Ah yes, nothing like a showdown between two teams riding four-game losing streaks and both missing their star player.
The Hornets will be sans Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler again, while Chris Bosh is out injured for the visiting Raptors. Toronto's Jose Calderon might also miss this one with some kind of injury to some part of his body.
The Raps are coming off a loss to the Lakers on Wednesday. They're 19-32 on the season, 10-17 on the road, and 0-51 when scoring under 150 points.
Ryan Bowen is starting tonight. Yay.
Game tips a little after 7pm. Check out this Q&A I did with Hoop Heads North.
Linkage:
- Ryan: Game preview and Q&A with Dino Nation | Trade Speculation: Chandler for Marion?
- Journals: Dispelling the Phantom
- Lagniappe: Chandler-for-Marion trade talk, and some other stuff
- Rival bloggers: Hoop Heads North | RaptorBlog.com | Raptors Republic | RaptorsHQ.com
(Special thanks to Dariusz for the banner and the above image.)
14 superb comments post your own
YoungFella
02/06/09 05:12 PM
I'm ready for this game. Beautiful night for Buzzfest (like I ever make it on time) and taking a break for the Bulls game was a smart move.
#1
davidgladow
02/06/09 06:44 PM
Tonight's lineups:
Hornets - Peja, Bowen, West, Butler, Daniels (Chandler, Peterson inactive)
Raptors - Graham, Bargnani, O'Neal, Parker, Calderon (Humphries inactive)
Calderon playing.
#2
mW
02/06/09 07:36 PM
Great start. Lots of energy, lots of movement. And a 10 point lead!
www.hornetshype.com #3
Dave
02/06/09 08:04 PM
The passing and spacing offensively has been fairly poor over the last few minutes. Raptors zone has looked shaky, particularly when they started using it, but the Hornets aren't taking advantage of it.
The Hornets need halftime to be called as quickly as possibly now. They need to regroup and get away from this Raps team. 22-5 run now for Toronto.
nbaroundtable.wordpress.com/ #4
Dejan16
02/06/09 08:09 PM
this is very upsetting, chris come back soon man we need you... i cannot watch this, antonio daniels is getting on my nerves, get the ball to dwest and peja, eveyone else clear out...and play some defence, only guy i see hustling out there is ryan bowen.
#5
Niall Doherty
02/06/09 08:13 PM
That zone bothered us. Only about 9 points in the final 9 minutes while the Raps ran home layups and dropped open J's. Peja got some nice corner looks vs zone but couldn't hit. I'd rather see Devin in there against the zone than Daniels. And get West up to the free throw line more, that worked the one time we fed him there.
www.ndoherty.com #6
Dave
02/06/09 08:23 PM
I'd like to see Devin Brown start at the point while Chris Paul is out. I think his defense would be helpful, let the whole team hone in on one area where they can get some consistent success.
I lack confidence in Antonio Daniels. He just doesn't look like the same player this season as the one we've seen in the past.
nbaroundtable.wordpress.com/ #7
Dejan16
02/06/09 08:32 PM
yes please, take daniels out.....
#8
Dejan16
02/06/09 08:48 PM
daniels...@@@@@@@
#9
Andrea
02/06/09 09:21 PM
Victory is ours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#10
Caleb462
02/06/09 09:22 PM
Doesn't everyone feel better now? I know I do.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #11
Dejan16
02/06/09 09:22 PM
thank godness, 3 point shooting saved us, peja big game 28 points, and thank you coach scott for taking daniels out and bringing in devin...
#12
emir
02/06/09 11:19 PM
i love how peja has been stepping up and making himself a force during these past few weeks
#13
YoungFella
02/06/09 11:34 PM
hornets won.
#14