogspot.com #4
Juncti
04/16/08 01:49 PM
Ugh, game is on 2 channels. CST has our announcers, but is in crappy SD (why so few HD games CST?). ESPN has it on in HD, but the announcers sound like tools a lot of times. Think I gotta go HD. See you guys on the flipside.
#5
mW
04/16/08 02:35 PM
Hmmm...no soul stealing yet by CP and co.
www.hornetshype.com #6
mW
04/16/08 02:49 PM
UPDATE: CP now has 18-9-2, has his team up by eleven, and there's still a quarter and a half to go. Kidd fell down on CP's drive a few minutes ago.
www.hornetshype.com #7
Emir lidan
04/16/08 02:53 PM
well im wondering who l.a would lose to dallas or denver im thinking dallas is better against them so i want us to face the nuggets and the lakers to face the mavericks i dont know just an idea but if this game helps us in the end i think we should let it go
#8
Juncti
04/16/08 02:58 PM
Watching this game, I think the ESPN guy at halftime is right. We should want to play the Mavs. Mavs are questioning themselves after the finals implosion, 1st round elimination, and now the Kidd trade. CP3 is getting anywhere he wants and running circles on Kidd. Probably better then facing Melo and AI. Also, the ESPN announcers are in LOVE with CP3. The entire broadcast they've been talking about him non-stop, even when he's not in the game. When he's not in in the 2nd quarter they kept asking when he'd be back. The CP3 secret is out the bag and I think the rest of the NBA is taking notice.
#9
mW
04/16/08 03:02 PM
Odin's raven. This is like grudge night. Brandon Bass is doing pull-ups on every dunk and Kidd has somehow hit 4/6 from long. Are you joking? And now Mavs by 5 and a 5th foul on CP. It's like a time warp. is this real?
www.hornetshype.com #10
Chris
04/16/08 03:09 PM
CP made a mistake not jumpin' out on Kidd on his first couple of threes. As a result, Kidd's playing with a lot of confidence right now. Not to mention playin' pretty solid D on Chris. We'll see how they respond in the fourth.
#11
Chris
04/16/08 03:14 PM
Mike James sucks. Where the hell is Pargo?
#12
Steve H
04/16/08 03:17 PM
Once again- why the hell is new guy Mike James getting Pargo/Wells/Pete's playing time? He is new to the system- and has frankly sucked. Is this really a good time to play the new, under-achieving guy?
#13
mW
04/16/08 03:17 PM
When did Jason Terry get the nickname "The Jet?" And why the hell do Gil and Bob insist on calling him by that? Why not just, "hey that fuck scored again?!"
www.hornetshype.com #14
saltandcarbon
04/16/08 03:20 PM
I think "The Jet" comes from his tour of 'Nam with the air force. Yeah, that's it. Don't make him mad. That wooden face can just go MENTAL!
saltandcarbon.blogspot.com #15
mW
04/16/08 03:29 PM
Ouch. CP's pass a little long for the TC alley-oop. Gil remarks, "He didn't have his toll tag, so he couldn't take the Crescent City Connection." Ouch.
www.hornetshype.com #16
Steve H
04/16/08 03:36 PM
So Denver it is!
#17
mW
04/16/08 03:39 PM
You knew this game was over when Brandon Bass blocked a D-West shot. Like he plays one good defensive play in his career, and it happens in the last two minutes of our game? RiiiIIIIIIiiiight. Peace out.
www.hornetshype.com #18
Spiro Vladimiroski
04/16/08 04:09 PM
i am a little concerned abt facing Dallas in the playoffs with a health dirk and kidd
#19
Spiro Vladimiroski
04/16/08 04:09 PM
i am a little concerned abt facing Dallas in the playoffs with a health dirk and kidd
#20
Dejan
04/16/08 04:13 PM
i think we will still beat dallas in round 1, it will be hard but i think we will win in 6. (4-2)
#21
Ron Hitley
04/16/08 04:43 PM
Thanks for holding down the comments, everyone. I'm okay with facking Dallas. I like our chances. @ mW: I think Terry's middle name starts with the letter "E", hence the nickname. Recap coming.
www.hornets247.com #22
Emir lidan
04/16/08 04:44 PM
i think the team let them win but thats my theory denver vs l.a go denver take kobe out of his misory
#23
Mark
04/16/08 04:52 PM
Jason Eugene Terry, for those wondering. The Nugs, in my opinion, are much more unpredictable and more streaky, so I'd rather take my chances with the Mavs anyway, not that it matters anymore.
#24
Emir lidan
04/16/08 05:38 PM
wow look at the san antonio vs utah game anyone else thinking no more utah after the first round?
#25