Simple fact: the Hornets need to win one of these final two regular season games to secure the 6 seed. Otherwise, the Mavs and Jazz will have a say in our playoff positioning.
For more info, check Ryan's thorough breakdown of the seeding battle posted over at today's Daily Dime (#9 in the sidebar).
Regarding tonight's opponent, the Houston Rockets, they're in their own battle for playoff positioning so this is also an important game for them. Currently they hold the 4 seed but they have work to do to secure homecourt advantage.
We last met the Rockets a month ago in New Orleans, losing 84-95. We're 1-2 against them this season.
Yao is back from a foot injury so the Rockets will be at full strength. The Hornets are hoping to have Tyson back for Wednesday's game in San Antonio, though it might be best not to get your hopes up.
Game tips at 7:30 Central. The Mavs host the TWolves at the same time, while Clippers @ Jazz starts a half hour later.
Linkage:
- Lagniappe: Charting CP's assists, Byron Scott's sense of humor, "Hornets Histrionics" and much more.
- Rival bloggers: Houston Chronicle | Rockets Buzz | The Dream Shake
(Many thanks to Dariusz for the banner and the above image.)
37 articulate comments post your own
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 05:57 PM
Interesting: The Hornets last played the Rockets on my birthday. This time they play them on Ryan's birthday.
www.ndoherty.com #1
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 07:09 PM
Jordy just interviewed Byron on CST's pregame show. Very nice to hear Byron talking about how he needs to do a better job drawing up plays to get Peja good looks.
www.ndoherty.com #2
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 07:52 PM
Wow, Ely is having himself a GAME so far. Hook shot over Yao, offensive rebounds, drawing an offensive foul on Yao, diving on the floor. Me likey a lot.
Pity the refs didn't tag Yao with that second foul. Poor officiating there.
www.ndoherty.com #3
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 08:05 PM
Only up 22-19 after Q1, but I really like what I'm seeing from the Hornets. Chris Paul is playing like he wants the night off Wednesday, and everyone else is along for the ride. He's pulled off some incredible moves; I've picked my jaw up off the floor a half dozen times already.
www.ndoherty.com #4
mW
04/13/09 08:10 PM
Wow. David with 8-5 with 10:00 left in Q2.
www.hornetshype.com #5
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 08:19 PM
The reserves were doing well... until that 11-0 Rockets run. Time to get CP back in there. Nice effort by Posey so far.
www.ndoherty.com #6
Roc217
04/13/09 08:29 PM
I'm all for getting other guys shots but when butler misses 3 threes in a row its time to go away from him. People complain about DWest and CP taking all the shots but they are the only ones consistent. They can only keep giving them shots for so long
#7
mW
04/13/09 08:37 PM
What comes around goes around. Artest was miserable in the first half last game, and killed us in the second. Tonight, we went wicked cold in the first, but statistically, we should rebound. It's a 48 minute game.
www.hornetshype.com #8
ticktock6
04/13/09 08:39 PM
Yeah, when DWest passed up that long jumper and threw it to Butler in the corner, I was like, really David? REALLY?
It's amazing this game is as close as it is, with the ridiculously frigid shooting spell.
hornetshype.com #9
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 08:39 PM
Yeah, we really need those shots from Rasual but he couldn't drop them. This game turned around fast. Rockets woke up and started rebounding, and Chris Paul hasn't been able to get it going again since he came back in.
Good point by Gerry V about the Rockets closing out fast on shooters and we can't put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. I'm pleased with our effort out there still, but Houston just looks like the better team right now.
www.ndoherty.com #10
steve Huddleston
04/13/09 08:40 PM
Four points in the second quarter? The entire second quarter? Quatro. For the whole quarter. I am officially giving up on the Hornets post season. This team looks like Chris Paul and the 13 dwarves. Pitiful.
#11
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 08:41 PM
Mavs down 40-43 to the TWolves at the half.
Jazz up 30-17 on the Clippers early in Q2.
www.ndoherty.com #12
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 08:42 PM
@ steve: Huh? We scored 13 in the second quarter. Not that 13 is a lot, but it's much more than 4.
www.ndoherty.com #13
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 08:45 PM
We had a 14-9 rebounding advantage in Q1. At the half the Rockets have a 24-22 edge on the boards.
www.ndoherty.com #14
mW
04/13/09 08:49 PM
Free Mo Pete.
www.hornetshype.com #15
ticktock6
04/13/09 08:50 PM
So... we basically decided to stop rebounding and scoring. At the same time.
hornetshype.com #16
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 08:57 PM
So we're down 18 early in the third quarter, showing no signs of life. If the deficit is about the same entering the fourth, I say sit the starters for the rest of the game. A comeback will be highly unlikely, and we may need everybody at their best for Wednesday.
www.ndoherty.com #17
ticktock6
04/13/09 09:03 PM
OK, so Byron puts Posey in early when he SUCKS, but why not tonight? Why not try a different shooter? Basically anyone besides butler and Peja right now.
hornetshype.com #18
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 09:09 PM
The way this is going, the Rockets must really be hoping they meet the Hornets in the first round.
TWolves still up 3 late Q3 vs. Mavs.
www.ndoherty.com #19
mW
04/13/09 09:09 PM
This is a game you just have to let go and breathe deep, accepting early the loss. If they find a way to pull it out, great. If not, maybe they'll at least show us something.
www.hornetshype.com #20
ticktock6
04/13/09 09:11 PM
Me: Would it kill us to put in JuJu or Mo Pete right now?
mW: The thing about this season is you just don't know what you're going to get from those guys.
Me: Can it be worse than this? No, I mean statistically. MATHEMATICALLY.
hornetshype.com #21
Roc217
04/13/09 09:15 PM
I swear some of these players have check out mentally
#22
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 09:16 PM
I don't think it can get much worse than this. I say concede this one. Give a few guys their final minutes of PT this season and get CP and West some rest for Wednesday. The TWolves are looking good against Dallas now anyways, up 6 heading into the fourth.
www.ndoherty.com #23
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 09:17 PM
Nice: Daniels, JuJu and Devin Brown in to start Q4. Thank you, Byron.
www.ndoherty.com #24
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 09:19 PM
I must say, Gerry V is doing a great job of keeping the mood light on the radio broadcast. He has Sean Kelley splitting his sides laughing.
www.ndoherty.com #25
mW
04/13/09 09:20 PM
So if Byron has vocally been critical of Julian over the season, and he puts him in now in front of Mo. What does that say about what Byron thinks of Mo? And what is it exactly that he IS thinking about Mo?
www.hornetshype.com #26
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 09:38 PM
I have no idea what Byron's thinking about Mo. Injuries or no injuries, it's baffling how the guy can be a starter one season, and not even in the rotation the next.
TWolves by 5 with 3:13 left.
www.ndoherty.com #27
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 09:39 PM
64 points for the Hornets with 1:30 left. 65 is the franchise low for points scored in a game.
www.ndoherty.com #28
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 09:41 PM
And a Daniels jam gives us 66 points. I'm glad we don't have to read about a new franchise worst in the papers tomorrow.
86-66 the final.
www.ndoherty.com #29
Kolton
04/13/09 09:46 PM
We are currently down 21 pts. right now and I am truly sick to my stomach. I can understand the game going back and forth having many lead changes, but idk about any of you but I am just tired of them giving up huge runs. Yes, we are shooting terribly, but the main thing aggrivating me is our lack of effort on defense and not giving a full game's effort on the boards. If were not going to shoot well it is crucial we get those second chance shots. Please for once, Sean Marks, get a rebound. He is too big not to be getting atleast 8 or 9 a game off of the bench. It's not his effort it is his positioning he lets guys half his his size box him out and just take it from him. I have not missed a game yet this season, but I can tell you I have given up so good luck in San Antonio because I am expecting nothing but a loss, and a big one at that. I hope we like play the Lakers because he we come Kobe. Someone please post a comment back and make me feel somewhat better because right now I am on the verge of depression.
#30
mW
04/13/09 09:49 PM
I don't feel we didn't hustle this game. We knew we were undersized, we knew we were missing our best rebounder. We just missed tons of shots. That was the game. These things happen.
www.hornetshype.com #31
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 09:51 PM
Hold on for OT, TWolves. Pretty please.
www.ndoherty.com #32
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 09:52 PM
Dammit.
www.ndoherty.com #33
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 09:55 PM
So with Dallas and Utah winning tonight, there's still a possibility that we could fall to the 8 seed. Not that it will matter much who we play if tonight was any indication.
www.ndoherty.com #34
mW
04/13/09 09:56 PM
Dumb Wolves.
www.hornetshype.com #35
Niall Doherty
04/13/09 10:00 PM
@ Kolton: I can't offer you much hope. I thought we came out and gave it our best effort in the first quarter, then gradually ran out of steam while the Rockets built it up. They looked like a much better team tonight, ready for the playoffs.
Without a healthy Tyson, I'm not confident the Hornets can beat anyone in a 7-game series.
www.ndoherty.com #36
saltandcarbon
04/13/09 10:28 PM
Umm... damn. But yes, good call by Byron to pull the starters early.
And the Blazers. 71-38 over the Thunder with 8:00 to go in the third. They. Are. Rolling. Would be nice to avoid...
#37