Big game for our Hornets out in L.A. tonight. Thems Lakers are recognized as the cream of the crop in the West and have already beat us bad twice in New Orleans this season.
The Lakers are 27-5 on the season and have won their last 15 games at the Staples Center. A win tonight would give them their first 16-game home winning streak in 20 years. They'll be without the services of Luke Walton and Jordan Farmar, both of whom got lost on the way home from laser tag.
Game tips at 9:30pm Central. Catch it on NBA TV or CST.
Linkage:
- Ryan's game preview
- LABallTalk Q&A's: Ryan asks | Ryan answers | At The Hive asks | ATH answers
- Journals: Should Mo Pete start again? | Wishin' and Hopin' (5 game outlook)
- Lagniappe: Heat maps, stats, oil changes and more.
- Laker blogs: Forum Blue and Gold | LABallTalk.com | LA Times
89 jaw-dropping comments post your own
mW
01/06/09 06:13 PM
Laser tag. Priceless.
www.hornetshype.com #1
Mikey
01/06/09 06:26 PM
Give Courtney Sims a shot! Sign this kid to a 10-day. What could it hurt?
#2
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 06:52 PM
I'd like us to take a chance on Sims, too. Like you say, it couldn't hurt. If nothing else it would light an even bigger fire under Hilton.
www.ndoherty.com #3
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 06:55 PM
FYI: NOLA.com lists Ely as questionable again tonight with that sore right ankle.
http://blog.nola.com/scoopshots/2009/01/game_preview_hornetslakers.html
www.ndoherty.com #4
Andrea
01/06/09 07:41 PM
@Mikey: Totally agree. I've always wondered why the Hornets don't really deal with the D-League. Because of those 10-day contracts, I think it's great. It gives you an opportunity to bring in a guy like Sims, give him some minutes, and see what he does against NBA competition. I wouldn't sign anyone during a tough stretch, but we still should look at some of those guys
#5
Mikey
01/06/09 08:18 PM
Is Sims the answer to winning a championship? No, of course not. Let's be honest though, we're not winning a championship this year. Give the kid a shot and a year from now, you never know. It's also no secret we need froncourt depth.... and PJ Brown and other vets like him are not walking through that door. Additionally, he cannot be any worse than Sean Marks.
#6
Juncti
01/06/09 08:43 PM
Ugh, 9:30 tip off? Come on LA, can't make it to an arena for 7 so we can at least have a 9 tip off?
I see another night of rage ahead for me and others like me. No team in the league generates mysterious calls like the Lakers. Their like the NBA's spoiled child. Always give what they want or they throw a tantrum.
I've hated the Lakers for ages, these games against them always get me boiling. Breathe on Kobe and you're looking at a foul.
It's going to be a long, cranky day at work tomorrow if that trend continues.
lol, heaven help me if we go into a 7 game series against this team. I'm going to need a support group, ha ha
#7
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 09:28 PM
Our Hornets throw more than their fair share of tantrums, too, Juncti.
So what station is everyone going to watch the game on tonight? I'm thinking I'll go with NBA TV if they have the Lakers announcers on there. I could do with a break from Bob and Gil, and the Lakers announcers are pretty good from what I recall.
www.ndoherty.com #8
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 09:39 PM
Nevermind, NBA TV is blocked. CST it is then.
www.ndoherty.com #9
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 09:52 PM
Welcome back, Tyson. He's kicking ass. We're doing everything right but fouling too much. CP shoudn't stray so far from Fisher either. Very nice start though.
www.ndoherty.com #10
mW
01/06/09 10:02 PM
@ Mikey. I say championship. Unless the Machine stops us.
www.hornetshype.com #11
lilrip133
01/06/09 10:04 PM
im "watching" the game on gamecast. somebody fill me in with a rundown of what's happened so far from more than a statistical perspective please
#12
flowerfeeder
01/06/09 10:11 PM
Great first quarter. Too bad Peja missed that wide open shot at the buzzer.
www.myspace.com/noroomforsaints #13
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 10:11 PM
Lakers missed some shots early that they'd usually make, but started making them late. Vujacic fouled 3 times fast, some tough calls but we've got some tough ones, too. Our rebounding is great, Hilton is nicely aggressive, Posey got a tech on Kobe for too much contact after the whistle. Smart to let Kobe know he's there though. Paul looking to score early, and the Lakers can't trap him. Peja got some open looks but missed a few. All in all, a great first quarter, but the second has been our Achilles heel against the Lakers this season.
www.ndoherty.com #14
Andrea
01/06/09 10:12 PM
Nice start. Now let's see what happens when CP takes a seat
#15
lilrip133
01/06/09 10:18 PM
ugh the words "cp takes a seat" equates to "the lead goes away" this season.. im kinda missin jenaro pargo
#16
mW
01/06/09 10:21 PM
Only lost 2 points so far. But still no CP at 8:42 mark.
www.hornetshype.com #17
flowerfeeder
01/06/09 10:28 PM
We're getting in foul trouble now. Tyson on the bench with 3.
www.myspace.com/noroomforsaints #18
Andrea
01/06/09 10:28 PM
If we're gonna foul, we have to at least make sure its not an AND 1. We've given up at least 4 of those already.
#19
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 10:29 PM
Only -3 without CP if you count the free throws West was taking when he came back in. I can definitely live with that. Foul trouble killing us though. Posey, Chandler and West now with 3 each? Or was that last one not on West?
www.ndoherty.com #20
hio1515
01/06/09 10:33 PM
Hilton has been a lot more aggressive the last 2 games. I like that.
#21
mW
01/06/09 10:36 PM
Yeah, we definitely have three guys with three fouls. They have one in that situation. Anyone wonder why Devin comes in before Mo? First Devin possession: offensive turnover.
www.hornetshype.com #22
LSUhornet17
01/06/09 10:38 PM
This game is gonna last all night with all these whistles. At least its on both sides this time.
#23
lilrip133
01/06/09 10:38 PM
i wonder why devin is on an nba team period. hate that guy. hated him with cleveland, hated him with san antonio. he just sucks
#24
fsumatthunter
01/06/09 10:39 PM
Devin Brown playing basketball for us makes me die a little.
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #25
hio1515
01/06/09 10:40 PM
Did anyone see that link on truehoop today with the ref stats? Joey Crawford calls the 3 most fouls of any ref in the league.
#26
hio1515
01/06/09 10:40 PM
that should be 3rd
#27
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 10:41 PM
Devin isn't doing a bad job and Kobe, though. He and Hilton forced two nice turnovers on the reigning MVP. Kobe looks like he's taking it personal now that Dev is guarding him.
www.ndoherty.com #28
Diane
01/06/09 10:41 PM
This is like war - you never know a basketball game might break out.
#29
Andrea
01/06/09 10:42 PM
Tyson and Posey are the only ones with 3 fouls
#30
mW
01/06/09 10:43 PM
Devin is no Mo. But more fouls called so far are doing okay by us because CP is being aggressive.
www.hornetshype.com #31
LSUhornet17
01/06/09 10:46 PM
Devin picked the wrong sport. After watching his drives I could easily see him as a big tight end or monster running back.
#32
lilrip133
01/06/09 10:47 PM
yes i found a radio station online... dang kobe hit a buzzer beater... gay
#33
flowerfeeder
01/06/09 10:47 PM
Strong finish. We avoided the 2nd quarter blues.
www.myspace.com/noroomforsaints #34
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 10:51 PM
I understand the Devin hate but dude is giving us very good minutes this game. He finished two breaks for us and played respectable D on Kobe.
That was a great half of basketball altogether. I love how we're getting to the free throw line and that CP isn't waiting to takeover. He's already doing it. Rebounding has been great. Only issues are our fouls and giving up open 3's. The Lakers hit 7 from deep that half.
www.ndoherty.com #35
Andrea
01/06/09 10:52 PM
Great finish to the half...except for the Kobe guy's 3 pointer thingy at the buzzer. Chris didn't look too pleased the Kobe was even able to get a shot off.
Chris Paul's line: 23 pts, 7 asts, 2 stls, 0 turns in exactly 19 min, 54 seconds of playing...UN-STOPPABLE...RE-MARKABLE...A-RUGULA
#36
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 10:52 PM
Oh, and Peja is invisible. He hasn't got a lot of shots but I can recall two wide open looks he missed, plus an airballed 3. Hopefully he can get it going in the second half.
www.ndoherty.com #37
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 10:54 PM
Yeah, amazing game by CP so far. And given how he usually goes even harder in the second half, he might be good for 50 points and 15 assists tonight. That would be nuts.
(I'll take the win over the big stats though.)
www.ndoherty.com #38
fsumatthunter
01/06/09 10:54 PM
I can't watch to speak to the defense being played on Kobe but he is having a very effective game. 17 points on 7 shots.
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #39
fsumatthunter
01/06/09 10:57 PM
@LAgyrl: A-RUGULA = Classic.
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #40
mW
01/06/09 10:57 PM
It's not straight hate for Devin. He does what he does. But Mo is better. Period. And Kobe, straight out the best player in the game right now. He's been unstoppable tonight. But so has CP. So it'll come down to the rest of the guys on both squads.
www.hornetshype.com #41
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 10:58 PM
@ Matt: true, Kobe's getting his points and getting them efficiently, but beyond the scoring he's got 2 turnovers, 1 assists, 1 rebound and nothing else. CST had a stat before the game that showed how much more Kobe shoots in losses as opposed to wins. Translation: it's better to let Kobe get his and keep the other Lakers in check.
And even with those 17 points, I think we're doing a decent job on him. He hasn't got any easy baskets that I can recall.
www.ndoherty.com #42
Dejan16
01/06/09 10:59 PM
peja has been open a number of times and paul didnt see him i geuss, but he has only had what 4 shot attempts? And he took that three a little out of range, because he wanted to shoot it...
#43
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 11:00 PM
@ mW: Agreed. Mo deserves those minutes a lot more than Dev. But if Devin plays in the second half like he did in the first, I'll have no complaints about Mo's lack of PT tonight.
www.ndoherty.com #44
Andrea
01/06/09 11:03 PM
I think we're doing a great job on Kobe so far. The way we're attempting to play him is the same way teams try to play Chris Paul. If he's going to score, make it hard for him to do so but you can't let him get 30 and get his teammates involved
#45
fsumatthunter
01/06/09 11:03 PM
Like I said, I couldn't much see how he came about those effecient scoring numbers. And the fact that he's attemted only 7 while hitting on 5 speaks that he isn't getting terribly great looks.
I wonder how much of his shooting is due to playing less minutes, or necessity to come from behind. He shoots a lot when they are not winning, which could account for some selection bias.
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #46
LSUhornet17
01/06/09 11:04 PM
Im not mad at Devin being in as long as our possessions don't end with him bricking a WIDE open three at the end of the shot clock after standing there unguarded for 24 seconds. In transition and on defense hes been solid and physical. Good minutes.
#47
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 11:10 PM
Wow, up 8 now. I keep waiting for the Lakers to put a big run together but we're playing tough. West is killing Pau this quarter.
www.ndoherty.com #48
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 11:11 PM
Tyson's been playing really really well when he's been on the floor tonight. Some nice finishes around the rim this quarter and 4-4 from the free throw line.
And Jordy just informs us that Odom is out for the rest of the game.
www.ndoherty.com #49
mW
01/06/09 11:13 PM
@ Niall. I really, really, hope you're right about Kobe shooting too much means a loss for the Lakers. Because he's hitting everything.
www.hornetshype.com #50
LSUhornet17
01/06/09 11:13 PM
I was about 2 compare Kobe and DWest then David misses and Kobe does that.
#51
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 11:20 PM
@ mW: I hope so, too. Posey's in on him now, although I'm not sure he can play Kobe any tighter than Butler did. Dude is just in a zone.
www.ndoherty.com #52
Dejan16
01/06/09 11:21 PM
this 2 player game with paul and west, is going to result in a loss for us, someone else needs to step up, we cannot deppend on 2 players alone to win us the game.
#53
mW
01/06/09 11:21 PM
Okay. Kobe might get 50. But, I believe they lose a lot of those games...
www.hornetshype.com #54
fsumatthunter
01/06/09 11:21 PM
11-13, 5-6, 5-5, Kobe's shooting lines as of now. Wow.
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #55
LSUhornet17
01/06/09 11:22 PM
I think id rather Devin be out there than Peja right now.
#56
Andrea
01/06/09 11:22 PM
For anybody not watching the game, Rasual's playing great D on Kobe..seriously. All of his shots with the exception of 1 that I saw are contested. He's taking a lot of long contested jumpers with Rasual pretty much in his jersey.
#57
fsumatthunter
01/06/09 11:24 PM
yeah, Niall shouldn't talk about people getting 50. lol
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #58
LSUhornet17
01/06/09 11:27 PM
Can we afford to rest the all-stars at all here?
#59
Andrea
01/06/09 11:28 PM
So Kobe scores a zillion points in the 3rd but its only a 3 point lead for the Lakers. I'll definitely take that.
#60
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 11:28 PM
This might be the best game of the season right here. Amazing stuff.
We weathered a massive storm that quarter and go into the fourth only down 3. I like our chances. Still only 3 fouls on West and Chandler. Only Peja is letting us down. If he can drop those open looks this game is definitely ours.
www.ndoherty.com #61
Andrea
01/06/09 11:29 PM
@LSU: Depends on if Kobe stays in. If Kobe stays, Paul probably stays. I'm pretty sure David will get a rest but idk about Chris.
#62
mW
01/06/09 11:29 PM
We have better FG%, more REB, more FT made, more REB, STL, 1 less block, less TO. So why are we losing? Oh yeah, 10 less 3 pointers.
www.hornetshype.com #63
LSUhornet17
01/06/09 11:36 PM
Punching the ball? Learn something new everyday I guess, or else they're making up new whistles to blow at poor Hilton.
#64
fsumatthunter
01/06/09 11:37 PM
Who is Josh Powell, and how did CP go so cold in the second half?
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #65
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 11:38 PM
Still playing tough. Down 5. We could definitely do with some long balls. Interesting that Rasual is still guarding Kobe even though Posey is on the floor.
www.ndoherty.com #66
Andrea
01/06/09 11:40 PM
Peja just doesn't have it tonight..or at least not yet. Mo Pete might be able to provide some scoring pop from deep if he wasn't in the locker room picking the splinters out of his a## from being on the bench so much
#67
fsumatthunter
01/06/09 11:40 PM
yeah 11 less made 3P FG.
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #68
mW
01/06/09 11:45 PM
87% FT% is nice, given how much we're shooting.
www.hornetshype.com #69
LSUhornet17
01/06/09 11:50 PM
Gasol is gonna have nightmares of David West tonight.
#70
Niall Doherty
01/06/09 11:52 PM
Methinks we got this. They can't handle West, and Kobe has finally cooled. Just gotta slow the game down now, make our free throws and we're all good.
www.ndoherty.com #71
mW
01/06/09 11:54 PM
Yeah, West has historically had problems with Gasol, but he's owned him tonight.
www.hornetshype.com #72
LSUhornet17
01/06/09 11:56 PM
Kobe appears to have reverted to his human form.
#73
LSUhornet17
01/06/09 11:58 PM
Nevermind, that block was definitely not human.
#74
mW
01/06/09 11:59 PM
How quiet is this crowd?
www.hornetshype.com #75
Niall Doherty
01/07/09 12:00 AM
BOOM! Massive win. No way I thought we could win that game with Peja shootin 2-9 from the field. West and Paul came up huge.
Great night to be a Hornets fan.
www.ndoherty.com #76
lilrip133
01/07/09 12:01 AM
oooo yeeeeaahhhhhhH!!!!!! man i wish i couldve seen this game. listening in was way too intense
#77
Dejan16
01/07/09 12:01 AM
good win, david west and cp were great tonight.
#78
Andrea
01/07/09 12:04 AM
Great win. Chris Paul set the tone and David West wasn't the closer; he was the "entire-gamer" (hey I made a word). I love it. Hopefully, the guys won't be too spent to carry this over into Utah tomorrow night. Sucks that the Jazz game tips off at 8 central so not much rest for us but it's worth it
#79
LSUhornet17
01/07/09 12:12 AM
Great game. I haven't seen both All-stars play like that since the playoffs. I wish they showed half this intensity every night from now on.
#80
fsumatthunter
01/07/09 12:13 AM
Love it, huge win. We've beat the Lakers and Blazers on the road in a week, and stayed composed down 23 to take a lead against the Nuggets. We are 21-10. Other than pre-season expectations there is no reason to think that we can't go into the playoffs as a major contender to win the West.
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #81
ticktock6
01/07/09 12:17 AM
I was on Twitter chatting with objective observers all night... and this might be in consideration for best game so far. Insane. David West's feet aren't touching the floor! He's not from this planet!
I love my Hornets.
hornetshype.com #82
Snave
01/07/09 12:19 AM
It looks like the Hornets found a way to win without the 3 ball. This is a bit of a breakthrough for the season. Most of the victories I've seen where based off of >45% for 3.
www.tehStyleGuide.com/forums #83
fsumatthunter
01/07/09 12:22 AM
Oh by the way if you guys didnt know 15 ast, with no turnovers is good.
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #84
Ryan Schwan
01/07/09 12:22 AM
Great game. I'm not going to sleep anytime soon after that.
One thing I wanted to say is Don't Buy the Hype. David West has had trouble scoring on Pau Gasol one game his entire career. The idea that West has trouble with Gasol was some lame-ass writer in LA writing about how West has struggled against the Lakers recently - and assuming it was Pau doing it.
Like I've said for about a year now, West has a terrible time scoring on Lamar Odom. Odom has the speed to stay with his drives, and the length to contest his shots, and that is where the Lakers get their advantage over West.
www.hornets247.com #85
Snave
01/07/09 12:23 AM
The Hornets are undefeated when Daniels and Tyson play. (before anybody brings it up)
www.tehStyleGuide.com/forums #86
Ryan Schwan
01/07/09 12:26 AM
Another interesting thing - the AP recap is saying the Hornets won through a three-point barrage, apparently mixing up the Lakers crazy number of hit three pointers with the Hornets piddly 5, probably because who would think the Hornets would win with 10 less three pointers made.
www.hornets247.com #87
ticktock6
01/07/09 12:38 AM
They won because David West WENT NOVA. Threes, bah... who needs them?
hornetshype.com #88
Mikey
01/07/09 12:39 AM
Wow!! Shot almost 40 FT at an 89% clip (33-37)... yummy!
#89