Michael and I break down the OKC and Milwaukee games, lament the horrible turnover and perimeter shooting issues, address the rage directed at Austin Rivers, and then preview the games against New York and the Indiana Pacers. That’s a pair of teams that look very different this year.
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17 responses to “In the NO Podcast Episode 97: Red Hot Shooting”
Hey, Ryan and I have the same most-hated NBA player!
Westbrook’s expressions/pouting/demeanor annoy me incredibly.
Michael, you gotta stop being so negative and acting as though we have no shot at reaching the playoffs. While I agree with you and think people who are writing off Austin at this point are ignorant I still believe in Eric Gordon and the difference he would make if playing for this team. The fact that Eric Gordon fills so many weaknesses on this team is astounding. At the end of the day, Geaux Hornets and Pray for Eric Gordon’s Knees, positive vibes! Great podcast as usual.
It is hard to say we will be a playoff team with a health Gordon, too. So I think your criticism of Michael is unfounded. If he is so far off base, please name a professional sports journalist who has the Hornets making the playoffs.
This would be a better debate if there were more support of your position by people who are objective, like professional sports journalists.
Yeah, most objective outlets had the Hornets finishing between 12 and 15 out West. The most optimistic I saw were basketball prospectus and our own Joe Gerrity with 36 wins. Most pessimistic was our own Jason Calmes who predicted 20 wins in our season preview. At least I said 25!
3-9 is in the cards, and that is right in line. the team is not even injured yet. Sure, other teams will be injured along the way, but the injuries will hurt more due to the replacements being so bad.
This happens when half of your cap isn’t in the state.
like i always said….and i will say it again…i believe in austin rivers….the guy can ball….just watch out…..
While I agree that it’s frustrating to see us not identifying shooters, I think the problem starts w/ our awful guard D. Yeah, I don’t want our guys helping off of shooters, but do we have a choice?
Look we are nolonger owned by the league… When the Gordon issue works itself out we can really see where we are… Some of us apparently seen him play and as in most NBA seasons, around the All Star games players start moving around…
But we are paying EG max money.. and he can take over a team and a game… Look at our margins from last season plus we added scores… including Miller… And are we buying out the new contract etc…… its all about Eric Gordon…
Why do teams draft shrimpy teenagers in the first round? AR should have stayed in college (or gone to the D-League if he wanted to make money) for a couple of years.
Because they think it’s better than the alternatives considering the draft at present, upcoming drafts, and the current state of the team.
That is an admittedly banal answer, but it’s the truth.
So we’re paying him $1+M to grow up and learn while we lose. 🙁
Weren’t there any competent 3rd or 4th year PG/SG players in the draft?
What’s the benefit having said player (if available) this year if they have determined that Rivers has a decent shot of being far better than said player in 2 years?
I’m not saying they made the right choice. I’m just bringing up things that may affect their decision-making process.
In the end, I’m not buying everything the team is selling, but I’m willing to try to start thinking long-term. This team has no shot of being good this year with their cap situation, so the lost year can become an asset to be cashed in in the form of player development and an improved draft pick relative to a non-lottery pick.
Also, for reference, Seattle / OKC records:
2006-2007: 31 wins, drafted Durant after
2007-2008: 20 wins, drafted Westbrook, Ibaka after
2008-2009: 23 wins, drafted Harden, Ibaka arrives
2009-2010: 50 wins
Durant’s WS/48 through those seasons: 0.04, 0.13, 0.24 (age 19 at debut)
Westbook’s WS/48 through those seasons: 0.04, 0.11 (nearly age 20 at debut)
Ibaka’s WS/48 through those seasons: 0.13 (age 20 at debut)
Harden’s WS/48 through those seasons: 0.12 (age 20 at debut)
The performance of X does not predict the performance of Y, here, but here is a successful team that engaged in these same practices and suffered through the poor performance of many 19-year-olds (and how many more not on the list) because they had believed their scouting reports and did what was needed to develop them. They also drafted wisely (in these cases . . . they had some misses, as well).
Time will tell about the Hornets, but I’m not willing to go either way here. They’ve earned some patience from me, however.
It’s called hiring new employees… They do it in baseball and basketball but can’t in football… In reality who knows if the kid in the mail room will eventually run the company… Locally look at the departed Al Copeland, one of New Orleans’ most accomplished businessmen not given credit…
Isn’t it sort of a Catch 22, damned if you do and damned if you don’t… Has Rivers played in 10 games….and is he 19 or 20… So don’t we have other lottery picks in Henry, Aminu, Gordon plus we had Paul, Okafor, Henry, Gordon and Kaman last season…….
A player’s progress is a data point….What are his attributes… how would you summarize the careers of the above… Davis, Rivers and Miller knowing the system as an afterthought…
Our problem… just image the Saints without Drew Brees… aka Eric Gordon..
Except that Chase Daniel is competent enough, I think, to run a team that has other quality parts.
Once Eric Gordon was going to have an extended stay on the sidelines or out of state rehab, I wasn’t expecting the Hornets to win enough to kept them in the playoff hunt because we don’t have a closer. There is no need to make changes at this stage as it is evident that by the time Gordon returns from injury we will likely be cemented the bottom 3 of the West conference. Austin Rivers needs time to grow and learn the game in the NBA, his work ethic will see him improve over this season but not drastically, lets remember his current role has been forced on him with Gordon’s injury. He would have been playing a combo guard role off the bench otherwise which would have let him ease somewhat into his role on the team. On our Front court, i think its the best the Franchise has had in along time, certainly since the franchise moved to New Orleans. Love what Anthony Davis is doing, especially taking on leader role on offense down the stretch in the 2nd half of the Bobcats game and recently the bucks game.
lol “bazaar-o Monta Ellis”
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