Big test for the Hornets tonight in Boston. The Celtics have started 3-0, including huge blowouts of the Bulls and Bobcats in Beantown.
The C's are fully healthy (apart from Glen Davis), and provide all kinds of problems at both ends of the floor. They've shown a balanced offensive attack and stingy defense in all three of their wins.
The Hornets haven't inspired confidence in their opening two games, getting blown out in San Antonio on Wednesday, and needing all 48 minutes to beat the visiting Kings on Friday.
Still, no telling how tonight's game will turn out, especially since Chris Paul could unleash the dragon on Rajon Rondo.
On the injury front, Ike Diogu reportedly practiced yesterday but will remain inactive for this one with a strained left knee.
Linkage:
- Lagniappe: Rip Hamilton, rookie treatment, and dismissing the notion that Chris Paul puts up big numbers because he dribbles around a lot.
- Ray Allen does Halloween better than you
- Rival bloggers: CelticsBlog | CelticsHub.com (THN) | RedsArmy.com
(Many thanks to Dariusz for the banner. Plenty more lined up.)
28 awesome comments post your own
mW
11/01/09 04:39 PM
For once, we need to start out strong. Like we did in San Antonio (also on the road), only minus that 30-0 bench thing where we fall into an unsurmountable hole. Let's hope the angry CP comes out and he has an angry team with him.
www.hornetshype.com #1
Dariusz Ejkiewicz
11/01/09 05:36 PM
Bobby Brown was TERRIBLE so far. 3 Turnovers ... 3 shots for three (1 made) in like 3-4 minutes ?:| And there is no playmaking on his part it's just shooting and bad decisions. I thought we actually had a steal in that trade, no way. DARREN COLLISON !!!!!
www.ejkiewicz.com #2
Zwie
11/01/09 05:42 PM
luckily im able to wathc this game. so heres some notes that ive tooken so far..
heres the first quarter:
Wright had a fast break and a 3 pointer
Rondo injured in first 5 min. on a runner, but stayed in the game.
6:33 bobby brown comes in for Paul? Paul doesn’t return till 2nd quarter
Peja 6:12 for Peterson
Celtics go on 4-0 run as soon as Paul leaves. Make score 10-11
Brown 2-5, 3 or 4 turnovers himself.
Posey in at 4:59 for Wright
Armstrong In at 3:30 for emaka immediate turnover
Offense very stagnant sense Paul left. VERY STAGNANT SINCE PAUL LEFT
7 turnovers for hornets first quarter.
4 for Boston
16-6 points in the paint, favor Boston.
Many open looks because west has to help with Perkins for Armstrong
Peja doesn’t take one shot DUE TO browns lack of vision.
20-22 score at end of quarter
Hornets 47 % FG
#3
SavageHenry
11/01/09 05:43 PM
22-20 in a quarter where cp plays just 5 minutes? i'll take it. defense and rebounding looking good. fewer turnovers would be nice
#4
Mark
11/01/09 05:54 PM
I guess one way to control the game with our bench is by fouling...
www.dogpile.com/ #5
mW
11/01/09 05:57 PM
If I had the power to kill people with my mind, Collision would be our back-up PG. By default.
www.hornetshype.com #6
Dariusz Ejkiewicz
11/01/09 05:58 PM
I see Byron for another straight season but I still don't understand why his Rookies don't learn in gametime situations. He just benches them and they get no PT, the doghouse is getting really stupid. I hope we actually change the coach next year. Get even Avery Johnson, he atleast shows some life on the lines.
www.ejkiewicz.com #7
Mark
11/01/09 06:04 PM
Dariusz- You do get it: it's circular logic. Yes coach Scott is right when he says the rooks don't learn and understand. But he doesn't give them opportunities to learn and understand, IF he even plays them in game situations.
We need a coach who is good at developing players. Clearly, he is not one of them. If CP wasn't a demigod, then he'd still be a peddling bench player under coach Scott.
www.dogpile.com/ #8
Dariusz Ejkiewicz
11/01/09 06:07 PM
It's just such a frustration, how can 30k fans see it an he can't. People like Bobby Brown and Devin Brown just don't cut it for us, why use the roster spots for them if they are really doing the things bad and they won't be with this franchise for a long time. When on the contrary those rookies can be with the team for years to come and they aren't used at all.
Young player development is seriously an important factor. Look at the Spurs, of course they were loaded for years, but people like Many, Parker, Blair and many others were not high picks, heck I think they even drafter Barbosa in the late second round. And somehow they find time for them to develop on the international fields or in gametime situations and we don't do that because our coach is rookie-phobic.
www.ejkiewicz.com #9
Zwie
11/01/09 06:12 PM
heres what i got for the second quarter:
Brown 3-9, 3 or 4 turnovers himself. Brown shooting first, shooting second, passing NEVER!!!!!!!!!!
Celtics 3-11 from three
Rondo and Paul get into a little tussle double techniques given. Hard push from rondo.
Celtics more points in the paint. 10-20 last time I checked.
Hornets 5-11 from deep
Rebounding is excellent… hornets are outrebounding Celtics.
3 fouls for emeka
Hilton turnover as soon as he gets in game for emeka. although nice putback on a missed paul shot.
Hornets 11 turn overs
Celtics 5 turn overs
Rondo 6 assist. Paul 3
8 FTA for celtics
2 FTA for hornets.
Although Hilton had a nice put back
38:47 score celtics leading
#10
Mark
11/01/09 06:13 PM
Exactly. I'm fine with signing Devin Brown to veteran minimum. I'm fine with signing Bobby Brown to whatever he's getting (presumably quite low). The problem is, coach Scott opts to use said players over rookies. It's harder to correct a mistake of an established veteran than a rookie. Which is likely what coach Scott is avoiding: showing people he can't really coach and develop players.
Can't steam video, but I'm guessing we're real sloppy, fouls being 14-6, in our favour. At this rate, I hope it's a blow-out so we can at least see one of the rookies suit up.
www.dogpile.com/ #11
mW
11/01/09 06:14 PM
Anyone remember Courtney Lee at the BEGINNING of last year? The rookie looked horrible. By the end of the year? Starting for the NBA-Runner-Up Magic. Gee, I wonder why. Oh yeah, because he had all year to learn and force his talent to catch up to the pro game. I wish Byron would understand that story.
www.hornetshype.com #12
Mark
11/01/09 06:18 PM
Off topic, but did you guys see that 'Manu Ginobili kills a bat' video? As much as I hate His Floppiness, it was amazing. F'ing hilarious. Definitely a Top 10 play of Ginobili for 2009-2010.
www.dogpile.com/ #13
Dariusz Ejkiewicz
11/01/09 06:19 PM
http://i33.tinypic.com/sbowmp.gif
www.ejkiewicz.com #14
Akademik_Hooligan
11/01/09 06:23 PM
Even If PP is filling up for the Celts, Julian has been very good. Talking about Coach Scott & young players is like banging your head against a brick wall - He's only ever made one risky decision with a "young" player, and that was to give a 25-year-old fluffy, entering his 3rd season, the starting job at the 4. His time is up, and it's a shame, that despite the brilliant 2007-08, and all the good work laying the foundations in horrible circumstances before that, most Bees fans will be glad to see the back of him. It's awful watching the 2 Browns who've never impressed in the league (kay, Divin was semi-decent for us in 2006-07) getting game time ahead of 2 promising rookies. Mo-Pete you can allow because he has a decent track record in the league even if he's in decline.
#15
Akademik_Hooligan
11/01/09 06:26 PM
Oh, & Hilton making Perkins look like Hakeem the dream in the post.
#16
LSUhornet
11/01/09 06:43 PM
CP3 has 3 fouls and we have him guarding Ray Allen. Genius. Not having a 2 guard is killing us.
#17
LSUhornet
11/01/09 06:44 PM
I do not remember Mo Pete being this inept defensively 2 years ago.
#18
Zwie
11/01/09 06:51 PM
HUGE COMEBACK OMG!!!!
CP3 IS AMAZING......
DIDNT TAKE ANY NOTES FROM THIS QUARTER. BUT JUST KNOW IF U DIDNT C THE GAME,.. CHRIS PAUL IS GOD!
#19
LSUhornet
11/01/09 06:59 PM
We just got beat on a pick n roll with eddie house and mr. candace parker after bobby brown chucked a quick jumper. This could be getting away from us. We need the starters + peja back in.
#20
mW
11/01/09 06:59 PM
CP rules. BB6 is horrible. We're still in it. Despite Byron.
www.hornetshype.com #21
LSUhornet
11/01/09 07:11 PM
Why in god's name is bobby brown checking in with 3min left???
#22
Zwie
11/01/09 07:12 PM
idk...... but just tell peja that the 3 is back in style and to keep em coming...
#23
Akademik_Hooligan
11/01/09 07:15 PM
I want to Strangle Byron sometimes. It's a knife to JuJu's heart that the chucker is in the game now.
#24
LSUhornet
11/01/09 07:24 PM
Well it's not just Hornets fans that think Byron's lineups are insane:
Brian Robb (CelticsHub/TrueHoop Network):
Not a good sign for the Hornets: Bobby Brown getting crunchtime minutes here. He has thrown up 12 shots in just 17 minutes tonight, hitting just 3 of them.....
#25
Dmon3k
11/01/09 08:06 PM
Chris Paul(notes) had 22 points and eight assists for New Orleans, and then had to be held back after the game when he tried to follow the Celtics off the court to their locker room.
What's that about?
#26
Akademik_Hooligan
11/01/09 08:35 PM
Rondo I suspect.
#27
Niall Doherty
11/01/09 08:35 PM
You know, I can't get mad at Bobby Brown chucking like that. Obviously he's been given the green light to do so. Not sure why that light is still green when he's shooting just 8-of-28 FGs in 62 minutes of PT, but that's really not his problem. I hope Byron sees fit to pull him aside and have him get guys like Songaila more shots. Songaila is 3-of-5 from the field in 32 minutes so far this season. He can do a lot more damage than that offensively if given the chance.
Our guys showed some fight to stay in this one, but I don't think we saw the best of the Celtics tonight. Glad the Hornets made a game of it anyways. I really enjoyed that third quarter.
www.ndoherty.com #28