The Hornets swim upstream this evening to play the Grizzlies in Memphis. Tip off is at the usual 7ish Central.
The 14-36 Grizzlies are coming off a win over the Raptors on Saturday, and are 3-4 since Lionel Hollins took over as head coach (apparently he has them focusing more on that defensive stuff). We've already played and beat Memphis twice this season, once home and once away.
No word yet on Paul and Chandler, so I'm guessing they'll miss this game, too. We might also be without David West if the NBA decides kung fu ain't cool. Update: West won't be available due to a one-game suspension. Luckily though, the Grizz might be limping into this one since Rudy Gay (narcolepsy), Kyle Lowry (brain freeze) and Darrell Arthur (heebie jeebies) are all listed as day-to-day.
Linkage:
- Journal: Elite bias?
- Lagniappe: Marks pwns Hitley, lucky heroes, and David West's dumb foul.
- Rival blogger: 3 Shades of Blue
(Special thanks to Dariusz for the banner and the above image.)
34 legendary comments post your own
ticktock6
02/09/09 04:33 PM
We are in fact without David West.
hornetshype.com #1
Juncti
02/09/09 06:02 PM
Exhibit A: Perkins/Maxiell
Foul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ2k62jByuA
Result: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/02/02/kendrick-perkins-fined-but-not-suspended-for-foul-on-pistons-m/
Team: Celtics
Exhibit B: Bynum/Wallace
Foul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbcjL7AVxMA
Result: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/01/no-suspension-f.html
Team: Lakers
Exhibit C: West/Miller
Foul: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySvY1QuWvw8&feature=related
Result: http://blog.nola.com/hornetsbeat/2009/02/new_orleans_hornets_david_west.html
Team: Hornets
Last years finals, Lakers vs Celtics.
Championships: Lakers 14 Celtics 17 Hornets 0
One of these things....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZIvgQ9ik48
Paranoia or Trend?
What's worse, in two of those it was all contact, in one the player trips over their own foot making it look worse than it was. Guess which one.
#2
SavageHenry
02/09/09 06:23 PM
Very nice work, Juncti.
I'm pretty surprised at D-West's suspension, although I feel like that puts me in the minority. It was certainly a dumb, frustration-driven, reckless foul. But worthy of suspending him a game? No way. I think the fact that West's hand was slightly open has led many to think it was meant to harm Miller. For me, it shows that there was intent to make a play on the ball.
This strikes me as just a weird decision. There had been no ill will between the two sides, and there was no posturing or anything after the play. West can certainly make a stronger case than Bynum that he was making a play on the ball. Maybe the fact that a big, surly (at least on-court) guy like David gave a good smack to Mike Miller and his pretty hair just doesn't sit well with Stu Jackson and company. It's not the first time I've disagreed with the League, and it surely won't be the last.
#3
Mikey
02/09/09 06:50 PM
No Rudy Gay for the Grizz.
#4
Juncti
02/09/09 07:16 PM
I'm starting to think the NBA has a hit out on the Hornets. 2:25 played in the game so far, 4 Hornet fouls, 2 on the player who had the winning dunk yesterday.
#5
Mikey
02/09/09 07:18 PM
Gil, please... make it stop. My ears are bleeding now.
#6
Mikey
02/09/09 07:19 PM
Makes me sick to watch Hilton Amrstrong shy away from contact.
#7
YoungFella
02/09/09 07:35 PM
Posey better bring it tonight. He's not out of my doghouse yet, and my doghouse is far more rationale and fair than Byron Scott's.
#8
SavageHenry
02/09/09 07:51 PM
Getting beat to the boards and on the break so far. Tired legs and an empty arena probably have the guys feeling a little flat. We're gonna need JuJu's energy, so hopefully he plays well enough to merit Byron keeping him on the floor.
#9
lilrip133
02/09/09 07:55 PM
I know this is off topic, but what are you folks' opinions on the Chandler for Marion trade rumors? I haven't quite decided which side of the fence I'm on yet about that, especially with the extremely (even more than Chandler's) inconsistent play of our other bigs. But I am somewhat interested in how Marion's versatility could help us out.
#10
emir
02/09/09 08:05 PM
@lilrip133
to make things simple marion isn't worth it just because his contract expires soon
#11
lilrip133
02/09/09 08:07 PM
true enough.
but he'd be worth it if they'd take devin brown off our hands lol
#12
Caleb462
02/09/09 08:13 PM
@lilrip - why the Brown hate? The guy has played very well lately.
As for the Chandler/Marion rumor... *horrible* idea in my opinion. Tyson, at his best, is one of the best defensive big men and rebounding big men in the league. Yeah, he's had a down year... but he'll produce for us again once he's healthy. I don't think it will happen.... I think Chandler is staying. If we trade anyone I'm thinking it will be Mo Pete, Julian Wright or both.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #13
Niall Doherty
02/09/09 08:13 PM
@ emir: I'd actually say that would be the only reason the Hornets might be interested in Marion. I can't see such a trade making our team any better, but apparently we need to cut payroll and getting Marion's expiring contract would certainly help us do that.
www.ndoherty.com #14
ticktock6
02/09/09 08:16 PM
Aw, Devin's my boy now. No worries. He's gonna dominate.
hornetshype.com #15
Niall Doherty
02/09/09 08:17 PM
Down 39-40 at the half. I'm fairly happy with that. We're getting killed on the boards (29-18 Memphis advantage) and shooting just 31.6% from the field, so to be down only a point is nice. Free throws helped us keep it close. If we can rebound better in the second half and get Posey/Butler/Peja some better looks, we should be fine.
www.ndoherty.com #16
Andrea
02/09/09 08:18 PM
@lilrip133: Don't like the Marion-Tyson trade. Last thing we need to do is give up someone TC's size regardless of how versatile he is. I'm certain if we traded those two for each other straight up, Hilton would be our starting center.......It scares me.
Lol I can live with Devin Brown as long as he maximizes the drives to the hoop and minimizes and/or eliminates the jumpers
#17
SavageHenry
02/09/09 08:20 PM
Only down one, which ain't too bad considering we shot 33% from the field, got outrebounded 29-18, and that they got 22 of their 40 points in the paint. Hopefully, we continue the trend of playing strong ball in the 2nd half. Peja's been solid so far. Wouldn't mind seeing him get dialed in from deep range, though.
#18
Andrea
02/09/09 08:54 PM
Down 6 heading into the 4th. We're gonna have to dig deep to pull this one out. Would it kill everyone other than Peja and Devin to rebound? No West, CP, or Tyson but being outrebounded by 19 through 3 quarters is beyond embarassing.
#19
emir
02/09/09 09:03 PM
louisian there afraid of the ball
#20
Dejan16
02/09/09 09:08 PM
this is hard to watch, the griz should be beating us by 30... we need to stop settling for outside shots, rasual cannot hit anything and devin brown needs to calm down he is getting blocked in the paint everytime he drives..
#21
Dejan16
02/09/09 09:22 PM
31 seconds left down 3...cmon guys
#22
Dejan16
02/09/09 09:28 PM
Nooo peja....
#23
YoungFella
02/09/09 09:28 PM
That was just pathetic.
Why can't we play Hilton or Melvin again?
#24
emir
02/09/09 09:31 PM
young didn't hilton foul out?
and melvin hasn't done much better
#25
Dejan16
02/09/09 09:33 PM
we needed tyson tonight, or someone who can grab a damn rebound.
#26
Andrea
02/09/09 09:37 PM
Well, that was painful. All games are painful when you shoot 30% for the game and you're -28 on the boards. What hurts is that it could've been worse.
#27
flowerfeeder
02/09/09 09:43 PM
Well, this loss hurts. Bad. The Celtics are next, so...
www.myspace.com/noroomforsaints #28
YoungFella
02/09/09 09:49 PM
I just wanted to say that Posey is still in my doghouse. He looked like Devery Henderson on those last rebound attempts. Or Jamal Magliore.
#29
YoungFella
02/09/09 09:54 PM
@ emir
I missed most of the 2nd half b/c I was at the gym. I didn't realize Armstrong fouled out.
I don't think Ely played more than a couple minutes though and he would have helped out a lot at the end. It's like Scott just gets off on being the most stubborn son of a bitch in the world. I've about had it with him.
You need a freaking center in the game to get rebounds. It's not that goddamned hard to grasp.
#30
Dejan16
02/09/09 10:00 PM
To be honest, if the lakers, celtics, spurs or any of the elite teams were missing their top 3 guys I am not sure if they would beat memphis either, lakers without kobe, gasol, odom would be nothing...we could'nt excpect much tonight, just hope everyone is healthy and ready to go to play, after the allstar break..
#31
chefcdb
02/09/09 10:05 PM
The only thing that hurts is my brain, like it was dropped into a mosh pit, after watching this terrible game. I am amazed the Hornets made it a game, considering the rebounding mismatch, and we missed 11 straight shots in the 4th.
You know, while I want our stars back to play the Celtics, the game I REALLY WANT is vs Orlando, after the All-Star break.
chefcdb.livejournal.com #32
LSUhornet17
02/09/09 10:27 PM
@ chef
I agree. I have a feeling we're still gonna be down Tyson and CP on Wed. I'd really love to beat the Magic after that Christmas anti-present they gave us. I would hope the guys would want that one also after being flat out embarrassed on national TV last time around. If we are short-handed against the Celtics I hope we get the same amount of effort as we played with tonight. Knocking down a couple shots and grabbing a few boards wouldn't hurt either.
#33
Niall Doherty
02/09/09 10:29 PM
@ chefcdb: If we had won that game tonight though, it would have been the most beautiful ugly game I'd ever seen.
Good point about the Orlando game. If CP and Tyson come back on Wednesday, there's a small chance we could get a huge emotional lift and beat the Celtics, but much more likely is that both guys will be rusty and we get blown out anyway. And of course it's possible that an injury gets reaggravated and then we're kicking ourselves. Better safe than sorry.
@ YoungFella: Posey played terrible tonight, but nine times out of ten he's not gonna beat Marc Gasol for a rebound. We needed a bigger body in there. I would have preferred to see Marks ahead of Ely, since the latter has actually been pretty poor on the boards for us this season. He doesn't really have the athleticism or the energy to rebound well.
www.ndoherty.com #34