As New Orleans basks in the unprecedented glow of the Saints being Superbowl-bound, the Hornets are some 2000 miles Northwest and about to do battle with the Portland Trail Blazers. Game tips at 9 p.m. Central.
The Blazers are 27-18 overall, but just 6-5 in January. They're 16-7 at home this season and coming off an East-coast road trip that saw them go 2-2. They edged the Pistons on Saturday without leading scorer Brandon Roy; Martell Webster and LaMarcus Aldridge picking up the slack by scoring a combined 49 points. Point guard Andre Miller has been on a tear, averaging 19.5 points and 7.5 assists since the new year.
Portland has had some much-publicized injury woes this season. They may get Nicolas Batum back tonight, but according to The Oregonian they'll still be without Brandon Roy (right hamstring), centers Greg Oden (left knee) and Joel Przybilla (right knee) and forward Travis Outlaw (left foot), while Jerryd Bayless (left ankle) will be a game-time decision.
The Hornets are coming off a hard-fought overtime loss to the Nuggets in Denver on Saturday. David West sat that one out with an ankle sprain he suffered Friday in Minnesota, and he's listed as questionable for tonight's game.
This will be the second meeting of the season between these teams. They last met back on November 13th in New Orleans, which was Jeff Bower's first game as head coach of the Hornets. The Blazers won, 86-78, as the Hornets lost Chris Paul to an ankle injury in the third quarter.
Numbers:
Pace: Blazers 89.8 (30th), Hornets 94.1 (21st)
Offensive Efficiency: Blazers 107.9 (6th), Hornets 104.4 (15th)
Defensive Efficiency: Blazers 103.8 (15th), Hornets 105.7 (19th)
Linkage:
- Earlier on the blog: Measuring How the Hornets Create and Finish Shots
- Rival bloggers: Blaze of Love | Blazer's Edge | Bust a Bucket | Portland Roundball Society (THN)
(Many thanks to Dariusz for today's banner featuring Antonio Daniels. Be sure to check out more of Dariusz's designs in our Wallpapers vault.)
UPDATE:
Breaking News: Hornets trade Devin Brown to Bulls for Aaron Gray.
80 masterful comments post your own
benreed1088
01/25/10 03:10 PM
Hornets reportedly traded devin brown for Aaron Gray
http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2010/01/new_orleans_hornets_trading_de.html
#1
cl0verstreet
01/25/10 03:11 PM
Devin Brown was just traded for Aaron Gray. Not sure who he is but I hope it was smart. Brown was doing well.
#2
JCS
01/25/10 03:13 PM
Portland's team is handicapped, so it's time for a blow out.
Side note: Weird pic of CP and ROY.
lovethegame.tumblr.com #3
benreed1088
01/25/10 03:36 PM
i posted in a journal the scouting report on Aaron Gray
#4
peronas
01/25/10 04:19 PM
I'll be at this game tonight! We're gonna bring some Peja heads too with the hopes he'll see em, feel at home, and drain countless threes! hey anything to help him end this slump right...?
#5
JCS
01/25/10 04:23 PM
Brown for Gray Trade = EPIC FAIL
I'm from Chicago and as quiet as it's kept, I love the Bulls. However, my love for the Bulls stopped when Jordan left and the countless scrubs, like Gray, got signed to our team. For those of you who don't know who this bencher is, imagine Sean Marks with 30 lbs of flubber. Upgrade for the Hornets - I don't think so.
lovethegame.tumblr.com #6
TopherPrice
01/25/10 04:33 PM
What is Gray's contract like. This has to be a salary move. No-name for our "starting" 2 guard = WTF other than salary based move. We knew it was coming, but ok...
Again, why not dump a player that is not contributing in a salary dump? Oh well, I am just sucking it up and going to grin and bear it. Thank God for the Saints win, it is distracting me from this mess.
Who Dat!?!
#7
Niall Doherty
01/25/10 05:06 PM
Not sure how the trade makes sense. The Hornets cut about $100,000 in salary, but that still leaves them about $400k above the luxury tax threshold.
So I have to assume the primary reason for this trade by the Hornets was not to cut salary, but to add depth up front. Unfortunately, I'm not sure Gray is going to be much better than Hilton Armstrong in that role.
I'll put some more thoughts together later and post them with the game recap. Interested to hear everyone else's take on the deal.
www.ndoherty.com #8
urgmasdaughter
01/25/10 05:23 PM
This move is puzzling to me. If we're going to ship off D Bro we might as well get under the luxury tax. We cut $100,000... that's it? Sean Marks is on his way back so now we have a 3rd Center? Not a huge fan of this trade for two reasons:
First - We could've packaged the Browns and received more in return and cut more $ (Not sure what Gray's contract is like)
Second - That most likely moves Thorton as a starter and that makes our bench weaker something in which we've all discussed many times over.
Only way this works (for me): MoPete takes over the 2 for D Bro, and try to package a deal with Gray/B Brown & MoPete or Peja or we cut Gray & save the $
#9
420ftJesus
01/25/10 05:26 PM
Doesn't us picking up Gray now really allow us to:
a) Develop Marcus
b) Move Marks or Diogu if there is a taker, or maybe even Posey?
both of which are good?
Also, considering that they need to shed 400k to get 4000k (very Brewster's Millions . . . ) wouldn't they in some sense be very motivated to essentially give someone away, subject to matching rules?
Isn't capitalizing on talent you've developed also a good mark for both a GM and Coach? Or in this case, the all-powerful Hefe?
#10
ticktock6
01/25/10 05:28 PM
I wonder if they freaked when D West went down and remembered he and Okafor have been sharing a backup?
I don't know... there was another report (http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/8206596676) that said the Hornets are shopping Bobby to get the rest of the way under the cap. As much as I hate his shot selection, I'd be sad about that. Bobby Brown genuinely seems to like being part of this team. (I know, I know, that has nothing to do with whether his presence on the team does or not produce wins, but I can't help it.) I think the reasons for trading Devin are just as solid as they were a month ago-- and maybe more so because he's playing worse. But the reasons for taking someone back are... less clear.
hornetshype.com #11
ticktock6
01/25/10 05:29 PM
Wah, the site didn't close my tag. Sorry, sorry. It hates me. :-P
hornetshype.com #12
corndeaux
01/25/10 05:41 PM
great article detailing hornets substitution patterns. no idea how the trade will effect this
http://waynewinston.com/wordpress/?p=393
#13
Jib
01/25/10 06:54 PM
See ya Devin, I'll always remember him for the one man fastbreaks resulting in a charge haha
#14
QueenBee
01/25/10 07:29 PM
@Jib-LOL!!!
#15
Julia
01/25/10 07:33 PM
Is Gray going to be playing tonight? Geaux Hornets!!
also, I am so happy that our Saints are in the superbowl. Even if the Saints lose, I will still be semi happy because Peyton Manning went to my school..but i still want him to lose :/
#16
QueenBee
01/25/10 07:43 PM
Somehow I doubt Gray will be playing tonight.
#17
QueenBee
01/25/10 07:44 PM
What I would like to know though is who is starting tonight in Devin's place?
#18
Julia
01/25/10 07:45 PM
Thanks, QueenBee.
Is Mo Pete finally going to start??? or Thornton??
I'm wondering the same..
#19
QueenBee
01/25/10 08:32 PM
I am so glad I don't have to listen to Blazers' announcers.
#20
QueenBee
01/25/10 08:41 PM
Look at Gil and Licht talking to Mike Rice right now. I'd pay to see Gil punch him in the mouth right now. LOL!! Go ahead and get it out of the way early because you just know he's going to be talking all kinds of trash about our players.
#21
QueenBee
01/25/10 08:42 PM
His old arse looks like he's spitting on our CST mic. Uggh.
#22
QueenBee
01/25/10 08:45 PM
Somebody had better guard Montell Webster and Fernandez because they like to get hot from 3. And Jerryd Bayless likes to get in the paint and draw contact. Seems every road trip I see fans with CP3 jerseys on and other Hornets gear. That's cool to see on the road.
#23
LSUhornet
01/25/10 08:56 PM
@peronas I think you were just on TV on the pregame show. Saw a couple Hornets fans with Peja heads. Can't be that many.
After looking at the numbers and Hollinger's thoughts on the subjects I've decided that Gray is indeed going to be better than Hilton, just for the fact that he does rebound, which we desperately need. His numbers also look a lot better than Marks, except in fouls, where Gray was one of the worst bigs in the league. So, he's better than those two, but more valuable than Devin? I don't know yet. Less annoying? Most definitely.
#24
LSUhornet
01/25/10 08:57 PM
This just in from ESPN Marc Stein:
STEIN_LINE_HQ
Just filed to ESPN: Hornets trading CS Fullerton alumnus Bobby Brown to Clippers. Trade expected to be approved by league office Tuesday
#25
QueenBee
01/25/10 09:00 PM
Thornton starting.
#26
420ftJesus
01/25/10 09:08 PM
I saw someone I immediately thought was peronas. Little Peja heads, not face sized. Yeah? With a girl to your right pregame?
#27
Julia
01/25/10 09:18 PM
Hornets off to a red hot start. I love it and I love the hook up between CP and Marcus even more!
#28
QueenBee
01/25/10 09:23 PM
Blazer fans mad. I hope it doesn't affect the officiating because it seems they get a bit intimidated in the Rose Garden.
#29
mW
01/25/10 09:38 PM
Aggressive play so far from the Hornets. Like it.
www.hornetshype.com #30
420ftJesus
01/25/10 09:40 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=4858167
conditional second round future pick for Bobby. What ridiculous future year? I don't know.
~750k savings leaving ~300k of cap space.
Will they continue to try to move since the cap is supposed to lower next year?
Rookies paying dividend in both trades eh?
Mandate fulfilled? Develop young talent and save that money?
Next step... Juju?
Or, give me the 300k and let me see what I can do. I promise to return 90% of it if things don't work out.
Oh, yeah, this looks great so far... Let's see what our bench looks like...
#31
QueenBee
01/25/10 09:49 PM
Amazing how the refs stopped our fast break. Why is it that when a player is out he always picks the Hornets as the game to make his return?
#32
QueenBee
01/25/10 09:52 PM
Oh great. Now they're going to have Bayless looking like an All-Star out there. Also, while Posey shouldn't have swung his elbow like that, the refs seem to always watch Posey 'closely'. LOL!
#33
QueenBee
01/25/10 09:54 PM
And here go the calls. The Rose Garden.
#34
TheKeyMaster
01/25/10 09:55 PM
wow officiating so far sucks, also i thought at first the balzers' color guys were actually pretty objective but after 3 mins of listening to them i've realized that is the exact opposite of what tehy are
#35
Akademik_Hooligan
01/25/10 09:55 PM
Can see what Queen Bee mean about the Blazers announcers. Absolutely awful.
#36
QueenBee
01/25/10 09:56 PM
I was peed when I saw Ron Garretson's name when I checked the refs assignment for this game.
#37
QueenBee
01/25/10 09:58 PM
@Akademik_Hooligan-you're being punished by listening to those clowns? I feel for you.
Rudy wants to salute heh? I hope the Hornets light em up. LOL!
#38
MaxALM
01/25/10 09:58 PM
Are the refs going to call ANYTHING in favor of the Hornets? Yes, this is another one of those games. I'm thoroughly blaming the refs so far. This is BS. There should have been 3 or 4 more trips to the FT line AT LEAST. I've watched JuJu, Posey, West, and Paul get hacked in the paint!
#39
QueenBee
01/25/10 10:00 PM
@TheKeyMaster-The Blazers never do anything wrong and the opposing team does EVERYTHING wrong. I'd never hesitate to hit the mute button.
#40
QueenBee
01/25/10 10:01 PM
Aww Marcus. Pushing it too fast son.
#41
MaxALM
01/25/10 10:02 PM
by the way, Portland fans are so freakin obnoxious. Probably just as much as Boston fans. Every single shot the Blazers make, they legitimately act like it's a game-winning shot. OH MY GODDDDDDD 2 POINTS!!!!
#42
TheKeyMaster
01/25/10 10:02 PM
as much as you saints fans will hate to hear this it looks like the same officiating crew that was at the superdome last night hosing the vikes in OT
#43
QueenBee
01/25/10 10:03 PM
Webster had absolutely no where to go with that crap and they bailed him out because he yelled. The NBA makes me really sad sometimes.
#44
QueenBee
01/25/10 10:06 PM
Keep believing that TheKeyMaster. LOL! Keep believing that. The refs didn't turn the ball over five times. The refs didn't tell Brett to think that Tracy Porter was his teammate. If you wanna talk about the refs I think they were trying to give the Vikes the game but the Vikes wouldn't let them because they kept turning the ball over to the Saints. LOL!
#45
QueenBee
01/25/10 10:07 PM
Alright, stop leaving the 3 point line open!
#46
QueenBee
01/25/10 10:08 PM
LOL at Licht with all of his "OH MY GOODNESS!"
#47
QueenBee
01/25/10 10:09 PM
What is CP3 doing? What is his fg% in this game? Hornets better come out and FINISH STRONG!
#48
TheKeyMaster
01/25/10 10:10 PM
calls were bad all night in that game, not to mention the dirty play going at farve below the knees. vikings should have won and they did cough the game up, i'm not saying the refs are the reason they lost...buuuuuut you can't say the saints didn't benefit from every questionable call in OT. however i think the nfl OT rules are b.s. anyway if the vikes couldn't make it i'm glad to see the saints get to the SB, hopefully they beat the colts
#49
QueenBee
01/25/10 10:11 PM
Weren't the Hornets up like 24-8 at one time? Now we go into the half down by 2.
#50
mW
01/25/10 10:11 PM
Haven't thought the game has been poorly officiated. Most of the foul calls I disagreed with were at least close ones. Our guys just stopped scoring in the 2nd.
www.hornetshype.com #51
TheKeyMaster
01/25/10 10:12 PM
i personally think the vikes should trade adrian for a 1st and 2nd rounder, he cost us that game and at least 1 game in teh regular season. everytime he got the ball last night every vikings fan held their breath...
#52
mW
01/25/10 10:21 PM
Let's hope the Hornets can get back that 1st quarter magic in the 3rd.
www.hornetshype.com #53
Julia
01/25/10 10:23 PM
I semi agree with TheKeyMaster. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huuuge Saints fan but those calls were pretty controversial but (this is probably cheesy) it might have been faith. I believe that the Who Dat Nation has waited long enough for this and deserve a Black and Gold Superbowl. Let us bask in the glow.
#54
QueenBee
01/25/10 10:29 PM
@MaxALM-I've been saying that about the Rose Garden fans for quite a while. Each and every game is a game winner. LMAO!!
And LMAO @ that ref that tried to call Reggie's touchdown not a touchdown when he was right there looking at it. But Sean Payton challenged it to let them know he's not a p*nk. LOL!
Saints are going to the SUPERBOWL!
LET'S GEAUX HORNETS!!
#55
mW
01/25/10 10:36 PM
Hornets picking up the intensity this quarter. Nice to see. Let's hope they can keep on it as they transition through the bench....
www.hornetshype.com #56
Akademik_Hooligan
01/25/10 10:37 PM
Not a huge NFL being from the UK and all (soccer or what we call Football) is my number 1 sport, but the more i've read & heard about Favre, the more I think he got what he deserved.
#57
ChrisTrew.com
01/25/10 10:43 PM
Hornets are 4-1 in games that I catch up on the green bar on my DVR. Next commercial break I'll be live. Good news, H fans!
www.christrew.com #58
TheKeyMaster
01/25/10 10:59 PM
god these announcers are awful, i'm sure they will be waiting on their knees in the blazers locker room ready to get the "inside story"
#59
CVD
01/25/10 11:15 PM
Portland fans don't celebrate every shot like its a game-winner. You Hornet fans just aren't used to having more than 9 people at your home games, so you don't know what a real crowd sounds like. GO BLAZERS
#60
mW
01/25/10 11:19 PM
At least Blazers fans are humble as they are intelligent about the game. Oh, any moving pick by Rudy.
www.hornetshype.com #61
Akademik_Hooligan
01/25/10 11:20 PM
^ LOL.
Get back to hyping Greg "short on calcium" Oden.
#62
420ftJesus
01/25/10 11:23 PM
Saints - go watch the game on TiVo and read a rulebook then talk. It was a close game and both team have beef and the Vikings made more mistakes. It was a great game, but not the best execution by either team. Vikings fans by me were dancing and hugging folks. Classy folks.
Hornets - this Rudy guy should be dropped from an overpass.
No turning point here, it was just a game of creeping up by both teams. Riveting.
The overpass should be high and when there's alot of tanks being transported.
Some of these Portland fans need to take advantage of all the wonderful things around Portland, like hiking and rafting. Some good grub and coffeeshops, too, alog Burnside. Post and I'll reccommend. You poor, poor people. Like 10 of you I'm talking about.
#63
TheKeyMaster
01/25/10 11:24 PM
well considering the hornets are near the top of the league in capacity your statement is completely foolish, add in there are more things to do in NOLA than sit around and watch basketball games unlike in dull portland
#64
420ftJesus
01/25/10 11:25 PM
Short on calcium. Wonderful.
Na N/A ?
Anyone? Yeah?
Sad, I know.
#65
420ftJesus
01/25/10 11:28 PM
I'm tired. That's sodium...
Sadness deepens.
#66
Akademik_Hooligan
01/25/10 11:32 PM
Worth it :D
#67
420ftJesus
01/25/10 11:32 PM
All 9 fans: rejoice.
That's one.
Where's my 8 people?
CP1 and CP2: you don't count; you have to like the team. Save me some pie.
#68
Mark
01/25/10 11:33 PM
"Bayless for the win..."
Mark with another heart-attack. Luckily, I live once again.
www.dogpile.com/ #69
nikkoewan
01/25/10 11:34 PM
Even though i was watching the game from game cast( in a strictly quiet place in my school), i felt that CP3 jumpshot. I looked like a fool in my school( hey that rhymed!) being the only one screaming. nonetheless, DONT START THORNTON PLS :((
#70
TheKeyMaster
01/25/10 11:36 PM
Great win, big game for cp3 and thornton. too bad we have no one to back buckets up :(
#71
mW
01/25/10 11:41 PM
Looks like Bower is going to rotate Collision in and out with CP-Buckets. Put Posey in for Peja, float Julian some, and rotate Songaila with West-Okafor. Mo will sit like Diogu, and maybe Marks/Gray get some spot time.
As long as we can keep getting contributions from a little of everywhere we'll be fine. 1/2 game out of the Playoffs and 2 games out of 4th place. Amazing.
www.hornetshype.com #72
420ftJesus
01/25/10 11:44 PM
Since you said playoffs: is anyone buying Dallas as the best in the division or are they just warming up the Spurs' seat?
#73
Akademik_Hooligan
01/25/10 11:50 PM
*One of the 9 fans*
@ 420ft - I think they're about even, but both are very flawed & beatable.
@ Mark - I didn't panic because I cannot remember the last time we were beaten at the buzzer.
Only bad thing is that the 2nd Unit has taken a definite step backwards now Buckets is a starter. Been here with this debate before, but maybe bring Julian in to the starting Unit once more (now that we're high on confidence), playing some limited minutes, and let Peja roll with the 2nd Unit, so at least there's a definite scoring threat there?
#74
urgmasdaughter
01/25/10 11:55 PM
Blazers announcers...one of the worst in the league to listen to right behind the Sean Elliot & the Spurs announcers
#75
Akademik_Hooligan
01/25/10 11:56 PM
Oh, and I forgot to mention what an absolute KILLER Dimes is in late close games - when given the chance of course. Those two shots in the 8-0 run in the aftermath of Thornton's flagrant (Rudy flopped down like he'd been shot) were huge, just when it looked like the game was getting away from us.
Shame he doesn't seem to be quite so good earlier on in games, but I guess that's part of being a rookie.
#76
420ftJesus
01/25/10 11:57 PM
Marcus Thornton Man Crush Level: 3
#77
Chung
01/26/10 12:27 AM
Gil says he feels that he always feels Peja will make "the next one". I abandoned that theory a long time ago. Hard to agree with it when the guy shoots under 40% and bricks clutch shots consistently.
#78
JCS
01/26/10 12:56 AM
The KeyMaster, "god these announcers are awful, i'm sure they will be waiting on their knees in the blazers locker room ready to get the "inside story"
HAHAHAHAHA....I'm sure Aaron Gray will be watching with his bucket of fried chicken, cus that's what Fatty McGray does best - EAT.
lovethegame.tumblr.com #79
Jib
01/26/10 03:36 PM
@Akademik- last I remember was Deshaun Stevenson a few years back vs washington?
#80