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Game on: Hornets @ Thunder

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Published: February 27, 2013
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After a loss to the Gently Repulsive Nets, things don’t get any easier on the Road.

It’s the second night of a back to back, so Eric Gordon will sit.  The Hornets are on the road – and they draw the Thunder.   This is the last matchup for the Hornets against the Western Conference’s defending champions, and in the previous three games the Hornets were outscored by a total of 40 points.

Still, this is the NBA, where Sacramento can be blown out by the Hornets and then take the Miami Heat to two overtimes just a couple days later.  No team wins every game, and we know the Hornets will be game to give it a try to tonight.  So if the Hornets are to win, what are the keys to the game?

  • Don’t Foul – The Thunder are the second best offense in the league because they draw the league’s highest rate of free throws.  The Hornets are about league average at giving out free throws.  Tonight, they have to be more disciplined.
  • Crush the glass.  The Thunder are below a little below the league average on both the offensive and defensive glass – particularly the defensive glass.  If the Hornets can assault the boards with vigor, one of their strengths, they have a good chance.
  • Generate turnovers.  The Hornets are bad at generating turnovers.  The Thunder like to give them away.  If the Hornets can find a way to be less bad at generating turnovers, it could pay off in a big way.

Update: Anthony Davis did not travel with the team and will be out due to a sprained left shoulder.  Item number 2 just took a hit.

Enjoy the Game!

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11 comments
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hewhorocks
hewhorocks

So the Hornets with 30% of their prime rotation minutes missing get rolled by one of the favorites to win the title and panic ensues? I keep seeing comments complaining about GV being the weak link. Theres no question Westbrook had an advantage over GV but your looking at a player who has an advantage over 25 of the 29 other starting PG. Having been spoiled for years with the best play at the position in the game I think we need to reset our expectations for the position. CP3 isnt walking through that door. If the hornets want elite at any position it has to be coming in the draft. Right now the Hornets are overpaying for mediocre in EG. We are not getting league average out of the 3. Maybe those positions develop over time but to expect GV to "carry the team" OR Anderson to carry the team against the Thunder who are playing better at nearly every position when the Hornets are healthy is not a reasonable expectation.

dianeb
dianeb

I went to the game and a few random comments My husband who doesn't follow basketball about Ryan Anderson, "geez,that guy can shoot." Makes you wonder why he didn't shoot more? Monty Williams - putting his hand's in pockets, shaking his head (down) walking back to his seat after Kevin Martin hit a wide open three pointer. The Thunder have their own problems - they have played pretty stupid in February, makes you want to shake your head and just go sit down. I don't see The Thunder beating The Heat.

jben_net
jben_net

My eyeballs are bleeding.

LLHOPS
LLHOPS

This game is depressing. The Thunder are so young and they will be very good for many years. It just shows us how far away we are from competing at this high level. I know no Davis, Smith or EG tonight but I'm not sure it would make the outcome any different. I love Greivas but if we don't find a quicker point that can stay in front of Westbrook, then we never have a chance against the Thunder. And Durant is just toying with us. Is there any SF except Lebron that can match him? Dell has is work cut out for him in the FA market and draft this offseason. We need lots of help to even think of playing at the Thunder's level.

504ever
504ever

If you are going to compare the Hornets, or any team, to the Thunder, they will come up short. The Thunder are the team of the present and the future. They traded away Hardin and got better because they are wining at the same level while picking up draft picks. You are right. Having Gordon, Davis, and Smith wouldn't change the result. The odds were overwhelmingly against the Hornets wining. But having those players would have given us fans a more accurate handle on how far behind the NBA benchmark Thunder we are. Judging this team on their shorthanded performance tonight makes as little sense as judging them based on their recent win against Sacramento. Now is a time for calm not panic.

LLHOPS
LLHOPS

You don't become the best unless you compare yourself to the best! Making excuses only breeds more defeats and leads to more empty seats in the arena.

Jason Calmes
Jason Calmes

This game was a recipe for disaster. To expect otherwise is a flaw in forming expectations.

Basketbol
Basketbol

Hornets has no depth. The team needs more than a rebuilding process. It needs infrastructural work

cdude9590
cdude9590

The Hornets apparently waited till the middle of the game to tell us Smith wouldn't play due to aggravating his shoulder during the nets game. So minus three players.

dianeb
dianeb

I'm going to the game and am so disappointed about the two guys not playing. I probably won't be going any more anyway cause they got the price of the tickets so high. I'll let you know if I see anything cool you don't see on TV.

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