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The Lakers showed their depth and superiority tonight, as they gradually built a big fat lead against the Hornets in the first half via their vast array of weapons. To the Hornets credit, they never really quit and battled back hard with a small ball lineup in the fourth quarter, trying desperately to deprive Laker fans of their free tacos. Unfortunately, New Orleans couldn't quite eclipse the century mark, thus failing to save downtown Los Angeles from a nasty bout of post-game flatulence.

110-99 the final score ( box | recap ). On to some notes...

Outmatched

To win this one, the Hornets would have had to play a near-perfect game while hoping the Lakers had an off-night. Unfortunately, neither of those things happened. The Lake Show was clicking on all cylinders. The looked inside to Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol regularly and they both delivered more often than not. Kobe Bryant took what the defense gave him and finished with 18 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Phil Jackson ended up using eleven players and all of them got on the scoreboard. The Lakers got to the free-throw line with ease (33 attempts) and played great team defense for much of the game. They just did too many things well for the Hornets to have a chance.

It was nice though that the Hornets outrebounded the Lakers, 38-34, which reinforces the fact that New Orleans didn't lose this game due to lack of effort.

Devin Brown

There was plenty of criticism for Devin in the Game On comments, but I feel they were mostly undeserved. True, he's not a legitimate starter in this league, but the Hornets don't have much choice but to start him and he's been giving it his all out there. He was about the only guy tonight who was able to break through the Lakers' perimeter defense and make something happen. He finished an abysmal 1-of-9 from the field for 6 points, but he created a lot of easy looks for his teammates as his 8 assists can attest to. He also delivered a good hard foul on Kobe in the third quarter, and although Kobe often got the better of DB in this one, he certainly didn't have it easy.

Darren Collison

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An extremely tough match-up for the Hornets tonight as they take on the defending champion Lakers in Los Angeles. The Hornets are looking for just their second road win of the season, and their first with Jeff Bower as head coach.

The Lakers have all their big guns healthy and have won six straight games, all by double figures. The only consolation is that just one of those six opponents currently has a winning record (OKC at 9-8). Most recently, the Lakers sent the Nets to 0-17 on Sunday night, with Kobe Bryant scoring 30 points in 29 minutes.

The Hornets and Lakers last met on November 8th, with the Lakers cruising to an easy 104-88 win in L.A. Check Ryan's recap of that game here.

Tonight the Hornets will again be without Chris Paul, though there was word in the Times-Picayune today that CP may return to action within ten days. Meanwhile, Peja Stojakovic has not rejoined the team and so James Posey will get his second consecutive start.

Game tips at 9:30 p.m.

Linkage:

• Rival bloggers: Forum Blue and Gold | LA Times

(Many thanks to Dariusz for the banner, today featuring Brandon Bass. Be sure to check out more of Dariusz's designs in our Wallpapers vault.)

The Hornets lost again tonight in rather embarassing fashion as the Lakers took it to them early, and then never let them threaten again.  Blowouts appear to be the norm this season for opponents of the Hornets.  Good times.  Good times. For them. Now, you can say "But it's the Lakers!" but both Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum were out and the Hornets still didn't look like they belonged on the court.

The first play of the game was indicative:  Kobe Bryant strips Devin Brown and takes it in for a dunk.  If any of you were surprised by that, you haven't watched the Hornets the last 12 months.  Observations - such as they are:

• Chris Paul didn't have an other-worldly shooting night for the first time this season, and it made it even more apparent how poorly the rest of this team is playing.  Paul still did alright with 15 points and 9 dimes, but he rode the pine for a lot of the fourth as the game was over by halftime.
  
  
• Devin Brown wasn't shy in creating contact with Kobe.  Unfortunately, he didn't really make Kobe's life any harder - or deny him the shots he wanted.  That's one thing you should take away from tonight.  If you took a look at the tape and analyzed the plays, you will see the Hornets do a solid job of contesting shots. They are there, with a hand in the Laker's faces for a lot of the shots.  The problem is that those are the shots the Lakers want.  The Hornets don't take away offensive options - they merely contest shots when they are  taken.  That's a recipe for disaster.
  
  
• The best part of the game tonight was the 4th quarter, when the team started running.  If Byron wants his team to get out and run like he's claimed over and over and over, he needs to put in players who CAN run.  Collison's speed and decision making on the break is in another league from Bobby Brown's - and he was great in the open floor with Thornton and Julian filling the wings in the last quarter.
  

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Fresh of their disappointing loss to the Raptors on Friday, the Hornets are in Los Angeles tonight to take on the defending champion Lakers. Game tips at 8:30 p.m. Central.

Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are both injured and will sit this one out, but the Lakers did just fine without their star bigs on Friday, blowing out the Grizzlies to improve to 5-1 on the season.

Kobe Bryant has been on a tear, averaging 34.5ppg so far this season, including 41 in three of his last four games. He may be in for trouble tonight though, with the mighty Devin Brown due to start at shooting guard for the Hornets.

:-/

Linkage:

• Video analysis: Hornets third quarter collapse vs. Toronto
  
• But The Game Is On: Solving the Hornets Lack of Production
• Rival bloggers: Forum Blue and Gold (great game preview there) | LA Times

(Many thanks to Dariusz for the banner.)

That was a damn fine game.  Sure, the Hornets had two great chances to win it in regulation, but I don't care much about that.  The guys are showing heart and proving that they are the team everybody thought they were at the start of the season.  Can't ask for anything more than that.

Observations:

• The Phoenix was in full flight tonight and torching everything in sight.  Rasual Butler was doing everything out there, cutting, rebounding, and knocking down big threes at every opportunity.  He was vital to the Hornets run in the fourth, and I just can't say enough about him.  31 points on 20 shots.  A big block of Kobe in overtime to preserve the Hornet's hopes.  Some beautiful drives and finishes at the rim, including a gorgeous double pump to get past Gasol's block attempt.
  
  
• The last two weeks, the Hornets have completely modified the way they use David West.  Against the Lakers he had one and only one standard post from the low block.  The rest of the game, he caught the wing at the elbow extended or right above the free throw line and proceeded to make his move from there.  It's a great adaptation because putting him in that triple-threat position allows him to face up and drive - or take a shot from his sweet spot.  There are sometimes still some problems with it, however.  The guys aren't quite used to it yet, and frequently don't space the floor enough, so he's easily doubled and his dribble can be attacked.  Tonight he lost it four times.  I'm convinced he'll clean that up though.  West usually figures things out.
  
  
• West was also going hard after rebounds this game and ended with 16.  All the guys were - even Ely dug out a tough one, and Hilton had ripped down 6 before leaving the game with back spasms.  Posey contributed a solid 10. In a strage way, I think the trading of Tyson Chandler may have woken the big guys up finally to the fact that they weren't crashing the boards the way they needed to.  Great effort, though they did lose the rebound battle by 4.

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