The Hornets beat the Lakers


Just when you think you have this team all figured out, they go and beat the Lakers, 105-89, on their home floor.

It's the latest surprise in what's already been one crazy season for the Hornets. We've seen injuries, winning streaks, losing streaks, injuries, franchise records, miserable home losses, thrilling road wins and more injuries. Next thing you know, Willis Reed will announce his retirement.

Tyson's excited face was better than Cedric's, no question

Diving into the news and notes and stuff…

  • Linkage: box | recap | video | photos
  • Way to step up for Jannero and Rasual, two guys who had been struggling earlier in the season. And when I say they were struggling, I mean they were playing crap.

    Butler followed up his career-high 33 points with 22 against the Lakers, while Pargo poured in 21 points in a season-high 36 minutes.

  • As usual, the Hornets relied heavily on Chis Paul, and as usual he delivered, scoring 26, dishing 11, grabbing 6 and stealing 3.
  • Lamar Odom had 20 points and 7 rebounds, but also finished with 7 turnovers, including an amazingly dumbass play late in the game where he dribbled the ball on to the court instead of inbounding like a normal person. That happened with about five minutes left and the Lakers trailing just 93-87. Said Lakers' chief Phil Jackson afterwards…

    "I've seen (that) once before in a junior high game."

    A guy I used to ball with did that before too. We don't ball with him anymore.

  • Photo time: This is probably Jackson's reaction to that turnover; Mo Evans finishes off the YMCA; the Lakers really need to do something about that warped floor; Cuttino Mobley sat courtside; and Rasual Butler heart Byron Scott WAY too much.
  • Kobe played, but seemed to be bothered still by that ankle injury. Nonetheless, he led the Lakers with 24 points in 37 minutes.
  • The LA Times' Lakers Blog did the whole live blog thing for the game last night, opening with the following…

    It's the Lakers vs. Chris Paul and a bunch of dudes you wouldn't pick up on your fantasy team. Another winnable game, to be sure.

    Whoops.

  • We learn here that West, Peja and Bojangles have all accompanied the Hornets on their road trip. It's kind of like a blind friend accompanying you to a movie.
  • From the LA Times today:

    The Lakers, who had won three in a row, were overwhelmed on the boards, 49-31, made only three of 19 three-point attempts (15.8%) and only 14 of 23 free throws (60.9%). Walton, the league leader in three-point accuracy coming into the game, missed all four of his attempts from behind the arc.

You might think I'd be taking a jab at Darnell Mayberry right here for his predictions earlier in the week, but nah. I figure he might have gotten the team pissed off, which translated into a win last night. Byron Scott seems to think so, too…

"The guys were just a little bit fed up with the things they've been reading and hearing."

Ditto Desmond Mason…

"We were challenged before we left home that we wouldn’t win a game this road trip. We came out and won the first one, so I think that sets the tone for us."

Hmm, given the result last night, maybe we need more public criticism of the team. In that case…

Hornets suck balls, yo! 


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