The Hornets join 25 other teams who are in action on the second night of the 2010-2011 regular season, and let me be one of the many to pump my fist in excitement. The Bucks are the first potential victims of the year for the Hornets, who are hoping to remain undefeated
The Hornets are hoping to put a poor preseason, which they finished a league worst 1-7, behind them. It shouldn’t be hard considering the starters played only a single quarter together. Don’t let that fool you, though. The team is healthy and the starters are all expected to play major minutes against a talented Bucks team.
The Bucks broke out last year, finishing 46-36 and making the playoffs to end a three year drought. Center Andrew Bogut missing the playoffs with an injury was the only thing that stopped them from advancing past the first round.
As for match ups, Brandon Jennings versus Chris Paul will be something to watch, as we see a healthy Paul back in regular season action for the first time since January. Jennings is coming off a great rookie season which saw him selected ahead of Hornets guard Marcus Thornton as a member of the first team All-Rookie squad.
Emeka Okafor will have his hands full with Andrew Bogut, who made a big leap last year. Bogut, the former number one pick in the 2005 NBA draft, is healthy again and expected to have another great year. He should be considered one of the top centers in the game today, and a serious problem for the Hornets. In his lone showing against Okafor last year, Bogut thoroughly dominated, finishing with 26 points and 13 rebounds in only 30 minutes of time. If the Hornets let him get rolling it will mean trouble.
The Bucks and Hornets split two meetings last season with the home team prevailing on each occasion.
Michael is going to be running a simulation of each Hornets game on NBA 2K11, and that can be found here-
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Take a peek over at Bucksketball.com for their preview
Updates From the Arena
- Marcus Thornton (strained left Achilles) is probable
- The Hornets have won 8 of the last 9 games versus the Bucks
- The Hornets have played the Bucks (78 games) more than any other team in their franchise history
- The Hornets will see the Bucks again in Milwaukee on November 6th
- Making their debuts tonight: Coach Monty Williams, trainer John Ishop (who will hopefully keep the team injury free), Quincy Pondexter (unlikely to dress), Larry Sanders
- Inactives for Milwaukee- Chris Douglas-Roberts, Darington Hobson, Michael Redd
- Inactives for New Orleans- Joe Alexander, Quincy Pondexter, Aaron Gray
- I’ll be on ESPN’s Daily Dime chat throughout the game, live from the Arena.
Monty Williams pregame press conference quotes-
“I think that David and Chris have been in enough battles together to know how to adjust to certain situations. It’s my job to get the the freedom to do what they do well and everyone else has to follow suit.”
“I’ve talked to the guys, and instead of going out there and beating eachother up [during practice], let’s beat somebody else up”
On the bench- I’ve got to let those guys play a little bit, but not to the point where we’re losing games”
On who isn’t playing- Aaron, Joe, and Quincy. “might have been the hardest thing I’ve had to do, is putting those guys on the inactive list”
“Unfortuantely we don’t have alot of time to jsut let guys go out there and play together. He works his tail off. If he’s not a gym rat, he’s a gym nutria.” ” we’ve been talking about how he needs to keep his game in a box”.
If you’re out there with Chris Paul, you don’t need to make plays.” “He will serve it up and you guys gotta eat it”.
“I can read his [Paul’s] expressions on the floor and at times it’s like he’s reading my mind. I’m about to call out the plays and he calls some variation of it at the same time.”
“Marco is a guy who can handle the ball, but his greatest asset is that he can shoot the ball.”
“On Thornton’s confidence- “I have no idea. You would have to ask Marcus.” “Marcus isn’t… he doesn’t lack confidence.” “he had tough preseason but thats ok for a guy like him It’s not all on him. I put him in situations where he [struggled], so a lot of that falls on my shoulders”
On the lead up to his first game as a head coach- “I tried to walk around, got everyone in my neighborhood telling me how to do my job. I take my dog out. He craps on the front yard and I go back inside.”
If you haven’t been to a game, you are missing out on some fun. Here’s a video of the pre-game party outside the arena-
78 responses to “Game On: Bucks @ Hornets”
Emcee Brittany tweeted….
Just saw the new intro video that will debut tomorrow night, and it’s pretty sick! Lots of buzzing, blue and awesome fire-up music
about 12 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
Sounds good! I won’t be in the Hive tonight but I plan on being there Friday.
So if they’re saying “fear the deer” in Mil-Town, what are Hornets fans saying in NOLA?
Spear the Deer
LOL…We should just leave the jokes up to you.
that was great
Sorry, just back from Nola so I couldn’t give due credit for that to Bob Licht of the CST crew. I was just answering your question as to what they were literally going to be saying on the broadcast tonight. Lol
Queen, do you have a twitter yet?
The Fiancee and I are heading to NOLA shortly for this game. As I don’t want to jinx another player this is my Birthday present instead of a new Authentic Jersey. Just found out we have tickets from a relative for the Denver game as well. I should be sane again after so much live Hornets ball in 3 days. LOL
Wow if that sim isn’t proof of the “small sample size” rule. CP3 with 2 assists. When has he EVER had 2 assists in 40 minutes? LOL
@Topher-hangs my head in shame. No, I still do not. 🙁
Jim Eichenhofer tweeted…
NOLA’s own Wendell Pierce, actor from the HBO shows “Treme” and “The Wire” is introducing the Hornets’ starting 5 tonight
half a minute ago via web
I think I’m struggling with finding just the right twitter name for my account. I want something fun and creative. Of course Queen Bee is already taken.
QueenWeezyBee
I’m pretty damned pumped.
As far as winning and losing goes, the Heat lost and they are the greatest team in the mind of many. Therefore, I give us a mulligan for the same reasons.
The Bucks have played us pretty hard in recent years. This is going to be fun. Don’t relax.
Marcus . . . please . . . for the love of all that is Creole Blue . . . BREAK-FRAKIN-THROUGH!!!!
“Marcus . . . please . . . for the love of all that is Creole Blue . . . BREAK-FRAKIN-THROUGH!!!!”
LOL!! Amen to that!
I am pumped and cant wait.
Geaux Hornets
2 hours to go! Time is moving particularly slow today!
In all sincerity, what has Joe Alexander done to warrant a roster spot?
he was the 8th player chosen in 2008, so he has the requisite amount of talent to be chosen that high (multiple teams were high on him)
it’s been rough sledding for him since, but his abilities, which he didn’t display alot of in the exhibition games, are intriguing to the NO braintrust (and he comes cheap)
I know he’s an athletic beast, but from the reports, I would guess he has low basketball IQ; thankfully he’s not first or second option. I suppose you and Joe are right.
Monty is impressed with his work ethic and his performance in practice.
We may miss Aaron Gray in this one…See you there !
It’s 01:41 am over here, I’m drunk, waiting for the Hornets game and I’ve gotta get up at 06:30 in the morning… I know I’m gonna regret it, but I can’t resist! Geaux Hornets!
Way to go CarnbY! LOL!!
It’s about GD time…. Let’s Go HORNETS
Looking forward to seeing if Belinelli can carry the preseason over to the regular season. Between Belinelli, Bayless, and Thornton- if one of them is on we should be okay. If two are on, we should win 85% of those games. If all three are hitting- we can beat anybody.
I will be watching West on EVERY defensive possession to see if anything has changed. I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and look for positives, but if he is the same old D West, I am done with sticking up for him.
I have seen West jump twice already in the first quarter!! I am SOLD! Monty you are a miracle worker.
Wow. Cookies is doing his thing, so far.
has anyone got a stream?
Get outta here with that Maggette! LOL.
I said one of the keys was to keep Maggette’s arse off the free throw line! I don’t guess they heard me from here. LOL!
Maggette is playing possessed right now…….
that said..
….
….
PUT IN BUCKETS!
D*MN! Come on now.
Draw some fouls on Maggette.
God I hate to see us lose that lead.
14 free throws for the Bucks in the first quarter. Stop sending them to the line!
Salmons always kills the Hornets but I bet if he were a Hornet he wouldn’t kill anybody.
Here comes Marcus!!!! Go to work Marcus. Good luck to you!
AND 1 BUCKETS!!!!!
That’s a good way to start things Thornton!!!!
When Maggette fouls he always has that look like “what did I do?” LOL!
Guys, is CBS right saying that Smith, Ariza, Thornton, Paul, and J-Bay are on the floor. What do you think of this lineup?
Dang. West now has 3 fouls so he’ll probably sit for the rest of the 1st half.
We have to start knocking down those 3’s Hornets! We’ve had ample opportunities.
Come on man! I don’t want to see the Bucks with the lead at any point.
@QueenBee – agreed
An everytime smith takes that long jumper I cringe
@peronas-I know right? I know Smith can make those shots but he hasn’t been doing it in this game.
Saw that fast break with CP and Belinelli just now? That’s what the Hornets have been wanting. Some players that can run with this guy.
What is with the 1 of 2 free throws CP has been making lately?
Mbenga D-
J Smith- F
Everybody else doing well. This team needs to find a backup big BADLY
I thought smith played fine. Not fine as in good, but fine as in he’s as good as Songaila.
I want Gray back.
Going into the 3rd now is just like starting the game all over again. Tied. Ugh.
Maggette & Salmons have always given us nightmares.
Loving the new offensive schemes though… running transition, cuts, and good ball movement.
Belinelli just might be our best addition of the offseason.
All this team is missing is a 2007-08 Tyson Chandler + some decent big backup. Smith reminds me of Sean Marks, and not in a good way.
Dang. We could have a nice lead right now if Belinelli were knocking down his outside shots.
Can’t let Gooden get that deep in there. Come on now.
Paul and West have such good chemistry. Man oh man.
Can’t let Jennings waltz to the basket like that.
Time to geaux on a run Hornets! Let’s GEAUX!
DAVID WEST!!!
wow….. The work horse is making a statement tonight!
Cookies is now 4/11 ….. put in Buckets….
Finally he gets one to drop!
Thanks for taking that charge Trevor!
Peja for 3!!!!
CP3 for 3!!!!!
D*mn! West now has 5 fouls. He was the one on fire for us. Dang!!!
Highest APG in single season is 14.5 per game. I can honestly see CP3 breaking that this season if everything goes right.
Just sayin.
Okafor defenders….
I would love to hear from you tonight. I need a reason to be happy he is on this team (especially considering his contract)
Let’s give it more than one game. I haven’t been paying much attention to Okafor. I guess that’s because he’s not really doing anything but I’d like to see what he can do with a few games under his belt. This season.
Look at there. West’s rhythm is messed up now. Doggone it!
With the way the last year went, making the Chandler-for-Okafor trade was a waste. Meka simply doesn’t want it enough in my opinion.
I know Bill Simmons isn’t the most popular name to say around these parts but I believe he rated Okafor’s contract as one of the worst, if not the very worst in the NBA. On the other side, Fluffy’s was rated as one of the best.
Guard. Delfino.
ah just like last year…. going down to the wire
Wonderful defending on that final play.
I agree.
Geaux Hornets!!!! WOOOO!
Whoooo!
Hell yeah, great game!
They’ll probably get us back when we go to Milwaukee in another week or so. Ugh.
Great win! Players attacking the rim and the team defense late was a refreshing sight. Ariza and Belinelli got to be loving the number of high quality looks they’re getting playing along side CP3 and West, it’d be nice if a few more of them dropped though.
Okafor didnt take a shot? Smith seemed to do well enough but he needs to take 2 steps in on those jumpers. 3 for 10. Yikes.
Good win.