Matchup: Hornets(36-28) @ Cavaliers(12-49)
Off Efficiency: Hornets 103.5(18th), Cavaliers 99.5(28th)
Def Efficiency: Hornets 100.8(6th), Cavaliers 110.2(30th)
Since the epic 26-game losing streak the Cavaliers have gotten some of their injured players back and managed to return closer to what we saw from them the first 17 games of the season: Near .500 ball. Honestly, I’ve always felt that is a much more realistic evaluation of their talent. As much of a stars league as this is, LeBron James isn’t actually worth 40 wins over the course of a season. 25? Sure. 40? No.
So the lesson is not to take the team lightly. They aren’t starting replacement level talent anymore. It’s not brilliant talent by any means, but it’s been good enough to earn wins over the Lakers and Knicks(twice) over the past couple weeks.
As for the Hornets, it’s actually been somewhat bizarre how steady their offense has been. They’ve been sitting at 103.5 points per 100 posessions for about three weeks now without it moving at all. Now, this late in the season, it usually doesn’t shift that much, but usually it shifts SOME. Defensively, the Hornets have slipped, and that continues to be their primary issue. If that defense is operating at full strength, the offense can sputter a little and still be enough. If it continues the way it has the past three weeks, the Hornets lose.
Injuries:
Cavaliers: Semih Erden is out. Boobie Gibson is out. Antawn Jamison is out.
Hornets: Ariza is out. West is questionable. I will run this preview as if Landry is starting.
Positional Analysis
PG: Ramon Sessions v Chris Paul
Advantage: Hornets
Ramon Sessions is the best player in Cleveland, and he’s very strong on the pick and roll. If Paul doesn’t keep up the energy he displayed in Memphis, Sessions is going to wreck the Hornets at the point of attack. While you’ll look at sessions and not see the most tremendous shooting percentages, all you need to see is that he draws almost 6 free throws a game, and hits them at a high rate. That’s one of the higest rates for Point Guards in the league, and its makes him trouble.
SG: Anthony Parker v Marco Belinelli
Advantage:Â Even
Parker is a nice shooter, but he’s gotten old and the rest of his game is no longer as strong as it once was. He’ll still give the Cavaliers a few savvy passes for easy buckets, and probably draw a charge, but Belinelli should be able to play him to a standstill. If the Belinelli we’ve seen the past few games shows us (consistency is always a question) then this position swings in our favor.
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SF: Alonzo Gee v Quincy Pondexter
Advantage: Cavaliers
Neither produces near anything, and play because they don’t make totally stupid mistakes defensively. Gee has at least proven he can hit his three point shooting. Pondexter . . . well, honestly, he hasn’t shown anything consistently, yet.
PF: Samardo Samuels v Carl Landry
Advantage: Hornets
If you haven’t heard of Samardo, don’t feel bad. He’s only played 25 games for the Cavaliers this year, but gets the nod as Jamison is out for 5-7 weeks after surgery. He’s an energy guy who likes to mix it up for rebounds, but is only moderately successful at it. Landry should be able to beast him for easy points in the paint.
C: JJ Hickson v Emeka Okafor
Advantage: Hornets
JJ was the hang-up for the Cavaliers trading for Amare Stoudemire. As always, people overrate their own players. JJ is a nice rebounder, a solid finisher on the pick and roll, and has a very low Basketball IQ, getting out of position consistently. Expect a nice block or two, and a few dunks, but Emeka should be able to handle his business and as long as JJ can’t feed off an explosive Sessions attack the Hornets should take this matchup.
Bench
Baron Davis, Luke Harangody, Christian Eyenga, Ryan Hollins, Manny Harris v
Aaron Gray, Jason Smith, Willie Green, Jarrett Jack
Advantage: Even
With the Hornets missing their primary big man, the again will give up any advantages they had in the paint off the bench. Harangody has been shooting lights out as a Cavalier, and Hollins is active, if somewhat inept. Baron Davis also played his first game as a Cavalier against the Knicks, and ran the offense well – even if he did jack up too many shots. Like he always does.
Let’s hope the energy stays high and the Hornets don’t take this team lightly. Enjoy the game!
106 responses to “Game On: Hornets @ Cavaliers”
I’ll be in the building!
Me too bro. Go Hornets!!
no chat tonight? 🙁
CP3&Landry this one is all yours…
I’m confident the Hornets can win this game of course, though I think that Baron Davis could be an x-factor that puts a wrench in the works.
Good call about BD.
Thanks for remembering Gray on the bench.
I guess my only disagreement is QP.
I think he has shown to be a nice addition and possible steady addition.
And I guess my greement is QP.
He has not realy gone over the top showing anything…yet.
Ya…very confusing call.
I told you guys to give the opposing pg the advantage from now on didn’t I? 😕
By the sounds of it West sounds like he’s playing against the Cavs.
http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2011/03/new_orleans_hornets_forward_da_5.html
i’m surprised byron scott didn’t sign marc jackson and other scrubs to the cavs roster like he did when the hornets wee awful……….west is playing though…..ariza still hurt
give some minutes at SF to marco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZXIB8FkJkc
My brother didn’t record as much as I would have liked him to. But here’s something for you guys to see at least. Got another good game next week. Will record that one too.
I’m number 3 on the White Team. Number 41 and 22 are my buddies from college. 22 is a REALLY good player. 6’7, league leader in points. 41 is a huge body at 6’10. He’s good too, leads the league in rebounds and blocks. 21 on my team is 6’7, but is really a SF playing C for us since we were short a few bodies.
nice shooting motion 🙂
yooooo 42…i got some bs for you to. posthttp://www.nj.com/nets/index.ssf/2011/03/nba_qa_with_the_hornets_david.html
Nice. I was just posting that, and more.
I’ll add a shot out, because I agree with you.
Is the game on cst tonight?
No. 106.7 FM in NOLA.
No sir.
thought the game was for 5 30
what about a coach comparison every pregame?
Hornets need to settle down. Looks like they’re playing the Cavs’ tempo.
The bench’s ball control is terrible right now…
jack is incapable of running a team, he’s a shooting guard.
whats up with Landry’s eye?
injured in the last game. by willie green 😀
R U SERIOUS?
yep. some good hustle by both of them.
why is david west out of the game
maybe monty will give him less minutes because of the last game injury?
CP3 with the double-double at half.
Great first half for CP3 and Mek with 4 blocks!!! That block on JJ Hickson was too funny. I really dislike listening to the Cavs commentators, they laughing at the Heat for losing to the Bulls…and they are 12-49 overall, come on now.
i thought they were laughing more at the fact that the heat players cried after the game. lol
Yeah but you could tell that there was a little anti-LBJ in their tone.
way to move on gracefully, cleveland.
Defense Hornets!! Stop trading baskets with these guys.
uh oh, CP3 caught a shoulder to the face 🙁
CP3 might have a concussion…
OMFG !!!!!
JESUS WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE???!!!!!
Man I really hope he’s ok that didn’t look good.
wow this is somethin we definately didn’t need
CP3 was just starting to be his old self again
im in shock i hope he gets better soon
I’m speechless, it didn’t look that bad at first. I REALLY hope he’s okay, that was…..wow
i agree it didnt look like he got hit tha hard. but you never know. if it is a concussion i say IR him, and start working on a new contract with him 🙂
Those Cleveland announcers are so damn insensitive….
Wow.
The whole thing looked bad when they carried him out, but I think it’s nothing more than a mild concussion. He was just probably close to blacking out.
However, if it is a neck injury as well, that IS bad. You can’t fight through that type of injury.
While laying on his stomach he raised his head so I think if it were a neck injury would he have been able to do that? Cleveland announcers suck ass. I been put their asses on mute.
That’s what scares me. He only raised it a little bit.
Would he have been able to raise it at all though? I mean he wasn’t trying to do a head lift exercise or anything but I figure being able to at least lift it off the floor is a good thing. Hopefully.
Yeah, that one Cavs commentators needs to be slapped (and much more) for the crap that came out his mouth. No one cares about him getting hit by Wilt Chamberlain back in the day. Someone is on the ground, about to get rolled out on a stretcher.
Curious. What did the guy said?
They said CP was just getting a rest, then Hornets made a run, “Paul injury went Hornets favor”…. just speechless.
When CP first went down they said “Well Chris Paul’s just trying to get some rest. He’s catching his breath that’s why he’ll down for so long. He knows what he’s doing”
God help us.
Hornets need to stay strong and rally for CP3 and themselves. LET’S GEAUX HORNETS!!!
well said.
That’s right. DEFENSE!! D Baron’s ass up!!
Ok. But you can’t let him hit half court shots though. SMH.
Cleveland announcers after Baron’s buzzer beater:
“BD! Knocks it down. Saves the Cavaliers a lot of headaches here at the end of the 3rd quarter. The Hornets kind of fell asleep.”
I’m sure it wasn’t on purpose, but the use of the words “headaches” and “asleep” in that sentence seem kind of messed up after the Chris Paul situation.
Their black commentator is a homer…
CP3 just tweeted “#np @RealFredHammond Thank You Lord”
fred hammond is a preacher or somethin…
a sigh of relief is in order for everyone
Actually the time is messed up because he tweeted that wayyy early today.
I think that was before the game, unfortunately, it was posted 11 hours ago…
downer… my comp said it was tweeted a min ago 🙁
resume panic mode everyone…
ps. really errie that he tweeted that earlier in the day
Fred Hammond is preacher and multi-grammy award winning Gospel artist originally from Detroit but he’s in TX right now. I actually know him
Apparently CP3 talking and moving his fingers and toes…..so hopefully thats good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go hornets
Hold their asses to 66 points!! LMAO.
Yes! Good job Hornets! That’s how you react to a teammate’s injury! Win this game by 20 for CP3!
Come on Marco! We can’t afford turnovers like that one.
I’d put half the blame on Willie on that one. Probably more.
Yeah you’re probably right. I didn’t see who overthrew it but you’re right.
TIGHTEN UP DAT D HORNETS!!!
From John Reid’s twitter…
#Hornets officials said Chris Paul suffered a head injury, but he was responsive and aware of his surroundings. He was taken to a hospital.
2 minutes ago via web
@RYAN— im sorry but i definately think baron is their best player…. sessions is good but baron is much better
Head injury sounds like concussion. Hopefully mild since he’s at least responsive and aware of surroundings.
Come on Willie. Hold it together man.
Boobie needs to fire his barber.
Amazing hustle by Landry off the Jack TO. You won’t see DX ever get on the floor like that.
I have loved the way we have responded to the unfortunate injury. My prayers are with CP3. Now, let’s close this game and get the W!
Respond in a positive way to adversity Hornets! You can do it! LET’S GEAUX!!!
We need to win this game because I’m pretty sure we’ll lose to the Bulls tomorrow. Lord have mercy.
Good job Belinelli!!! Closed out on Parker quickly. Good job man!
Yes! Way to fast break Hornets!!!
I stopped watching at halftime. What did the Cleveland announcers say? We they calling CP soft or saying he was milking it or something?
Also, I’m starting to learn that virtually every team’s announcers are terrible…except the ones that also do national commentary, like Gus Johnson and whoever else
They said Chris Paul was laying on the court to catch his breath. I’m sure they think that’s why he went to the hospital too. Bastards…
Jack in double-digits again! I’m so glad we have him.
CP’s cousin just tweeted…
Thank the lord just got the word that he is ok
1 minute ago via ÃœberSocial
Yes Jack!
Nice teardrop Willie! LET’S GEAUX HORNETS!!!!
Just tuned in and from the looks of the thread it appears CP3 caught a flipper to the dome. Did someone put a hex on this team for injuries? As soon as one guy gets off the DL another one goes on, and they’re always starters!
Good win. Way to respond guys. Way to respond.
Glad to hear it sounds like CP will be ok. Loved the resilience the rest of the team showed in not only getting the win after their leader went down and the uncertainty surrounding his injury, but the way they handled the rest of the game and really broke it open.
Good to get another win and good to hear good news coming out from those close to CP.
it was really bad to see cp3 go down…. I hope it will be ok really soon.
the match was good, the cavs are the cavs, but still they got better after the deadline and they just won @msg.
Agree. I’ve been saying for a while now that we can’t play teams records. We have to play every team as though they’re top notch. Never underestimate a team.
CP’s brother CJ tweeted “he wanted to get off the stretcher and play but they wanted to make sure he was ok”
What a great news, we might see CP in Chicago tomorrow!
LOL! That Chris Paul is something else I tell ya.
If CP3 was still 175 and had the same body he had when he first came into the league, he’d be bad off.
For someone who doesn’t have twitter, you’re sure on twitter a lot. Umjussayin…
i knew it would be a Paul Pierce Shuffle!!
If Chris is out and Jack runs the offense, Marco’s offense will go way down because he’ll never see the ball. At Toronto and NOLA, Jack has shut Marco out in competition for playing time. Only looks his way for a bail out. Just watch.
Things were falling into place with the recent lineup adjustment. With QPon basically missing, they are winning 4 on 5. Even so, in many ways they play better offensively with Ariza out.
Nice gutcheck win. Tomorrow will be tough with Rose playing so well, assuming that Chris doesn’t play.
Belinelli said he calls CP3 ‘piccolo’. I know he hopes piccolo is ok.
piccolo means “small”
I know f.g. di bene. I just think it’s cute. 🙂
sorry for being pedantic, i’m just italian and thought you were asking what does piccolo “means”…. it’s 4 in the morning here right now 😀
isn’t piccolo the green guy from Dragon Ball?!
I mean in italian…
It’s also the instrument in a classical orchestra that is capable of the highest note, at least through traditional means..
piccolo is also a name of a very loud yet small firework here in the philippines 🙂