Rapid Reaction: Hornets are handled by the Mavericks

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Published: January 7, 2012
New Orleans Hornets 81 Final

Recap | Box Score

96 Dallas Mavericks
Chris Kaman, C 25 MIN | 4-8 FG | 2-2 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 10 PTS | -4

If Kaman wasn’t such a wreck defensively, I’d be pretty happy with what he did this game. He still makes me want to vomit when he puts the ball on the floor, but tonight he was decent.

Al-Farouq Aminu, SF 44 MIN | 4-8 FG | 5-6 FT | 12 REB | 2 AST | 15 PTS | -16

Monty gave Aminu as much run as he could handle tonight, and Aminu delivered solid defense, some nice shooting, and abysmal ball-handling. You can see the potential there for him to become a better Ariza once he cuts down on dumb defensive mistakes and leaving his feet to pass. Tonight was nice, though. I found it fascinating that the first play of the game put the ball in his hands to initiate, and when it kicked back out, he showed no hesitatin shooting. Good on ya, young fellow.

Emeka Okafor, C 37 MIN | 3-7 FG | 3-5 FT | 4 REB | 2 AST | 9 PTS | -17

Okafor was given Nowitzki to defend for most of the game, and defend him he did. That’s the only reason I’m not murdering him with this recap.

Jarrett Jack, PG 38 MIN | 4-14 FG | 4-4 FT | 7 REB | 5 AST | 13 PTS | -10

Jack should be arrested after this game after battering the rim with clang after clang and assaulting the people in the stands with multiple bad passes. He’s trying damn hard, but he’s just not good enough to be the primary option he’s trying to be.

Marco Belinelli, SG 17 MIN | 1-4 FG | 1-2 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 3 PTS | -9

Wait, Marco played after the first two minutes?

Carldell Johnson, G 17 MIN | 3-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 2 AST | 9 PTS | +2

The best point guard the Hornets had tonight, Squeaky only forced one play, and generally took what he was given. Nice night for the rook.

Trey Johnson, SG 8 MIN | 1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | 0

Johnson was used as a small forward in relief of Aminu, and he’s just too smal for that. He gave it his all, but couldn’t get it going.

Carl Landry, PF 28 MIN | 3-7 FG | 6-7 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 12 PTS | -6

Landry couldn’t get a break out there, and still ended up with 12 points on 7 shots. If Landry had been gifted with three more inches, he’d be an all-star. Or maybe a pornstar, depending . . .

Greivis Vasquez, PG 18 MIN | 2-4 FG | 2-2 FT | 1 REB | 2 AST | 6 PTS | -12

Vazquez followed a strong game with a struggle. Monty couldn’t really keep him on the floor either, because he couldn’t stay in front of anyone defensively either. JET, Roddy, Delonte West, it didn’t matter.

Gustavo Ayon, PF 7 MIN | 1-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | -3

Ayon played and did what he could as a big man with no expectation of having a set run for him. Twice he rolled to the net and could have gotten a nice pick and roll dunk if his guards had at all been thinking about him. Here’s hoping Monty points that out.

Five Things We Saw

  1. The turnovers tonight were unsettling, and it was even worse than the 20(!) turnovers the Hornets were credited with. Their passing was awful, and over and over, wing players had to stop and go back to receive passes so they wouldn’t go out of bounds. I weep for a proper wing pass off the dribble.
  2. The Hornets primary defensive principle is to go under screens and pack the paint. Tonight, that burned them as Dallas shot 42% from three.
  3. I find the celebrations of Corpse Vince Carter even more irritating than those of Arrogant but Good Vince Carter. Go Figure.
  4. The Hornets continued their trend of outrebounding their opponents tonight. Sometimes, that just not enough to keep you in it.
  5. The fluke bad shooting from deep from early in the season continues to correct itself. The Hornets aren’t great shooters from range, but they aren’t as bad as the numbers suggest either.

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