Why weren’t the Hornets thinking about a three-pointer with less than eight seconds to go, down by three?
Overall it was one heck of a game, and not at all a let-down like some of us were worried about. Still, the ending was just odd. There wasn’t even a question in my mind that the three-ball was the play. Not only the play, actually, but the obvious play. Then for some reason it seemed like Jack deliberately went straight for two.
I get that the Spurs aren’t a great shooting free throw team typically, but up until that point in the night they were 15-15. Even if Jack’s layup went in and the Spurs missed both free throws, it’s not like getting 2 points in the second or two that would have remained would have been a sure thing. Essentially the Hornets, a poor offensive team, ensured that one basket would not be enough to get even, and instead tried to make two in a row.
Jarrett Jack had one heck of a game up until that final minute. If you take the ball out of his hands late, I think we’re all talking about how awesome Jarrett Jack is playing this year, not how he keeps making key mistakes when the game is on the line.
It’s a bit sad that this squad never a real chance to prove wrong the many writers and analysts who predicted a terrible season. Monty has them competing with Western Conference playoff teams night in and night out, despite having too many disadvantages to list.
I stupidly just deleted all my player grades and five things. Computers have been beating me down today. Here’s an abbreviated version–
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Jarrett Jack, PGI have started to accept that Jack is our star this year, and his grades have dropped as a result. Fact is, he needs to be better in the closing minute to get an A from me. Otherwise he played fantastic yet again. |  |
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Marco Belinelli, SGNice D from the three. Had a few nice jumpers late. Three point specialist has to hit threes. |  |
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Chris Johnson, CFive inconsequential minutes. The grade here is essentially meaningless. | |
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Lance Thomas, FGreat effort. Totally deserves to see a lot more time the remainder of the season. His offensive game reminds me of what I’m seeing in the NCAA tournament, but it’s clear he understands the game better than most rookies. |  |
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Greivis Vasquez, PGI’m liking Greivis on the wing, but I do feel that his more natural position, and where he’ll spend time in the future, is as a backup point guard. | |
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Gustavo Ayon, PFNever got it going on offense, but got it done on defense and the boards. Had some very nice passes, including a few that didn’t lead to baskets. | |
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Al-Farouq Aminu, SFI lost paragraphs about Aminu that I’ll never get back. The summary is that he’s a confusing player, and I really can’t say one way or the other how he’ll turn out. | |
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Xavier Henry, SGXavier didn’t have it going on tonight. |  |
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Carl Landry, PFGreat effory by Landry. Heeeeeeeeeeeee’s baaaaaaaaaaaaack. Same old guy. He did a nice job scoring and brought some energy off the bench, but his rebounding just isn’t where you want it to be. |  |
Five Things We Saw
- The Hornets have been out-shot 75-19 on three pointers in the last three games. I told you they forgot about them!
- Aminu has a blog now– http://thecheifhasarrived.tumblr.com/Someone should tell him that he spelled his nickname wrong. I assume that’s not intentional…
- Monty– “I love my guys”
- Tonight the Hornets trotted out their 17th different starting lineup.
- Currently Minnesota is in line to pick 12th and the Hornets would be favored to pick third
11 responses to “Hornets Forget About the Three-Pointer, Lose to Spurs”
This night proved that Monty Williams has no game plan for the final seconds. And this is bad news.
its a #tankjob
head scratcher for sure. no reason to go for 2 with 7 secs left. nice effort all night eith even more firepower on bench. wheres kaman? no buyout i hope
Kaman was out sick tonight
I disagree. I think the obvious game plan was at least to find a good look for a 3, most likely with Belinelli or Jack with the shot. I think Jack decided to go for that layup on his own, and it was his mistake. Monty isn’t to blame for that botched possession. Jack made a poor decision, period. Monty even said after the game that he was hoping Jack would have taken the 3.
Much more positive than negative to come so close without Gordon, Okafor, Smith, Kaman, and Ariza (4/5th of a starting line-up, plus a back-up big), and with Landry playing his first game in months!!!
Why is it the Hornets can’t run a double screen for a shooter when they need to?
Jack scores 27, missed his final five shots and committed a turnover in the final minute. Still I don’t care, run a screen for him at least and TELL HIM SHOOT THE F#*#kin THREE with 5 seconds left. And heaven forbid they actually run a set for Belinelli the final seconds after all, of the players on the floor on the last two plays he has the highest 3 pt % for the season and has more than twice as many threes made as the next wo Hornets combined.
Winning the close ones is part grit part art part luck and playing like you expect to win. The Hornets play design the last couple of plays shows they have not incorporated that final critical element for success.
Just wanted to point out that the chart with grades/stats is showing the previous game, in case no one had pointed it out yet
I loved the block on Duncan by Aminu. Sure, alot of mistakes were made tonight, but the effort was there despite being outmanned and for that I give everybody an A.
Hornets need to play more fastball rather than halfcourt set. I can see we can be preety darn good running in transition cause we have players like Gordon, Vasquez, Aminu, Henry, Ariza and Jack who thrives in fastbreaks. Plus our bigs Ayon, Smith and Landry can run as well. Oh and we are a very young team with young legs. Even Nash and Hill of the suns are still at it right. What do you think coach??
Hey guys, which combo would the Hornets prefer:
Landry and MKG or Thomas Robinson and Ariza?