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Hornets Beat the pre-Heat, Confusion Remains

Published: October 27, 2012

A victory in Miami is nice, but what does this game tell us other than we know nothing?

The 96-89 victory of the Hornets over the Heat to bring the Hornets to 4-4 in the presason was filled with surprises, but was even more-filled with confusion.

The team keep up with the turnovers, with the final tally holding at 21, but leading to only 13 points. This compared favorably with the vet-laden (improved) championship Heat team’s 17 counting for 14 points. Confusion.

Keeping in mind that the Heat limited Kim and Paris’ minutes, Anthony Davis, defensive stalwart, led all scorers with 24 points on 18 shots in 36 minutes of play. His efficiency was actually third class in the game behind Ryan Anderson’s 17 points on 10 shots in 29 minutes of play and The General’s 18 points when looking at players who played at least 24 minutes . . . on 8 shots . . . in 42 minutes of play. Add in the point guard’s 10 assists and 5 turnovers, and it’s a sublime game for the Venezuelan. Confusion.

The Hornets also let in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. They trailed the Heat in free throw percentage, but the Hornets got to the line far more often than the Heat. Confusion.

Thomas got the start over Aminu, picked up two fouls in as many minutes, and was out for the rest of the game aside from 8 additional and uneventful minutes. Aminu played 37 minutes, put up 13 points on 9 shots, went 7 of 8 from the line, and had 10 rebounds. Confusion.

Robin Lopez is another one. His performance was average, but he’s playing just well enough in preseason to make Hornets fans wonder if his career in Phoenix was the anomaly. Confusion.

Austin Rivers’ ankle injury subsided long enough to allow him to put up a typical performance, then tweak the ankle. What will we see of him in the regular season? Is this is the `real’ Austin Rivers?

Darius Miller continues his silent work, drilling two 3′s and not much else, except an unacceptably large number of turnovers in his 16 minutes of play.

We have yet to see Eric Gordon. If this doesn’t grow the confusion surrounding this team, then I’m not sure what will.

Will Jason Smith play? Confusion.

About the only thing that looks like it may be settled is that Henry and Warrick will be on the market next summer, if not before.

This team was the most interesting in the major American sports. With the new ownership and the immediate crisis averted, the team slowly approached the norm in terms of excitement. At least with all of these injuries and oddities, the Hornets are keeping it at least a little interesting. The entire preseason did nothing but add to the list of confusion.

Enjoy the regular season.

Get some popcorn . . . who knows how this is going to go!

22 comments

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Craig

Hum, I must know less about basketball than I thought I did. I was able to see the hornets play for the first time this pre-season and I thought I saw a young team still learning to play together, and improving. I thought they played tough defense against the defending champs (who didn't look at all like they were mailing this last preseason game in). I saw them turn the ball over a lot, but i assumed teams usually do with this many new faces coming together in the same season. I was thinking that if we can get games like this from Lopez and Vasquez and Aminu as an average along with Davis who has done nothing to make me think he won't be the teams MVP (Especially with EG M.I.A.) This team will be much improved and could be a fringe playoff team "if Gordon can get right." Oh well, I guess i've got a lot to learn. Though I know it's the M.O. of 247 to temper expectation I remain at level 10 excited about opening night, and this 2012-2013 season. Geaux Hornets

Jason Calmes

You don't know less. We are saying the same thing. You see the `upward' possibility arising from the current state of affairs, as do I. I'm just mentioning that I also see the possiblity for stagnation and regressions, for instance, from Aminu and Lopez. We both have lots to learn, but I think we see the same things from this game.

Craig

I gotcha. I honestly wasn't being sarcastic, I am just learning, the whole game. I didn't grow up a basketball fan, and only got interested since the Hornets came ot New Orleans. I bought one of the 12 game plans for my son and I this season specifically because of Anthony Davis and the whole rebuilding. You guys are great here and I think I'm starting to understand the game a little better because of it.

Jason Calmes

I know, dude. That's why I reached out. I think you are doing just fine. Keep at it. Thanks for reading.

LJoseph

In regards to this article i'm not confused about this team they have only been playing together for about a month. We have a chance to be a nice team this season GV will cut down on the TO and run the offense and the offense will look so much better with EG on the floor. We Have to give this team time to grow Like the Thunder did. Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers will be All-Stars once they develop there game more and grow into their NBA bodies. So lets be patience cause the Hornets or on the rise to a elite team in the NBA and i'm not confused about that. #GoBees

Tony

Vasquez is still getting use to his new teammates. Give it time!

504hils

Was it just me or was ray Allen going at rivers like I'm pissed off with your pops

504hils

What I took out the game is that we need Eg to be able to really compete.The ball seemed to enduendup in aminu hands with him jacking up a tough shot. Ryan Anderson will be the new peja for us and will win us about 8 2 10 games off of good shooting alone.anything Davis was but impressive and played better than I expected here didn't look scared.wish I could daddy the same for Rivers .he really need s to add some weight but I think ounce he gets on a roll gets gonna be something to see.

Jay Dogon

I think Vasquez is just trying to do to much out there knowing that in a year or two we would like Austin Rivers to be a starter so he's trying too hard to impress and show that he could be our PG of the future and just overthinking things. He made a lot of simple and silly turnovers in the first half but seemed to calm down a bit. I think our season hinges on his performance and Eric Gordon's health.

Champsworld504

When motivated, aminu, vasquez and Lopez look like certain keepers. It's when they're not mentally in the game is when they look awful. Time to introduce Austin Rivers to some athletic tape or brace for his ankle. God those sprains look like he broke his leg twice! Time to put out an APB for Eric Gordon and a future endeavors for Henry and Warrick. We tried to make it work Xavier, but hey, it happens....

maximumballer

It is preseason, players try to be cuter with the ball, which results in turnovers. The thing to take out of these preseason games is the pick and roll/pick and pop of AD and whoever is PG. Utah used the pick and roll to start 70% of their offense in the heyday of Malone and Stockton. It was nice seeing Davis flash to the basket and finishing. This play alone will set up Andersen on the wings, and Gordon for a spot up three or quick open lane slash to the basket. AD is not ready to play with his back to the basket so this is the play to get him looks. Rivers will be fine, he has too much heart to fail in this league. He gets hurt bc he tries to make an impact driving to the basket. It is his strength so he is doing what he knows. It is unfortunate he gets injured but I would rather see him hurt with an ankle sprain than a torn ACL. When he was in, I saw glimpses of getting to the basket which was nice to see. Rivers needs to add a mid range jumper and floater to his game right now, that would offset the injuries. I hope he just takes the time while injured to just shoot the ball. Also he does look rail thin, a little more bulk would be good for him

loudlikepat

I agree about rivers having heart. He also seems to have an incredible work ethic. I think he could average ten pts and 8 assists per game by the end of the season.

GerryV

I'm happy the preseason is over as I rip up all the stats and start over.certain experiments are over. Now the real stuff begins.Guard play will determine the lifeline of this team.Does PACE increase? Does the 3ball become a bigger factor? Wil the Defensive Efficiency improve? ( #16) Pt guard play??......Looking forward to observing the growth of Davis and others.........finally the real season is here. I uaes to hate to broadcast those last 3 preseason games.....players hate them as well.

nolahog

Why was Rivers even playing in this game? Why does he keep having such hideous looking ankle injuries (that wind up not being all that bad)?

Kimbro Slice

I was more worried about his knee than his ankle on that fall. To me it didn't look like he messed up his ankle at all. Hopefully its a good sign that he was able to walk it off seeing as last game he had to be carried off the court then a few games later he is starting.

Ron

It's been noted before that GV & AFA both have occasional "good" games which make Monty think that there's something special (or at least passable) in them. Maybe they just both had "one of those games" on the same night...

Well, I don't think turnover is the nature of GV, considering he didn't have that many turnovers last season. He does need to know better how the new team works out. Isn't it typical for the beginning of the season. You see Wade had 7 turnovers this game also. About GV, he indeed prefer to take risk to get pretty assists though. However, that's the basketball people want to watch. I was really confused with people doubting GV's ability of making lobs. He made looots of them back in Memphis with Arthur. People on this blog and the forum are getting so impatient in this preseason. Some of the comments make me not willing to come back to look at them. Maybe fans were spoiled by CP3. Maybe they have higher expectation than last season since we drafted Anthony Davis. But, again please give the players more chances to prove themselves. As a Vasquez fan, I moved my attention with him from Maryland to Memphis then to New Orleans. I know he has limitations. I know he isn't CP3. I know I couldn't lower the expectations of fans for the starting PG. But like I said earlier, I know he can play better and have less turnovers. Please give him more time.

Ron

Maybe fans were spoiled by CP3. That could be... :) (I've thought for a while that Drew Brees' replacement is going to have a really hard time.)

Lucas Ottoni

Perfect. I agree.

Lucas Ottoni

Don't forget that it's the second game in a row that GV gets a double-double. If he controls the turnovers will be sweet to watch this team. And AD is a MONSTER!!! I can not find another word!

Mike W

Based on two seasons of history, Vasquez will continue to turn it over higher than average. His TOV% was 21.7% last year and 20.9% for career. I looked up 3-4 other guards and all had lower TO numbers. Jack's numbers were 14.1% and 16.6%. Darren Collison's numbers were 16.2% and 17.4%. John Wall is at 19% in his first two seasons.

Ron

If, if, if... :( That's the $64K question: is his bad ball handling part of his nature, or something that he can grow/mature/learn out of? But yet he'll still be too slow to guard decent PGs.

Trackbacks

Hornets Beat the pre-Heat, Confusion Remains – Hornets247 | Rocking Chairs says:

October 27, 2012 at 1:54 am

[...] Hornets Beat the pre-Heat, Confusion RemainsHornets247Recent Highlights. Complete Hornets Rankings from #HornetsRank · Ryan Anderson Stat-Pack · Hornets247 NBA Mock Draft Wrap-Up · The Hornets and the Play-Ifs · The 2012 Hornets Offseason from a Salary Cap Perspective …and more » [...]

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Hornets Beat the pre-Heat, Confusion Remains – Hornets247 | Safes says:

October 27, 2012 at 2:12 am

[...] Hornets Beat the pre-Heat, Confusion RemainsHornets247Recent Highlights. Complete Hornets Rankings from #HornetsRank · Ryan Anderson Stat-Pack · Hornets247 NBA Mock Draft Wrap-Up · The Hornets and the Play-Ifs · The 2012 Hornets Offseason from a Salary Cap Perspective …and more » [...]

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Hornets Beat the pre-Heat, Confusion Remains

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