Game On: Hornets @ Trailblazers

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Published: March 29, 2012

Hornets look for second straight win as they head into the Rose Garden

The Hornets travel to Portland tonight, to face a team that has truely been Jekyll and Hyde since the trade deadline. On some nights, Portland has looked like the worst team in the NBA and on other nights they have appeared to be more than compatent. They have defeated the Bulls (best record in the NBA) and Memphis, and stayed close to the Lakers at LA, but lost by 29 at home to Milwaukee.

The Trailblazers are tough to figure out, but you know what you are going to get from the Hornets- a team with a lack of talent that gives 100% every night. Obviously I tease when I infer that they are in Tank mode. Perhaps it is just wishful thinking on my part, as this draft class seems to get thinner and thinner every day. Despite my urge to forgo the season and set their sights on Sir Anthony Davis, the Hornets have continued to play as hard as any team in the league, and all credit must go to Monty Williams for that. Perhaps three or four years from now he will be blessed with a roster full of young talent and the Hornets will shoot to the top of the West, giving him the opportunity to win Coach of the Year. But it is a season like this that truly deserves praise. I saw Phil Jackson win with MJ, Scottie, Kobe, and Shaq but I never saw him have to coach the likes of Squeeky, Smitty, Gustavo, and Belly.

News and Notes:

Draft Watch- Kendall Marshall, Harrison Barnes, and John Henson all announced today that they are entering the draft. Add senior Tyler Zeller to the ist and UNC could have four guys go in the lottery- five if Freshman James Michael McAdoo declares (word is he is going to head back to UNC, however).

Lotto Ballz: A Washinton win and a Hornets loss will bring the Hornets to within a half game of the Wizards for second most balls. Barring a crazy surge for the Hornets, they will finish bottom three, but the difference in #2 and #3 is quite huge. 5% more of a chance at Davis, 10% more likely to finish in top 3, and #4 is your likely basement (odds of getting 5th pick are monumental). In a draft where there are likely 3 sure things and a bunch of maybe’s, I want that second worst record.

Vegas Zone: The line opened at Hornets +7, and has shot up to +8.5.  Blazers have been up and down, but the one thing that has been consistant is their awful defense. I like the Hornets +8.5, but I LOVE the over (set at 185)

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