Lakers Beat the Hornets

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Published: April 9, 2012

The Lakers came back from 9 down in the fourth to overcome a less than stellar performance and beat the Hornets.

I just want to thank the refs for getting every call right. That was really a well officiated game. Really. Seriously. Truthfully. Honestly.

No, it wasn’t.

It was over when- Marco hit a SMASHBOMBAWESOMETHREE with 8:37 to go in the fourth that put the Hornets up 79-71. Clearly the Lakers would never recover against the star studded Hornets unit of Belli-Henry-Lance Thomas-Ayon-Landry.

No really, it was over when— So yeah, the Lake Show recovered and got the deficit back to two. That’s how it stood with 2:34 left. Steve Blake hit a sweet bank shot over Aminu right after, and then the Hornets gave up the ball… and the lead… and eventually the game.

Seriously, it was over when-–  Down 3 and coming off a stoppage in play, the Hornets trailed by three. Ramon Sessions hit a dagger-three to extend the lead to 6 with just 26 seconds left. Then of course Vasquez made YET ANOTHER three, cutting the lead to three in the process. Unfortunately they decided not to foul immediately (or shortly after), and cost themselves a chance at coming back in the process.

MVP: Belli and Greivis really stepped it up in the absence of Gordon and Jack. They combined for 38 points on 28 shots (9/13 from three), 13 assists, and just one turnover

LVP: Gustavo Ayon has disappeared and been replaced by a less talented twin brother. How else can you explain his disappearance?

X-factor: Free throws. Yet again the Hornets wound up on the wrong side of too many debatable whistles. Not enough make-up calls went their way to overcome that.

That was…amazing: During halftime a lady on a unicycle blew my mind. She got some of the loudest cheers of the game, and some of the loudest I’ve ever heard for a halftime show.

Tweet of the Day: @RyanCaz: @GerrityJoe those fans need to realize that the Lakers are going to achieve as much as the Hornets this postseason…

Los Angeles Lakers 93 Final

Recap | Box Score

91 New Orleans Hornets
Jason Smith, PF 30 MIN | 4-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 8 PTS | -14Jason had his work cut out for him tonight on both sides. he was part of a constant double team on one end, and matched up against a large angry man at the other. Not bad, but now that I know how good he is it’s hard not to grade him a little tougher.
Al-Farouq Aminu, SF 36 MIN | 3-6 FG | 1-1 FT | 7 REB | 0 AST | 7 PTS | -3Not too shabby, Farouq! There was one finish that wound up being a missed layup instead of a thunderous smash, but other than that I felt pretty good about his game. This was one of the games that leaves me thinking he just might turn into a quality player one day.
Chris Kaman, C 29 MIN | 7-13 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 16 PTS | +4The Hornets needed a little more on the boards from Kaman tonight. Otherwise he was his usual self + blocking machine. The five blocks was a nice touch, and was the second time he’s done so in the last five games.
Marco Belinelli, SG 38 MIN | 7-15 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 2 AST | 20 PTS | +3Helllllls yeah. That’s what I like to see from my shooter– shooting! Marco also did a very nice job of handling point when need be, and let me tell you that there was a need.
Greivis Vasquez, PG 36 MIN | 6-13 FG | 1-1 FT | 0 REB | 11 AST | 18 PTS | -4The more I see Greivis play, the more I wonder if he’s not the guy who winds up running point for at least a good sized chunk of the future. I get that he’s not the best defender, but the guy is a damn fine basketball player. He doesn’t shy away, he doesn’t back down, and he doesn’t quit.
Carl Landry, PF 30 MIN | 8-12 FG | 4-4 FT | 11 REB | 5 AST | 20 PTS | +3Yes, sir! Despite his defense not quite being there, Landry had one heck of a game. He was rebounding better than usual, scoring at a high efficiency, and just generally attacking when he had the opportunity.
Lance Thomas, F 12 MIN | 0-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | +1Lance was playing wing for a few minutes tonight. I saw it. That was the most notable thing he did. Later on in the presser Monty said that he’s trying to find out of Lance can play that position, and that if he wants to stick around in the league he’ll have to be able to play more than one position.
Gustavo Ayon, PF 7 MIN | 0-0 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 PTS | +3As I said, I’m pretty sure this is Ayon Gustavo, not Gustavo Ayon.
Xavier Henry, SG 23 MIN | 1-8 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 2 AST | 2 PTS | -3Xavier was super aggressive all night long, but he just has to work on his finishing and, well, his shooting. the hitch in his shot has to go. There’s a reason people don’t do that. Aside from the shooting and finishing I was really happy with his play, but that’s a huge part of who he is, so….

Five Things We Saw

  1. I just want to thank the refs for getting every call right. That was really a well officiated game. Really. Seriously. Truthfully. Honestly.No, it wasn’t.
  2. I’m staring at the jumbo-tron, which has a little Kings VS Hornets thing for the next game. The featured Hornet is Greivis Vasquez.
  3. Some dude hit a super clutch three-pointer in the Beau Rivage contest thing. Well played!
  4. Now I remember why I can’t stand Faker fans. Note– Real Lakers fans are cool, but if you live in NOLA and root for the Lakers over the Hornets without an amazing reason (like being related to one or being from Los Angeles and a long time fan) then you lose a NOLA card.
  5. I got a really good interview with Farouq about his blog. I’ll have something up about it tomorrow.

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