The Hornets kick off a three-game road trip tonight in Sacramento. They'll visit the Clippers tomorrow and the Warriors on Friday. Beyond that we'll have seven games left in the regular season, all against teams with winning records. So, yeah, best to take care of business on this trip.
The Kings are 16-56 on the season, making them the worst team in the NBA right now. They can be dangerous though, as we well know from their win in New Orleans back in November. Also, two of the their three wins this month have come against the Nuggets and Suns.
The Hornets have beaten the Kings twice since that November meeting, 99-90 in December and 112-105 in February.
Game tips a 9 p.m. Central tonight. Watch for Vlade's jersey retirement ceremony at halftime.
Other games to keep an eye on this eve (all times Central): Mavs @ TWolves (7:00), Thunder @ Spurs (7:30), Knicks @ Nuggets (8:00), Jazz @ Blazers (9:00). Check the full standings here.
Linkage:
- Ryan's game preview
- Journals: Injuries and Replacement
- Lagniappe: 6 on 6, Tyson's blog, Hornets-Spurs playoff thoughts and bundles more.
- Rival bloggers: Sac Bee Kings Blog | Sactown Royalty
(Many thanks to Dariusz for the banner and the above image.)
58 remarkable comments post your own
YoungFella
03/31/09 08:21 PM
@ Ryan: I liked the "subjugate some Kinds" headline on the previous article. That made me LOL.
Hey a buddy and I were just talking and we have a conspiracy theory that Tyson's injury is really not his ankle but his toe. And that the Hornets don't want to admit that b/c it would be easy for an opposing team to stomp his toe in Game 1 of Round 1.
Probably not likely, but it seems to make more sense than "walking double double who is playing his best basketball of the year Tyson Chandler all of a sudden is out 3 weeks from an ankle injury that nobody even saw."
His original injury v's the Pacers was obvious. This last ankle injury - wha' happened? It doesn't add up.
#1
Caleb462
03/31/09 08:35 PM
Well the ankle has been bothering him all season, so I dont think its that surprising that it started acting up even though there was no obvious incident or contact... that we know of atleast.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #2
chefcdb
03/31/09 08:53 PM
We'll have to go back to the last couple of games that Tyson played. He had a jump ball in the 2nd half -- I can't remember vs which team -- and landed without putting pressure on that ankle. Cox caught it on TV right when it happened, and Jordy asked him about it and he just said it was still tender. He tried to gut out another game or 2, but his lift was gone and the ankle was blown up again.
Big guys often have foot problems. Remember Big Z had major problems with his feet for two seasons with the Cavs, and the list goes on&on. A bum ankle for a big-boned leaper like Tyson is a significant injury, one that has really nagged at him the entire season. It limits him in so many ways: no explosions for sprinting or jumping: hard to ballast yourself to press on D against the other team's center; messes with your timing to rebound or block shots because you don't know if you can jump where you want to go; it's painful to turn on a dime to make a cut or to show in perimeter help D, etc.
It's sad the stat that is gaining prevalence about the Hornets now: only 25 games with their top starters all on the floor together, with the Bees winning 19-6 in those few games. Will this team get healthy in time to create havoc in the playoffs? I wouldn't want to shake a Magic 8 Ball because I really don't know that I'll like my odds for a positive, healthy outcome.
This will be something else to see if Kevin Martin plays like he wants to be on fire all game. Last time we played the Kings in Sactown, Martin seemed uninterested in shooting until his absolutely torrid 4th quarter. I'd bet he wants to get his flamethrower going early this go around, and I'll be curious to see if we can contain one of the more underrated one-on-one scorers in the NBA when he wants to play spoiler vs another playoff team tonight.
www.greengoddessnola.com #3
bigindian15
03/31/09 08:59 PM
Lol the weird thing about that stat is it keeps changing. I've seen 20-3, 20-4, 19-5, now 19-6
An ankle injury doesn't need to be re-rolled or have a clearly visible turn or anything, he might have just tweaked it like a back injury or groin injury or something. It also could just be that he's not at 100%, as as a big dude who is responsible for a lot in the playoffs and relies solely on athleticism, the team might just be saying the injury is worse than it is (no wait, listen to this!). They might be saving him until he's 100%, then when he comes back teams will THINK he's just off the injury and like 80-90%, but he's actually 100%. GENIUS!
#4
Niall Doherty
03/31/09 09:04 PM
The first Hornets game I haven't attended since March 14. Wow.
Mavs are cruising in Minnesota, Nuggets up big on the Knicks in the first half, Spurs down double figures in the third vs. OKC. Let's go Thunder.
www.ndoherty.com #5
Niall Doherty
03/31/09 09:05 PM
@ bigindian: I believe 19-5 is the right number. Ryan went back and double-checked it after he first posted it as 20-4.
www.ndoherty.com #6
420ftJesus
03/31/09 09:25 PM
Too much scoring. They are on pace for a 160 to 160 regulation game through ~6 minutes. That's unacceptable and awesome?
#7
ChrisTrew.com
03/31/09 09:41 PM
League Pass is being all funky tonight. Can someone sum up the first quarter in 5 words? (got it working now)
www.christrew.com #8
mW
03/31/09 09:50 PM
Thunder beat the Spurs!
www.hornetshype.com #9
Caleb462
03/31/09 09:51 PM
5 words? Sactown hit several three pointers.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #10
mW
03/31/09 10:02 PM
I got your 5 words: this sucks big fat balls.
www.hornetshype.com #11
Mikey
03/31/09 10:02 PM
must..... stop....... fouling
#12
ChrisTrew.com
03/31/09 10:06 PM
i gotta move back to new orleans.
www.christrew.com #13
mW
03/31/09 10:09 PM
Every now and then, I call Ju-Ju just Ju. And it always sounds weird when said aloud. I'm not sure if it becomes wrong or not.
www.hornetshype.com #14
saltandcarbon
03/31/09 10:09 PM
Shooting 57% with 3 turnovers and BEHIND?! The Bees must be running that new jazz-hands defense - all wiggle, no oomph.
#15
saltandcarbon
03/31/09 10:12 PM
@mW: Opposite corner of the country, maybe wrong...
#16
420ftJesus
03/31/09 10:17 PM
@ Trew: We would miss you, and the comedy could use the boost.
#17
420ftJesus
03/31/09 10:18 PM
@Trew: Should be We do miss you.
#18
bigindian15
03/31/09 10:20 PM
Wait wait, does that mean that when JuJu make a big dunk, we can call him "the flying Ju?" Because I think that's GREAT. I can hear it now...
Mike Tirico: "What a dunk by the flying Ju!"
Mark Jackson: "That dunk was unquestionably the best dunk of all time. Julian Wright, well done"
JVG: "Did you see Kenyon Martin flop under him?? He always flops! Flop! Flop!!!"
Mike Tirico: "hahaha...I love you guys..."
#19
Niall Doherty
03/31/09 10:21 PM
I liked that first half. The Kings settled for long J's in the first quarter, even if they weren't really open. They just knocked them down. Best thing Sacto did in the first half was get to the free throw line so much (18-of-21 from there), but we caught up to them in that regard (we're 16-of-20 from the line). The Kings are also looking after the ball, but so are we (7 turnovers between the two teams).
Great rebounding from our guys and much better looks than the Kings offensively. We're shooting 59% and dominating on the boards. I loved the defense of our second unit to start Q2, giving up just 7 points in the first 6 minutes.
Pity Hilton is in foul trouble and I'm worried about West's ankle. First night of a segababa against a bad team. Should he be left out there and risk serious injury?
www.ndoherty.com #20
Niall Doherty
03/31/09 10:25 PM
Wow, with that Spurs loss to OKC, we'll be within one game of them if we can beat the Kings tonight. Considering all the injuries we've had, that's amazing.
www.ndoherty.com #21
Niall Doherty
03/31/09 10:26 PM
Nuggets beat the Knicks. They claim the second spot in the West.
Methinks I'll skip the Vlade lovefest and watch Jazz vs. Blazers.
www.ndoherty.com #22
Niall Doherty
03/31/09 10:32 PM
Man, Blazers are killing the Jazz. Up 19 in the third quarter. If Portland gets it done tonight and the Hornets beat the Kings, we should jump ahead of Utah into the 6th seed.
www.ndoherty.com #23
bigindian15
03/31/09 10:52 PM
What happened to West's ankle? The Kings announcers won't shut up about it
#24
mW
03/31/09 10:54 PM
@ Niall: I would agree with you on the SAC jumpers, but they KEEP HITTING THEM.
www.hornetshype.com #25
Mikey
03/31/09 10:58 PM
The Hornets have to actually defend. They cannot wait for the Kings to cool off. Leaving Kevin all alone where he can dribble twice, clean his fingernails, take the garbage out, and check his stock portfolio before shooting, is probably not a good idea.
#26
Mikey
03/31/09 11:01 PM
We're not playing with enough defensive anything to win this game.
#27
Niall Doherty
03/31/09 11:03 PM
West is hurting us defensively right now. I don't think it's smart having him out there, risking further injury. Go small ball and run these guys off the floor. If we lose, at least we don't kill West doing it.
www.ndoherty.com #28
mW
03/31/09 11:08 PM
@ Niall: yeah, but he's the only one scoring, other than the odd Rasual 3.
www.hornetshype.com #29
Mikey
03/31/09 11:11 PM
Zone look to start the 4th... by both teams.
#30
mW
03/31/09 11:11 PM
Free Mo Pete.
www.hornetshype.com #31
Mikey
03/31/09 11:22 PM
Hey look, somebody unlocked the bus, and let the defense out.
#32
420ftJesus
03/31/09 11:23 PM
CP3 is The Ultimate Closer . . . I hope . . .
#33
mW
03/31/09 11:32 PM
So Julian is 7-8 from the field, and keep in Devin Brown instead? Byron. YAASMF. Figure it out.
www.hornetshype.com #34
mW
03/31/09 11:39 PM
Kings 14-24 from deep. Come on.
www.hornetshype.com #35
bigindian15
03/31/09 11:41 PM
ouch
#36
mW
03/31/09 11:41 PM
WHY THE F*#&$%K is DEVIN BROWN ON THE FLOOR????? Misses 2 free throws and then gets beat by Beno Udrih for the winner. Nice.
www.hornetshype.com #37
saltandcarbon
03/31/09 11:42 PM
Missed free throws. Goddamnnit.
#38
bigindian15
03/31/09 11:43 PM
OH DAMN!!!!!!!!!!
#39
mitch
03/31/09 11:44 PM
The Phoenix for 3!
#40
saltandcarbon
03/31/09 11:44 PM
Not the winner mW, just the false hope...
THE PHOENIX RISES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#41
420ftJesus
03/31/09 11:44 PM
Happiness reigns.
#42
Gaiking
03/31/09 11:44 PM
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! AMAZING!!!!!!!!! GOOOOOO HORNETS!!!!!!!!!!!!
#43
saltandcarbon
03/31/09 11:44 PM
@mW: Your comment still valid though.
#44
Gaiking
03/31/09 11:45 PM
I want to see that play again and again and again until I fall asleep if I can tonight. That was freaking awesome. :D
#45
mW
03/31/09 11:47 PM
My throat is raw from screaming at the television. My landlord above may be moving to evict me.
www.hornetshype.com #46
ChrisTrew.com
03/31/09 11:50 PM
I totally called it!
www.christrew.com #47
Gaiking
03/31/09 11:51 PM
@mQ: I woke up my fiancee with my screaming as well as running around the place :P (We have to wake up in 5 hours to finish our packing/moving but I think I wont be able to sleep anytime soon)
#48
Smogan
03/31/09 11:52 PM
What a buzzkill for the Kings and their fans!
#49
jlam
03/31/09 11:53 PM
Oh my.
#50
bigindian15
03/31/09 11:57 PM
@smogan: "buzzkill" for this might be the greatest pun all year. Hopefully Gil McGregor doesn't start using it every game...
#51
thekourt
03/31/09 11:58 PM
Given how much crap Byron gets online, you gotta give him credit for that last play. The Kings may not play any defense, but Sual was WIDE OPEN for the three, and it's gutsy as a coach to design a last-second play for anyone other than CP3 and DWest. Props to Byron for giving the shot to Sual.
And of course, props to DWest for being an absolute gladiator...
#52
Ryan Schwan
03/31/09 11:58 PM
Wow. What a finish. Wow.
www.hornets247.com #53
mW
04/01/09 12:00 AM
@ thekourt: yes, great last play by Byron. But why he played Devin so long over either Julian or Mo, I can't fathom or excuse.
www.hornetshype.com #54
bigindian15
04/01/09 12:06 AM
@mW: well, Devin wasn't exactly playing awful up until the end of the game...granted, the flying Ju was playing much better, but who knows. Did we ever find out Devin had naked pictures of to keep getting pt early in the season? Maybe he got more...
#55
Smogan
04/01/09 12:09 AM
I was hoping for Daniels to get more action at the two spot, but there really isn't much hope for him staying in front of Martin. Quick guards of the Ginobli/Martin mold are a tough matchup for us. I feel that Devin is a pretty awful fit with the starting group, seeing as how he needs the ball to be successful, and so I was surprised to see him in there at the end.
#56
chefcdb
04/01/09 01:12 AM
Big shot by Rasual, of course, but it was also a textbook on why bad teams lose games with poor defense. First, Garcia just gave up when he ran into the pick that DX set on Nocioni. I'm sure the Kings were operating on switch everything mode, but the way Butler zoomed up from behind Nocioni and the super solid wall made by West's pick made Nocioni getting there impossible. I blame Garcia for lack of effort. There was hardly enough time, even if both Noch and Garcia left West to roll to the hoop, for a pass to be made and West to make the shot. Leaving Butler wide open because you quit playing D, bad on Garcia.
Also, Kevin Martin neither put pressure on Devin's entry pass to SuBop, nor did Martin get back to try to effectively challenge the 3 pt shot. Martin made a little lunge that utterly lacked defensive intensity; he may as well been in the stands instead of "guarding" the inbounds pass.
Nonetheless, the Kings were scorching it from deep, perhaps feeling good about themselves after whipping up on PHX. Methinks the Hornets may want to tighten up their 3 pt D, because the Spurs missed beaucoup from downtown while the Kings were unconscious tonight.
I think we had to keep DX in the game tonight. You can gimp thru a game when injured, and DX had a gutsy game, kinda in the league with his playoff effort vs Spurs last year the game after he was brutalized and hurt his back. I mean if we have to let West rest vs Clippers, so be it. We needed this 1st game of the trip badly, and we'll have to find ways to get past the Clips and play some wacky small ball vs GState if DX can't go.
This was such a clutch shot for the team and for Rasual! Wow, add in the Spurs losing and the Jazz showing why they are the Great Pretenders getting trounced up in Portland, and this was a potentially huge momentum shot by Butler.
www.greengoddessnola.com #57
Niall Doherty
04/01/09 01:28 AM
Recap just posted:
http://www.hornets247.com/blog/2009/04/01/the-hornets-beat-the-kings
Agreed with the lousy Sacto D on the last play, but also that it was a good move by Byron to give Rasual that shot. When CST interviewed Butler after the game, he was talking about how good it felt because he'd worked so hard last summer. I'm sure that must have been hugely satisfying for him, and hopefully it gets him rolling again for the stretch run.
Regarding Devin Brown, I also thought he gave us good minutes tonight, at least for the most part. He did hurt us with those missed free throws at the end, but I can't be mad at him for giving up that shot to Udrih. That wasn't an easy shot and Udrih isn't the guy you expect to be shooting in the clutch. Devin was good at the top of that zone with CP. He also ran the floor and made some nice plays in the second quarter when Chris was on the bench. Another nice game from our reserves overall.
www.ndoherty.com #58