Matchup: Hornets(14-10) @ Kings(5-17)
Off Efficiency: Hornets 101.3(21st), Kings 99.6 (27th)
Def Efficiency: Hornets 99.5(5th), Kings 107.3 (23rd)
Thanks to the amazing Dariusz Ejkiewicz for the Game Day Banner.
The Kings are coming to town just in time. Hopefully this game will mark a turning point for the Hornets just like the last one did. Since the last time these two teams met, the Hornets are only 3-9. The Kings have been even worse, winning only one of their last 11 games.
Edit- Tyreke Evans is in the starting lineup for the Kings.
With Tyreke Evans possibly out with an injury this game could be a blowout. Anything less is bad news. Honestly, even with Tyreke in the game the Hornets take just about every match up (excuse me for not analyzing them), and most of them rather convincingly. The crowd is expected to be relatively large for a game against Sacramento, so the team should have an extra bounce in their step right off the bat. I’m calling blowout.
What to watch:
- Luther Head on Chris Paul. Last game Head limited Paul to only 2-12 shooting, and the Hornets struggled overall on offense. Paul did wind up with 15 assists, but anyone watching that game knows that Head did a good job.
- Marcus Thornton- With the Hornets offense floundering as the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if Thornton can step up and make Monty Williams take notice. He should get an opportunity.
- Demarcus Cousins- I really liked what I saw in summer league from this guy, but during already he’s been a menace in the locker room for Sacramento. He has the body and the skills for the NBA, but it remains to be seen what his mental future holds. He will battle Okafor early on, and if Emeka can get him into foul trouble, this thing could blow open pretty early.
In the attendance world, the Business Council of New Orleans has pledged to buy 50,000 dollars worth tickets to boost attendance. The Save Our Hornets Foundation is sending a group of boy scouts to the game today to kick off our giving, and a number of other local businesses have seen to it that tonight’s game will be much more crowded than it would have been otherwise. The community is getting involved and that’s good news for all basketball fans.
With 12 games left to meet the attendance deadline, the Hornets need 178,596 fans total, meaning we need to average 14,883 per game.
I’m hearing that Charter and CST have a deal done. Everything sounds really promising.
Watch party pics will be posted when I get a chance tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who came. We’ll do it again soon for sure.
73 responses to “Game On: Kings @ Hornets”
If CP was still ‘top tier’ I’d watch the Head-Paul matchup but he isn’t so why is it that I’d want to watch this matchup again? 😕 This time CP might not get any points at all.
I know one thing though. If I see too many calls that I don’t like on my Hornets, I’m going to go down there and some official is going to get this treatment from me.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/highschool/news/story?id=5922843&campaign=rss&source=twitter&ex_cid=Twitter_espn_5922843
LOL.
14,883 per game.
I will be conservative and say the Hornets would have gotten at least 12,000 even if there was no attendance clause and no attention brought to this issue. That means that at most, everybody needs to band together and get an additional 3,000 to each of these next 12 games. Long story, short, for $500,000- the city, the community, the businesses, etc can basically guarantee the Hornets wont be going anywhere until 2014, and most likely well beyond.
When you think about it that way, it is a fairly small number compared to how much the city would lose by having the Hornets leave and/or how much new arenas cost. $50,000 is a great start, the SaveOurHornets foundation is amazing, and there are others doing their part as well. With all that considered, I am becoming more and more confident each day that the city is going to step up and reach that goal.
Yup.
In communications I had with folks involved with the $50,000 deal, they said their purchase would focus on cheap seats on cheap nights, so expect maximum effect.
That does reduce the `hole’ left in the attendance, but there is still more to be done, and way more than another $50,000 `angel can produce. We need to not sit on the fence here and get thee to the Apiary!
And once January 31 rolls around, we can’t let up. This problem wasn’t just created in November. This problem goes back to last season, and really even farther back than that. We need to support the team on a level where attendance benchmarks are not even an option. We need to take those benchmarks and drop them into the River.
Little drops in the bucket won’t do that. We need tens of thousands of fans to each go to a game or two a year to reinforce those whose lives support them going more often. And, yes, non-fans should get involved, too. After all, if the Hornets aren’t in town, those fans are going to be making waits longer at restaurants etc. You, too, need to keep the Arena open so the fans will be there and not bother you!
Great Banner!
Just saw on Nola.Com that Charter is about to allow CST on their lineup. This is huge news. We desperately need to get the Northshore folks more involved.
Yup. I added one of the breaking stories about it on the News section.
If you guys come up with more links, put them in the comments there for simplicity. I don’t care where anyone talks about it, but it’d make sorting through the news easier for me (I’ll be at the game). First one with the scoop gets a nod in the post, too, as always.
Hornets have to destroy this team tonight. Sacramento has to be the worst team in the league and New Orleans has to bounce back from their terrible showing with Philly.
And the deflatation against Bosh, Kim, and Paris.
Monty said in a pregame interview where he said he will not continue to let guys remain on the court who are floundering and hurting the team, will ask more minutes of the starters, and may have some bench people in mind to get more minutes.
um…so Gray get punished again while MBenga gets in against crap teams
Gray should be punished. 5 F’n fouls in 9 minutes of play!?! I have been a pretty big supporter of Gray, but like Pops if he is going to do mountains of bad things in limited minutes he shouldn’t be out there until he gets it straight. I think he is better than Mbenga for sure, but it seems he is 4th center on the team now anyway, with Gray at 4b.
Still No Marcus….
He’s in
And looking more effective then Jack or Green.
back again 4 min into the 3rd!
Marcus with the block!!!
WHY THE F is Monty taking thorton out.. he was the only one playing aggresive running down the court crashing boards (even though he didnt grab one). and the block come on monty u put belly in and he misses a wide open corner 3
I think because CP3 doesn’t look to him even when he is open. Man can’t catch a break.
i cant even describe what to think, the hornets are terrible, theres really no other explanation. this “team” does not click what so ever. We are loosing by 15 to the Kings, unbelievable. this team must not want to play in new orleans any more, they dont fucking realize what will happen to this damn team. noyone is gonna watch a bunch of losers that come out and play with no fire or urgency. PURPOSE, PASSION PRIDE?!?! no, the hornets have none. i have nothing else to say, this is unacceptable, and they wonder why noyone goes to the games.
What is going on? Got home from work late to this… What is up with the guys tonight?
Kings announcers just said, “The Kings are just out hustling the Hornets right now, they are just the better team.” WTF!?!
Sad truth is, there is no real argument against that statement at this moment. SMH at this turn of events after 11-1 start.
Yuck, just yuck. Down by by double digits to kings, looks like ariza deliberately kicks the ball then also seems like chris paul lets the shot clock expire before he passes the ball to end the half. They actually look like their trying to lose
This is ridiculous. Again, we are playing as if the other team is just gonna give us the W. We better have a surprising 2nd half.
So much for a blowout. Looks to be the other way around. No defensive intensity whatsoever, not much offensive intensity either.
The Kings are shooting almost 58%. All I can say is that the Hornets are pretty much playing like THE WORST team in the league. They certainly look like it
Stagnant. CP3 dribbles most of the shot clock, Monty takes the only player that is hustling out. No energy, no effort. 11-1 and now this.
I envision Monty throwing shit and spit flying as he yells during half time. At least that’s what I would be doing right now. At least try to wake this team up, and light a fire under them. Ugh, just a garbage game.
This team flat out can’t score!!! It’s embarassing!!! Can we please find some offensive talent somewhere. It’s definitely not on this roster!!!
Down by 16 to Sac-town huh? Well hell. Let’s blow this thing up. It was a fun start, but bottom line is this team is flawed and will remain that way. How about this:
Chris Paul-Emeka Okafor-Willie Green-Marcus Banks to Orlando for Vince Carter (exp), Marcin Gortat, Jameer Nelson, Brandon Bass, Ryan Anderson, Daniel Orton, and a first round pick.
David West-Jason Smith to Minnesota for Kevin Love and Kosta Koufous
Not gonna lie, I think we should hold on to Mr. Paul.
However, I really am enjoying the idea of a trade at this point, because this is the worst I have seen an NBA team play in quite a while.
hahah, wow. I don’t know what else to do but laugh. This game is just hilariously pathetic.
word of advice to the team: KEEP SHOOTING MORE JUMP SHOTS GUYS!
Who said blowout??? This is horrendous!
And then after a pathetic first half were gonna come out and let them out play us even worse. Monty Williams obviously doesnt know what to say or what to do, he uses the same rotations night in and night out and it gets worse and worse. I cant even watch this or any hornets games any more, this fuckin team doesnt give a damn, so im going to start not givin a damn.
Thornton is our only hope. I am hoping Monty realised we need him much more. Not only does he bring instant offense, he hustles and brings energy. He will not turn the ball over either
this is embarrassin. we r bein sabotaged by our own damn players! y do the hornets always end up with the damn devon browns of the league? its not fair. just because our management was bad and our trades where horrible, y do the fans have to suffer? we r tired of people comin in our house, blowin us out? the worst home refs in da league. goodness, terrible
WTH is going on!!! What team is this? Which team on this court has 5 wins cause if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear it was the Hornets! We started 11-1 and knew we’d come back down to earth at some point but we have PLUMMETED!!!
Marcus is trying harder than anyone on the floor right now, including Chris
And we see what the result of effort is! Buckets with the spark. Hopefully the rest keep burning as a result.
To all Marcus-skeptics:
Who is cutting to the basket?
Who is hustling?
Who is blocking shots?
Who is getting steals?
Who is making their shots?
Mr. Marcus Thornton.
Marcus has officially gotten us back into the game!
Marcus’s intensity is contagious.
i wud vote this up 1000 times if i cud!!!
finally we r showin a little resiliency. “oh look.. da hornets r actin like they dont wanna lose!!”
and when we play the next game, monty wont play thornton. Last season he didnt play when scott was coaching, then bowers played him and in 28 minutes per game when he started he averaged 19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, in 28 minutes a game!!!! only 4 players in nba history have averaged 20 points, 5 reb. and 5 assists in their rookie season. Lebron, Michael Jordan, oscar robinson, and tyreke evans. they all played over 40 minutes a game, thornton did 20 4 and 4 in 28 minutes!!! and hes not playing?!?!?! look at what he does when he plays! Monty must be blind
Now if only Monty will let Marcus start games, or atleast be the 6th man. He’s playing really well (understatement) with CP3.
REALLY well!!
Really Hope Monty is watching Marcus Shine right now.
He had a good view.
Ouch, Smith just got kicked hard in the balls
OMGGGGGGGG taking out CP3 bet not backfire on us, Monty!!!!!!!!!!
too late…………..
damnit MONTY! start MT5. We dont need to trade 4 a scoring two gurad cause we got one right here. Demps needs to go after a starting 3guard. Ariza doesnt cut it as a starter and never did. GET TO DEALIN DELL!
I forgot Ariza was on the team…lol
lol gimmie melo
did thornton just get put back into the game!?!
Thornton getting his most minutes here, and suddenly the Hornets offense doesn’t like like a mess
faceplam @ DWest missed free throws. Lol @ Cousins constant traveling.
thornton for the win! what hustle! 2 tips.
THORNTON!!!!!!
marcus thornton!!!!
Thornton with the game winning Put-back.
MARCUS THORNTON bitch slapped the KINGS I really love it
If Marcus doesn’t get a significant increase in playing time after this performance, our coaches are without a doubt blind.
yeah seriously…the main issue during this slump looks like the lack of offense. when thornton is in he attacks the bucket and hustles. he may be a little trigger happy but id rather him shoot than any other of the guards besides cp3.
WHO DAT?! Thornton dat!
Thornton say he’s gonna beat dem Saints?
MT5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MONTY START HIM LIKE HE SHUDDA BEEN FROM DAY 1
MARCUS! THORNTON! No Ariza the whole 4th quarter
Have to give Monty some credit here for the three guard lineup move. We did to the Kings what the Spurs did to us when they used the three guard lineup
This just in: Marcus needs to play more, and Belinelli less.
Kinda fitting that Marcus is on the Banner today smiling. In the End it even looked like Cp3 was (finally) accepting Marcus.
Holy Farts I can’t believe we won, thank ypu MT5
To Everyone who questions everytime i mention marcus- ziko LReazy anyone else u guys realize marcus won us this game tonight along with okafor… he played great d got lost on a back door cut but the guy missed the layup and he was amazing again offensively putting in effort.
Tale of Two Halves, Part II
I just hope Marcus Thornton can do this (1) consistently and (2) against better competition. GREAT GAME MARCUS, but the only thing I’ve ever criticized Marcus for was inconsistency. This game proves he can play good basketball … it doesn’t prove consistency!
L_Reazy