Matchup: Lakers(34-16) @ Hornets(32-19)
Off Efficiency: Lakers 109.2 (2nd), Hornets 103.3 (17th )
Def Efficiency: Lakers 102.0 (8th), Hornets 99.4 (3rd)
Pace: Lakers 94.5 (16th), Hornets 91.4 (29th)
Tonight  the Hornets will look to get their first win of the season against the Los Angeles Lakers. The game will take place in front of what I am told will be a sell-out crowd, on one of the colder days of the year in New Orleans. If they want to see a victory, fans are going to need to bring the heat inside the Arena. The last two times these teams played, the Hornets were healthy, and still things didn’t go so well (1,2).
Can’t make the game? Chat with us LIVE starting at 7 pm ct.
Being the Western Conferences top rated defense isn’t going to do much to help the Hornets stop a Laker team that even while going through a rough patch, is still undeniably one of the league’s best teams. Pop even thinks they are better than his Spurs.
“I think they are the best team in the West.†“I think the struggles are overblown by you guys and gals. They are who they are. They’ve been doing this a long time. They just won two [championships] in a row again and there’s no doubt perhaps there’s going to be some nights when it’s just not all there emotionally. We run into that now, we’ve got the best record and we run into that and we haven’t won a championship in a long time so we don’t have that excuse and it happens to us.”
If the Hornets are going to win this one they need outstanding contributions from both a big man and a backup guard. Quincy Pondexter is not going to give you much offensively from the three, and neither is whoever winds up playing center for most of the game. Someone needs to put the points on the board. David West can be that guy, but he’s going to have his hands fill with a pair of seven footer and a slightly smaller huge guy.
After losing Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza to injuries, the Hornets will need a big man (I’m looking at you, Aaron Gray) to step forward and combat the Lakers front court trio of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. The Hornets can run a small ball lineup against most teams, but the Lakers can eat them alive with size in the frontcourt if they so choose. Monty is going to have to be careful not to leave his guys overmatched on defense. I’m sure he has some tricks up his sleeve, but facing the size disadvantage that he is, tricks might not be sufficient.
And if that wasn’t enough to deal with, there’s this guy named Kobe something in the back court. Fortunately for Hornets fans, he was spotted on Bourbon Street last night at Rick’s Cabaret (who really should be sponsoring us by now). My source tells me he was there for over three hours. Does that mean he will be a bit off tonight? You be the judge of that.
Check out today’s Bee Bites
Pre-game Notes
- Belinelli has been ice cold as of late, making only 2 of his last 16 three pointers, and 12 of his last 36 shots overall.
34 responses to “Game On: Lakers @ Hornets (Live Chat!)”
If we win, it will be a miracle IMO…Nvm NOLA is not losing without a FIGHT!!! GO NOLA!!!!!!!!
The most expensive item on the NBA online store is an Upper Deck New Orleans Hornets Chris Paul Autographed Jersey. The second most expensive item is a Chris Paul signed basketball.
Does this mean $tern is trying to promote the sell of the league’s team, or is it because the Hornets are moving and he’s trying to close everything out?
I think it means someone thinks they are worth the most in that segment of the sports memorabilia marketplace.
This is called a “False choice.” It’s a logical fallacy that is obvious to those skilled in argumentation, debate, and oratory.
For some reason, I’m seeing ALOT of items that are more than CP3’s autographed jersey.
http://store.nba.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=upper%20deck&origkw=upper%20deck&f=Taxonomy/NBA/2836124&sr=1
Maybe I’m looking at a different NBA online store….or maybe you meant the most expensive Hornet item?
Holy crap! You’ve found some expensive items. I guess there’s various ways to do searches on the store, and yours have certainly garnered items at a higher cost. Seeing those results makes you wonder why Jerry West is the NBA’s logo but not Michael Jordan.
Gonna be a tough one considering our injuries. However, we have won 6 in a row at home so anything could happen. We also happen to be undefeated when Q starts. 🙂
What’s the official starting line up for tonight?
Don’t know yet.
An article said Monty wouldn’t commit to reporters.
smith is out according to Jim_Eichenhofer twitter
Yeah, Gray is gonna start.. should be interesting.
Interesting to say the least. LOL!
Smith with flu-like symptoms.
http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2011/02/new_orleans_hornets_without_th.html
Mbenga and Gray will both probably foul out in the first half. SMH.
The Hornets always give a tough fight to the Lakers…will it be enough to beat them however??? Having Gray and Mbenga could hopefully disturb Gasol/Bynum. If Bynum is even playing. I see Q-Pon having a good game defending Kobe. He doesn’t have to worry about the size disadvantage like when he went against Durant.
hey guys, im sorry because ive asked this before, but im trying to find a website i can watch the game from in Australia- the atdhe.net one doesnt work anymore, neither does the firstrow.net one. DESPERATE to watch the hornets take on the lakers- please someone post a link.. thanks
http://atdhenet.tv/
Let it be resolved that all future where can I find illegal item X requests be resolved by private message.
Tenchis.tv Finds the games for you, type Tenchis into google.
Derrick Stafford. SMH.
Tough line up for the Hornets tonight
With that move Monty just proved that he has a personal problem with MT. Putting Pavlovic in proves he is the stupidest coach in the NBA.
Dumbest coach in the NBA? How could anyone you seriously?
Just A Fan, there are definately some issues with this rotation & I cannot figure it out! Pav played 10 min & was 0/1…10 min? Why? Must have been that blazing defense (you know cuz others would sit the bench for that defensive performance)! These guys played their asses off, but we lacked in coaching…NO DOUBT!!! Anderson was hott, but he got pulled & sat way too long? I’m proud of their effort but coach’s badd on this one…not to mention the poor officiating…don’t get mr started!!
From coach of the month to moron of the moment.
I’m confused then . . .
Green/Thornton on court together rarely works. That’s likely why he went with Pavlovic.
Well I guess that blows your theory now and makes mine more accurate.
Does any of the Lakers big men have 2 or more fouls?
Nevermind, I just checked the boxscore. No, they do not.
No free throws in the 3rd for the Hornets?
Taking into account that our injured players are probably more crucial in this game than any other, I think the Hornets can be proud of this performance. I hate the term “moral victory” but I think this is one.
i think QPon should have played more to guard Kobe and to make our lineup bigger so we could have some kind of dribble penetration, expecially down the stretch. QPon may be a tactic weapon during the playoffs and i wish he played more to know how playoff intensity tastes like..
Late in the fourth: Andersen made some Defensive mistake and CP3 didn’t want to take his responsabilities on offense, Hornets’ whole offense was bad there, but it’s hard to win if you have that many jumpshooters on the floor.
No ft’s in the entire 2nd half. SMH.