Before the struggling and shorthanded Hornets embark on their season-long, five-game road trip, they have the small matter of dealing with the 43-21 Denver Nuggets tonight at the New Orleans Arena. Game tips at 7 Central.
The Nuggets own the fifth-best record in the NBA, are 15-16 on the road and come in having won four straight. During that streak, they've averaged 117 points per game. Most recently they played the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Wednesday, coming away with a 110-102 victory despite the absence of head coach George Karl. Chauncey Billups led the way with 25 points against the T'Wolves. Carmelo Anthony chipped in with 19 points, but had scored at least 30 in each of his previous three. Denver has also been getting huge contributions from J.R. Smith and Chris Andersen off the bench lately.
This is the third of four meetings between the teams this season, with the final showdown coming next Thursday in Denver. Chris Paul dropped 30 and 19 on the Nuggs back in December as the Hornets pulled out a 98-92 win in New Orleans. The Nuggets got revenge on their home floor in January, as they dominated the glass and had all their starters score in double figures for a 116-110 win.
Both clubs are pretty beat up for this one, especially the Hornets, who are down to just eight healthy bodies since James Posey is out with flu-like symptoms. The good news though is that Chris Paul has finally been cleared to start running again. As for the Nuggets, they'll be without Kenyon Martin (knee), while Ty Lawson has missed the last five games with a shoulder injury and is listed as questionable tonight.
Numbers:
Pace: Nuggets 97.9 (5th), Hornets 94.7 (18th)
Offensive Efficiency: Nuggets 109.1 (2nd), Hornets 104.6 (13th)
Defensive Efficiency: Nuggets 104.2 (16th), Hornets 106.2 (18th)
Linkage:
- Standings: The Hornets are 10th in the West, 6 games behind the 8th-place Blazers.
- Rival bloggers: Denver Stiffs | Roundball Mining Company (THN) | The Nugg Doctor
(Many thanks to Dariusz for today's banner featuring Desmond Mason. Be sure to check out more of Dariusz's designs in our Wallpapers vault.)
36 remarkable comments post your own
YoungFella
03/12/10 04:41 PM
It will be interesting to see what kind of effort the Hornets bring after outright quitting last game.
I don't want us to get meaningless wins that hurt our draft standing, but I would hate to see the team outright quit like they did last season. That hurts morale and kills the vibe in the city for them.
#1
Chung
03/12/10 04:43 PM
At least we won't have to watch Peja trying to guard Melo.
#2
Niall Doherty
03/12/10 06:20 PM
Some pregame notes from the Arena:
- Jeff Bower says Chris Paul will return even if there are only five games left in the season and the Hornets have been eliminated from the playoff race, so long as he gets medical clearance.
- Bower's tentative estimate for Chris Paul's return is "a week to ten days." CP returned to practice today but mostly did straight running, no side to side.
- Coach said it will take all five guys to slow Carmelo Anthony, no single coverage.
- I haven't been able to confirm this, but I've heard that the national TV coverage of Hornets @ Warriors next Wednesday has been dropped. CST won't be picking it up, so the only way you'll be able to watch is via NBA League Pass.
- Darren Collison and Nuggets starting 2-guard Arron Afflalo played at UCLA together for two seasons, leading the Bruins to two Final Four appearances.
- The Nuggets lead the NBA in free throw attempts per game, averaging 31.6. They're way ahead of the second-place Jazz (27.2). Denver is also seventh in free throw percentage, hitting 77.4%.
www.ndoherty.com #3
YoungFella
03/12/10 06:40 PM
I know CP3 is ultra competitive, but unless we're trying to increase his trade value for the offseason it's stupid to let him play again this year.
This is another example of Bower's goals (finish strong to try and salvage at least 1 of his 2 jobs) being completely opposite from the best interests of the franchise (ensure CP3's health at all costs and don't get meaningless wins at the end of the season when you still have a shot at the 10th or 11th pick in a LOADED draft).
#4
KingBee
03/12/10 06:46 PM
I just wanted to clear some misinformation that was being spread in another game thread, Allen Bristow was GM of the Hornets when they drafted CP3 and acted in that capacity until late October when he re-signed. Saying Bower is credited for drafting Paul is a flat out LIE.
#5
KingBee
03/12/10 06:48 PM
October 2005*
#6
Joe Gerrity
03/12/10 07:14 PM
Bower officially took over as GM on October first of 2005, moving up from Director of Player Personnel. He had previously served as GM, and a number of other scouting, front office, and coaching roles. He has been a big part of the Hornets for a long time.
I'm on the way to the game, so let's end this. At this point we are just arguing semantics.
#7
KingBee
03/12/10 07:19 PM
MAYBE having a hand in it=/= widely credited for it
#8
Niall Doherty
03/12/10 07:27 PM
Guys, does it really matter? It was a no-brainer to draft Chris Paul anyway when he was still available after the third pick. Nobody deserves much credit for it.
www.ndoherty.com #9
KingBee
03/12/10 07:47 PM
i don't like lies, sorry.
#10
YoungFella
03/12/10 07:57 PM
It's a key point that needs to be cleared up IMHO. I'm tired of Bower getting credit for moves that he wasn't responsible for. It's important because people who defend Bower often claim that he was GM for the good drafts (he wasn't).
So just to clarify (please correct me if I'm wrong) the drafts during the late Charlotte and full New Orleans eras:
Bob Bass: Baron Davis, Jamal Magliore, David West, Courtney Alexander (A-)
Alan Bristow: JR Smith, Chris Paul, Brandon Bass (A)
Jeff Bower: Hilton Armstrong, Cedric Simmons, Julian Wright, Trade for Cash, Collison, Thornton (C+)
Bower's drafts aren't as impressive as people make them out to be. Let's look at his FA maneuvers:
Sign Peja to huge long-term deal (understandable at the time perhaps)
Sign MoPete to rather large long-term deal (understandable at the time perhaps)
Trade JR and PJ for Tyson Chandler (good move)
Trade Nachbar for Marc Jackson/Johnson (bad move)
Trade Bobby Jackson (expiring) for Bonzi and James (bad move)
Trade Tyson (soon to be expiring) for Okafor (top 5 worst contract in NBA*)
Overall, I don't see how any objective person could give Bower's overall GM decisions anything above a C-. I'd personally give him a D+.
If you inherit 2 multiple-time All Stars (West and Chris Paul) and one of them is the best PG of his generation, you'd have to really make some crap moves to be in the dire straights the Hornets currently find themselves in.
#11
YoungFella
03/12/10 08:02 PM
Wanted to clarify - The asterisk next to Okafor (top 5 worst contract) is indicating that best-selling NBA author Bill Simmons (who nailed the Hornets dysfunctionality as early as November 2008) has ranked his 5 remaining years at $63MM as the 3rd worst contract in the league (better than only Elton Brand and Gilbert Arenas).
In fact, Bower is singlehandedly responsible for the 3rd and 21st worst contracts in the NBA according to the Sportsguy. Throw in Mo Pete's abortion of a contract and....... Did someone say "small-market franchise killer?"
#12
YoungFella
03/12/10 09:03 PM
:( Bulls lose tonight so we can't move up to 11th place.
#13
JCS
03/12/10 09:17 PM
Aaron Fatty McGray comes in the game for 30 seconds and commits 2 fouls on both ends of the court...LMFAO
lovethegame.tumblr.com #14
HollisBuckeye21
03/12/10 10:11 PM
Did not see the game, just the stat line and saw 30+ minutes for Julian and decent stats. Did he play well tonight or are those stats deceiving?
#15
Mark
03/12/10 10:22 PM
I like your list of track-record, Youngfella. Bower really has done a rather pithy job in comparison (especially your point with the small-market stuff... we can't afford to take uncalculated risks). Most of the moves seemed smart at the time, but turned out pretty poorly (Posey and, like you said, Predrag+MoPete). However, now that we have an incentive to play for a 'smaller-market' (a reason named Chris), pray that there'll be some smarter moves by Bower.
One thing though, Courtney Alexander was drafted by the Mavericks.
www.dogpile.com/ #16
JCS
03/12/10 10:32 PM
@HollisBuck
JuJu played well, West played well, Gray ate Klondikes, and the Nuggets won. The end.
lovethegame.tumblr.com #17
YoungFella
03/12/10 10:40 PM
Two things:
We used our draft pick before the first season in New Orleans for Courtney Alexander. It was the 17th overall pick. That's why I listed it under "draft picks", because we essentially drafted Alexander that year.
Also, on my Jeff Bower recap I completely left out the signing of James Posey. That was a horrible signing that even the defending Champ Celtics (who have much more lucrative television and marketing contracts, and who sell out every game they play at home with much more pricey tickets) couldn't come close to justifying on a cost basis. We had to overpay out of the nose to get him (4 years $25MM) and commit to an extra 4th year, as he'd have much rather stayed in Boston all things being equal.
That probably brings Bower's GM grade down to a D+ at best from any objective observer.
Literally the only GOOD moves Bower has made in his tenure as GM were the original Chandler from Chicago trade and the Collison and Thornton draft picks. Everything else was a bad move. Even when allowing that I'm using 20/20 hindsight and that's a pretty brutal measuring stick..... his track record is awful.
#18
JCS
03/12/10 10:45 PM
@Young Fella
Your Bulls commentary has me lost. They are in the Eastern Conference and just played El Heat. What does that have to do with Hornets standing?
lovethegame.tumblr.com #19
Ryan Schwan
03/12/10 11:03 PM
Youngfella, go away. I'm tired of you.
I'm tired of you using our site to repeat your views over and over and over and over and over. If you want to rant somewhere, start your own blog. They are free, you know.
Seriously. Broken Freaking Record.
www.hornets247.com #20
Mark
03/12/10 11:06 PM
YF: For how much you've complained about Pose, I'm surprised you left that out, haha
I'd like to give credit for trading James and getting Daniels, but A) the productivity was only moderately more efficient and B) it was done to redeem for the trade to get James in the first place.
Re: draft picks, JuJu's year didn't have that many solid players after our pick (there are, however, good players on crap teams, which I believe inflates their significance). And as bad as Ced and Hilton were, their draft class had even less depth. Plus, in regards to the draft: Baron was third, and CP fourth overall. According to your list, Bower's highest pick was twelveth, which is unfair to compare the talent pool (unless you really F up and draft a say, Oden versus Durant).
I'm not necessarily trying to defend the bad picks (because they were), but given hindsight it's more understandable.
www.dogpile.com/ #21
KingBee
03/12/10 11:21 PM
Schwan, why is youngfella not entitled to his opinion here? Is it just because you do not like to face reality? You'd rather put your head in the clouds, play with your star wars action figures, and pretend that everything will be OK in Hornets land?
#22
Chung
03/12/10 11:24 PM
I didnt watch the game but I saw the box score
Nene 12 REB, Petro 10 REB, Melo 12 REB, C.Anderson 7 REB
West 6 REB
Was it really that bad?
#23
HornetSaint83
03/12/10 11:26 PM
I haven't read every post, but I would just say that 1) Bower got really lucky with this past draft, and 2) He's still got to do well this summer drafting, considering some say it's "deeper than normal".
#24
YoungFella
03/12/10 11:27 PM
Schwan, I'm no more repetitive than many of the other posters on here. The main difference is that you disagree with my views and not theirs.
I think I'm clearly a knowledgeable poster who understand how the NBA works, who understands the local market, and who correctly and boldly predicted the direction this franchise was headed in well over a year ago while you (and many others) predicted playoffs, etc.
If I was just spouting idiotic nonsense I'd understand your frustration but I think I'm one of the better posters on this site and I think it's a lot more entertaining to read because of my contributions.
#25
YoungFella
03/12/10 11:33 PM
@JCS - I was referring to draft standings. We're a half game "behind" the Bulls for the 11th pick right now (assuming that neither us nor them win the lottery).
We unfortunately can't really move up any higher than 11 because the next team (Clippers) is a full 5 or 6 games worse than us. But we need to keep losing because if we somehow went on a meaningless 10-5 run to finish the season we could fall as far back as the 14th pick.
Some people seem to think there's not much difference between drafting 14 and drafting 11th, but at 11 we would have a real shot at a polished front court player like Monroe or Aldrich falling to us. Go back to 14 and you start hitting the second tier where adjectives like "project" are used to describe the guys.
#26
HornetSaint83
03/12/10 11:36 PM
We're all just fans anyway. It doesn't matter what we think with no power. So anything said can't hurt. Chin up everyone!
#27
NIH87
03/12/10 11:36 PM
I just wanted to say that I enjoy Youngfella's contributions and find his observations to be more spot on than most on this site. It would be a true shame for him to be banned.
#28
nikkoewan
03/13/10 12:30 AM
I enjoy YF contributions too, but because its more on the humor than truth.
1.) Okafor is the 5 worst contract ever - really? Count the number of quality centers out there. The reality YF is that quality centers are hard to find. Want to talk about 5 worst contracts in the NBA right now?!
1.) Gilbert Arenas - no explanation
2.) Elton Brand - no explanation
3.) Rashard Lewis - superstar money for nothing but a scorer?
4.) Baron Davis
5.) Stephen Jackson - 8 million extension for a 32 year old swingman? it is only a matter of time before he drops dead.
6.) Rip Hamilton - 3 year, ~ 10 million for a 32 year old swingman who runs all around? it is just going to be a matter of time..
7.) Ben Freaking Gordon!
8.) Kevin Martin - can light up the arena from anywhere(FT, 3pts, drives, midrange) unlike Ben
9.) Emeka
10.) Corey
...
Really?
next, about drafts. totally agree with mark here.
what else? about tanking? I cannot understand your logic really. I am actually nearing the conclusion that you think the NBA is as simple as 2k10. Really? I would like to see you run this team. Lets see you not screw the draft, or manage money or do the right trades or be a great GM in general. if you hate this team, but you still want to still be a season holder because you live in NOLA( i actually don't know), then either don't be a season holder or call Bower.
ok? putangina
and, you are never a fan if you want them to purposedly lose. ok?! i admit, right now i think the hornets are going for the draft. But i never wanted them to lose. I would love that the team gotten their groove. Peterson getting his young legs, Posey getting motivated, Okafor getting fired up, West realizing he needs to play defense. Putangina.
#29
nikkoewan
03/13/10 12:35 AM
find some backers, find some data to back yourself up. Do a video analysis of how bad he is. I dare you. I dare you to find a trade in recent memory where trading a superstar has fared well for the one trading him. Cmon!
#30
Ryan Schwan
03/13/10 12:40 AM
You think it's because I don't agree with you that I'm calling you out? I've been called an idiot and disagreed with more than you could possibly know. It's the nature of writing a sports blog, and the association we have with ESPN.com makes it ten times worse.
I could care less if you disagree with me. In fact I acknowledge that many times you have valid points. As does Niall, who has stated that repeatedly.
It has no bearing on why I'm tired of you. I'm tired of your inability to curb yourself. 4 comments about how you dislike Bower's decisions in this post alone? Really? That's necessary? We get what you're saying, we aren't stupid.
Make a point, let it stand. Your style makes readers feel like you are trying to bludgeon them into agreeing with you. That doesn't enable conversation, that enables vitroil.
www.hornets247.com #31
420ftJesus
03/13/10 12:45 AM
Coach Werdann said to me Thursday night that Chris was running Wednesday, but I guess unofficially.
#32
420ftJesus
03/13/10 01:06 AM
I liked the game. It was tight and the (unfortunately) better team
won.
Good fun overall, and very encouraging, if not for this season.
A word about style: I've lived a large part of my life making good points badly, and myself and mine suffered as a result. It's very hard to communicate well, especially passionately, and even moreso without body-cues to help the audience.
I get that.
Voltaire said (in French): I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
I get that, too.
He did not think any manner of 'saying' was equal, however, or worthy of defense.
If someone believes they have a good contribution (good does not equate to popular), then they owe it to their point to communicate it well, with involves tailoring it to the audience.
Otherwise the point is lost and everyone loses.
Everyone is passionate. Losing hurts. Winning helps. It'll get better.
I was talking about the Bless You Boys today when I probably should have been talking about the Bless You Bees, but I said, inspired by Fujita and Sharper talk: If every Saint walked out if this city, we'd all just have have to applaud no matter what. Demanding more than what we've gotten is just rude. We should (figuratively) kiss the ground at the feet of anyone returning or joining us.
We've had good times with the Hornets. Let's enjoy them while we wait for the next one while we also discuss all the obstacles and encourements.
#33
Joe Gerrity
03/13/10 02:15 AM
@HornetsSaints, in regards to the last draft being luck- Bower traded two future second round picks for the rights to Marcus Thornton. I'm not saying he knew that Buckets would be as special as he is, but it was a deliberate move to get him, not just blind luck.
I agree entirely that another good draft would be huge in taking the next step as a team.
#34
Jib
03/13/10 10:41 AM
Personally I enjoyed the massive list of bower's actions. It is true though YF, you do have a tendency to be repetitive which makes me think you are making a different point than you are probably trying to make.
@nikko- Ben Gordon and Kevin Martin don't belong on that list, just saying.
#35
nikkoewan
03/14/10 03:43 AM
@jib: maybe i went overboard with kevin, but i think ben is right there. i think his contract should be around closer to 8 million than 10 million.
#36