Hornets and Suns on TNT tonight, live from New Orleans Arena. Game tips at 7 p.m. Central.
We saw the PHX just last week, when they dropped 124 points on the Hornets in Byron Scott's last game as coach. The Suns lost to the Lakers the next night but have since bounced back with wins over Toronto and Houston.
The Hornets will of course be without Chris Paul this time, but it should be interesting to see what adjustments Jeff Bower and Tim Floyd have put in place to try slow the Phoenix roll.
Once again, I'll be chatting live during the game over at ESPN's Daily Dime. Should be a lot of Hornets-Suns talk there tonight as there's only one other game on at the same time.
Linkage:
- Earlier on the blog: Next Few Games will be a Bellwether
- Journals: Rant at Non-Fans About Tanking | Positive Notes
- Rival bloggers: Bright Side of the Sun | Valley of the Suns
(Many thanks to Dariusz for the banner.)
40 legendary comments post your own
420ftJesus
11/19/09 04:54 PM
First.
Odds on the firing-someone-after-the-Suns-game event becoming a trend if we lose?
#1
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 06:11 PM
The might fire one of the ball boys or something, but that'll be about the extent of it ;-)
www.ndoherty.com #2
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 06:15 PM
INJURY UPDATE:
Spoke to Sean Marks and Ike Diogu in the locker room a few minutes ago. Ike says he has been doing nothing but resting that sprained left knee for the past few weeks but will get reevaluated tomorrow. He didn't sound hopeful about getting back on the court any time soon.
Marks told me that he's been suffering from some shoulder pain, but he's taking shots and battling through it. He'll be ready when called tonight.
www.ndoherty.com #3
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 06:23 PM
Flashback to the 2003-04 season tonight, as noted by the T-P's Jimmy Smith. Back then, Tim Floyd was the Hornets head coach, and Jeff Bower and Alvin Gentry were two of his assistants. Now Gentry is the head coach of the visiting Phoenix Suns.
TRIVIA: Name Tim Floyd's other two assistant coaches during the 2003-04 season.
www.ndoherty.com #4
Dariusz Ejkiewicz
11/19/09 06:49 PM
Kenny Gattison and Van Breda Kolff... I even have a picture for it. You wanna see?
www.ejkiewicz.com #5
Dariusz Ejkiewicz
11/19/09 06:50 PM
http://i46.tinypic.com/2ivd6bb.jpg
I made this when I was running hornets.xcom.pl WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY Back in the day :d
www.ejkiewicz.com #6
mW
11/19/09 06:59 PM
The Suns shots look off in warm ups. This game is ours.
www.hornetshype.com #7
ChrisTrew.com
11/19/09 07:02 PM
Should I eat three small tacos or a giant burrito during this game?
www.christrew.com #8
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 07:15 PM
Haha, nice Dariusz. You got 'em.
www.ndoherty.com #9
SaveYourBoredom
11/19/09 08:02 PM
For the love of God can they take Posey out of the game? Could that guy give less of a ****?
Arrghh!
#10
Jib
11/19/09 08:30 PM
saveyourboredom I am with you on that, the guy does nothing it is bad when Devin Brown should play more than him....
#11
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 08:39 PM
In Posey's defense... ahh forget it.
www.ndoherty.com #12
winze
11/19/09 09:10 PM
posey wanted another ring when he signed
doesn't see himself getting one now, think we try to trade him to a contender if anyone actually wants him and get back an expiring contract.
maybe let Devin Brown wear his jersey atm and pplz mite be fooled into thinking his worth it
#13
Caleb462
11/19/09 09:49 PM
Hey guys... we just WON, against a 10-2 team.
I never thought I'd be so excited to get to 5-8, but I am. Especially when the rookies were the guys getting it done. Thorton with 19 points on 12 shots, and Collison with 15/5/5
5-8 doesn't seem too bad at all, especially with some weaker teams coming up on the schedule.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #14
SaveYourBoredom
11/19/09 09:52 PM
I sort of kind of retract my statement about Posey. He's certainly better in the final few minutes of the game... It's too bad he doesn't care the rest of the time.
Wow. I am indescribably happy about this win. Wow.
I love Collison. I no longer want to trade Okafor.
#15
SaveYourBoredom
11/19/09 09:53 PM
Anybody know anything about Thornton?
#16
SaveYourBoredom
11/19/09 09:58 PM
One more thing: People will probably criticize David West for his performance tonight. I do not. He was double-teamed when he played and opened things up. Since Paul's gone out, I've actually seen him talking to his teammates. He's "stepping up" as the leader. I sure wish he would've stopped those Stoudemire dunks in the final few minutes though.
#17
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 10:00 PM
Gerry V just told me Thornton got his ankle taped and was back on the bench in the fourth quarter, ready to play if needed. I'll try find out more in the locker room later.
www.ndoherty.com #18
stormsurge
11/19/09 10:03 PM
I know we beat the current best team in the West, but you know we should still be tanking the season....
www.stormsurgephoto.com #19
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 10:07 PM
Bower confirmed that Thornton wanted to go back in the game after the ankle sprain.
www.ndoherty.com #20
SaveYourBoredom
11/19/09 10:18 PM
Thanks Niall.
#21
emir
11/19/09 10:19 PM
storm shut up seriously
i know theirs a freedom of speach thing and all but
no one here wants to hear it
we come here to support the team and it bugs me when people want a team to lose on purpose
#22
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 10:19 PM
Just got back from the locker room. Thornton said he twisted his right ankle after landing on a fan's foot on the sideline. He got it taped up and felt he could have gone back in the game if needed. Had it iced up in the locker room, will see how it feels tomorrow but he doesn't expect to miss much time.
Lagniappe: Thornton has a tattoo across his chest that reads "Protected by God, I fear no man."
www.ndoherty.com #23
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 10:20 PM
Emir, I think stormsurge was being sarcastic.
www.ndoherty.com #24
stormsurge
11/19/09 10:29 PM
Thorton is clearly awesome.
And I was being VERY sarcastic Emir
www.stormsurgephoto.com #25
mW
11/19/09 10:32 PM
@Stormsurge. Awesome, man. Totally. Ticktock6 and I kept turning to each other throughout this great game, and wondering how people could even talk about tanking. I mean, this game, this excitement, is precisely why people are basketball fans.
www.hornetshype.com #26
Caleb462
11/19/09 10:35 PM
mw.... seconded.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #27
SaveYourBoredom
11/19/09 10:39 PM
How about when Chris Paul comes back and they play him and Collison at the same time? I'm salivating...
#28
emir
11/19/09 10:42 PM
oh my bad lol i just over reacted lol
#29
BringEmOut02
11/19/09 10:45 PM
Niall, much obliged on the Thornton update. :-)
Ticktock - likewise to you on Twitter.
www.twitter.com/bringemout02 #30
winze
11/19/09 10:46 PM
Posey seems to literally only have 10 good minutes in him a game, and that seems to be those 10 minutes when he gives a crap
Collison is proving to be pretty clutch, looks like the product of 4 years of college ball are showing.
The offense just looks so much better with moving parts and ball movement!!!! Chris Paul spoiled the team for last few years and relied on his magic.
I'm still also trying to figure out who is impersonating Devin Brown every 2nd game....
#31
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 10:48 PM
A few quick notes from the media room:
- The Hornets 13 three-point makes were just two shy of the franchise record.
- The Hornets collected more offensive rebounds (25) than the Suns collected defensive rebounds (24).
- Collison's big three in the fourth quarter was the first three-pointer of his NBA career.
www.ndoherty.com #32
Borris Mart
11/19/09 10:48 PM
Niall, like the locker room access - is this going to be a frequent affair?
#33
mW
11/19/09 10:51 PM
@ Winze: that is exactly why everyone was dumbfounded that Byron insisted on playing Posey 24+ minutes a game last year. The man can be vital, but he plays a role. Put him in the position to make the right plays at the right time, and he can help you win.
www.hornetshype.com #34
winze
11/19/09 11:01 PM
Scott used Posey as a 6th man, and that was basically the problem i think
Looks like Thornton could be our 6th man!!!
too short.... PFFT....
Jason Terry 6-2
Ben Gordon 6-3
Eric Gordon 6-3
worst excuse for not playing a player, even a rookie ever
#35
Niall Doherty
11/19/09 11:10 PM
@ Morris Bart: Yes. I won't be at the Atlanta game on Saturday, but I should make most home games and have media access. Much appreciation goes to the Hornets PR people for hooking me up. A lot of teams won't give bloggers any type of access.
@ mW: Great point on Posey.
www.ndoherty.com #36
420ftJesus
11/19/09 11:26 PM
Juju? Is there an issue other than not earning minutes?
Hilton? Mo?
Okafor was good offensively in the first half and then stopped? Was that a product of D sitting?
The most impressive thing to me was how the team came back after their offensive lapse in the third. They did it without D as well. Production or lack of, aside, he's an all-star, our other one.
Good comeback, guys.
Good win.
Also, I had a nice time razzing my buddy's son who likes the Suns, but it was much nicer to see the guy in the suite below me in a Nash jersey in some pain. It's just better when the pain is coming from a suite, as food is better when it's free.
#37
bniz
11/19/09 11:44 PM
COACH BOWER: THANKS FOR LISTENING TO US! Thornton is the man! Let Juju and MoPete continue to ride the pine. They had 2-3 years to prove themselves.
#38
BringEmOut02
11/19/09 11:53 PM
Niall: "I should make most home games and have media access. Much appreciation goes to the Hornets PR people for hooking me up. A lot of teams won't give bloggers any type of access."
Am sure I'm not the only one silently praising Hornets PR right now. Seriously, you do good work here. Thank you.
www.twitter.com/bringemout02 #39
JChangNZ
11/20/09 02:43 AM
Hey Niall. If you could, pop a quick message all the way from NZ that we have not forgotten about our Marksy and Hornets support is alive and kickin' all the way from NZ!
#40