2012-13 ASSISTS LEADERS : Assists Per 48 Minutes - All Teams PLAYER NAME, TEAM NAME AST APG TO TOPG AP48M AST/TO 1Rajon Rondo , BOS 245 12.9 71 3.7 16.3 3.45 2Chris Paul , LAC 200 9.1 49 2.2 13.1 4.08 3Greivis Vasquez , NOH 190 8.6 72 3.3 12.7 2.64 4Jose Calderon , TOR 164 6.8 46 1.9 11.8 3.57 5Russell Westbrook , OKC 201 8.7 76 3.3 11.8 2.65 6Jrue Holiday , PHI 196 8.9 84 3.8 11.1 2.33 7Tony Parker , SAS 164 7.5 49 2.2 10.9 3.35 8Deron Williams , BKN 185 8.4 64 2.9 10.9 2.89 9Mo Williams , UTA 140 7.0 51 2.6 10.4 2.75 10 Andre Miller , DEN 126 5.3 56 2.3 10.1 2.25 http://www.nba.com/statistics/player/Assists.jsp?league=00&season=22012&conf=OVERALL&position=0&splitType=9&qualified=Y&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=5&splitDD=All%20Teams

A very good game by Rivers. But can he sustain it? IU was shocked that Vasquez notched up 17 assists. Frankly, I did not see anything particularly spectacular about his play in this game. He was just "ok". Lopez, yeah... 1 rebound. Aminu sucks in the half court, but he helps a lot on the boards, which creates a dilemma. More people have been callinmg for playing time for Darius Miller. Miller is ok, but he's averaging around 5 to 6 points per 36 minutes, and he's currently shooting 37%. Hardly numbers which inspire confidence that he's ready to break out if given more time. Still, he was a decent pick for where we got him in the draft. Ryan Anderson is a brilliant shooter and he's expanded his offensive options it seems to include some driving ability. However, I think he is part of the reason why our defense is so atrocious so he's a bit of a mixed bag.

I had to chuckle about your first sentence which summarized the game very well..."the Hornets played like the worst defensive team in the league." They are the worst team in the league defensively this season on a statistical basis. Through December 10, their defensive efficiency (or inefficiency) rating is 108 vs a league average of 102 per 100 possessions.

The Hornets need to find a way to play with more energy and effort at home. The Wolves could have named the final point total - if needed they could have score 120-125. This was one of the saddest defensive performances of the season. It's not just defending against the 3, our bigs cannot defend either. We gave up 31 to Pekovic (you gotta be kidding). Monty talks about repacing palyers who can't defend but maybe Monty's system doesn't fit the players Dell is bringing in. Our pace is so slow, that unless we play consistent lock down defense, we cannot win very often. Bottomline we are trying to compete with limited defenders and no quickness at point guard. This is a recipe for another #1 pick.

Yea, first trade gordon for some picks and expiring deals. He is too injury prone to pay that much for. Lopez also needs to be traded for whatever picks you can get and same thing goes for Vasquez. Let Rivers be the SG of the future and keep Anderson and get a good center in the upcoming draft and we will have a nice 3 man rotation in the frontcourt for the future. I think we have some real talent at the 3 that can still be developed so no need to rush on any decisions there. We just need to be a little patient. We are an extremely young team right now.

I thought Rivers was sensational! On the other hand, our rebounding was terrible. I never seen a team get so many offensive rebounds and easy shots at the basket. Barea looked like Iverson the way he got whatever he wanted, and we looked like boys among men the way MIN killed us down low and on the boards. In my opinion, we now have 3 glaring needs....PG, SF, C and we are loaded at 2 positions when healthy (SG- Gordon and Rivers, PF- Anderson and Davis). Anyone has a solution??

Another lackluster home performance. Our guys give much more effort on the road than they do at home. That's why the crowd doesn't even bother to get excited any more, if they show up at all. This crowd knows and appreciates good defense, and we have seen about 20 minutes of it TOTAL for the entire season at home so far. It also seems we are back to last year's tank strategy: Whenever we get a player back from injury, we sit another good player within a game or so. That limits the roster so we have an excuse to lose 4 out of every 5 games while showing flashes of individual potential. Right now I predict that Ryan Anderson will not last 3 games past the return of Eric Gordon (if that ever occurs). It will be his turn to get turf toe or sprained follicles or something. Hopefully it isn't a real injury.... As a STH, I feel this strategy and the lack of effort is borderline theft. At half price for Balcony Busters I guess I can live with it, but it still makes me sad. I definitely wouldn't pay full price for this lack of quality. Smith is probably the only big we have besides Lopez that would even have had a chance against Pekovich. Although, I would have like to seen Lance Thomas get a chance on him. Short, but aggravating.... I'd love to see Roberts or Rivers slice through the middle of the paint early in the clock like Barea did about 20 times last night. Our guys circle the 3-point line for 15 seconds and attack only to the side of the paint when the clock is running down.

Today i will be conducting my 'HOOP CLINIC ON WHEELS" we'll be driving around the city ( look for the truck with the BIG V letter sitting on a pair of sneakers...basketballs for eyes...bright orange truck)..we will be using a loud speaker asking people...better yet,we will be telling people to step outside of their homes and convince us they know how to defend the BACKDOOR CUT and DEFEND THE LANE....we will be driving all over the city and surrounding areas....our goal is to upgrade the ability of all citizens in our city in these two areas of play. Free t-shirts...and a donut.

While at the grocery store the other day some guy tries to beat me to a box of Cheerios by attempting a back door cut....by using my footwork and reading the play i defended the passing lane and took away his cutting space...he attempted to swing out to the other side off a pin down but again failed since i quickly slipped in between grocery carts to re establish by defense.......he walked out of the store frustrated... Hornets were horrible reading and reacting last night..

On a night where Rivers has 27 points on 14 shots you want to to throw him in the trash? AD was pressing in the 4th and needed some rest, Monty isn't going to push him too hard coming back from an injury. Chill man.

I would like to understand the coach Monty Williams. He took Anthony Davis in the fourth quarter to put the pathetic Robin Lopez. Then he put again Anthony Davis with the game already lost. That's serious? I'm beginning to think that our coach is deliberately trying to lose the games. It's the draft? So depressing... Aminu sucks. He doesn't know drive a ball. He's a goner. We urgently need a SF! Currently, Hornets have a good PG - backup - (Greivis Vasquez - 17 assists!), a good PF (Ryan Anderson), a promising player (Anthony Davis) and a young man with a basketball IQ (Darius Miller). And we have Jason Smith. The remainder of the roster you can put in a bag and throw in the trash. By the way ... Vasquez' 17 assists (high carreer) weren't even mentioned here in your post, Ryan? Seriously? OMG...

No Jason Smith in the rotation and they out rebound us by 10. The team's shooting percentages were about the same for 2s, 3s, and FTs, but they took more shots (mostly from close in due to offensive rebounds)and shot more free throws. Game over.

I was hoping that our Defensive showing against the Thunder, which was pretty good all things said and done, was a sign that we were finally righting the ship defensively and Monty's system was finally kicking in. I almost wish that we just got blown out against OKC and gave that same effort and showing on the defensive end tonight instead. Great to see Austin Rivers performance and this is why I want Greivis as our backup point, Ridnour is supposed to be a backup point so this is essentially what Vasquez should be matched against night in and night our. Geaux Hornets

Maybe because GV couldn't even blow by Kevin Love. A lot of Vasquezs assists are fools gold due to a lot of catch and shoots that the other will let the hornets have all night long.

And Greivis Vasquez boosted his trade value at a convenient time of the year...

Schwan just don´t like him, but a lot of fans do. Go Greivis, go Austin, go NOLA! It was an exciting game to watch!

Really??? not a single mention of Greivis Vasquez's 17 assits?? Really?

And Greivis Vasquez had 15 pts and 17 asts.