The Hornets pick up their first win, 88-86, while dealing the Jazz their first loss.
Let me start off by saying: I love this team. I am so happy to have a team that plays hard, that just looks and plays like a team that won’t quit, and that I don’t have to worry about skipping town. Monty has done great things with these little scamps, and I just can’t wait to see what the future hold, win or lose.
In a battle of old New Orleans and new New Orleans . . . or new new New Orleans, as the case may be . . . the New Orleans Hornets came out on top after delivering a constant diet of Never Gonna Stop to the Jazz. Both teams suffered from losing players to injury for at least a portion of the game, but the Hornets got their licks right where it counted: Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon.
Here is the team report on Davis:
“Hornets forward Anthony Davis suffered a mild concussion tonight in the first half vs. Utah and did not return. He will undergo further tests in New Orleans on Saturday and is out for tomorrow night’s game in Chicago. Beyond that, he will be listed as day to day.”
So how did the Hornets win?
As noted in the preview, the team needed to limit turnovers. They did. 12 turnovers by the Hornets compared to 15 by the Jazz. Wednesday was also good in the regard. If it keeps up, this is a sign of wins on the horizon. Not two, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven . . .
Also, they needed a boost from Aminu. They got it. 15 points on 10 shots, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals with a cost of a pair of turnovers and a pair of fouls in 34 minutes. The team tried to run some and netted 14 fast break points. While not spectacular in itself, the total may have been enough to help get the small forward going. He was the most efficient member of the team tonight to boot.
Lastly, our frontcourt had to make up for the damage their backcourt was going to do to us. Their guards scored 50 of their 86 points, and one of the four with minutes was 0-2 in 17 minutes. Our 5 guards . . . 21 points.
The Jazz’s scoring was rounded out by 32 points by power forwards and centers and 4 points from a small forward. We got 52 and 15, respectively, with Davis seeing only 14 minutes of action.
As noted above, the team was just in this game. They keep rallying around this bad Gordon news, they rallied around the fact that Davis did not return to the game, and the didn’t let lulls in performance or a big Jazz shot deflate them. I saw guys genuinely happy out there. So much so, Monty had trouble controlling them after Vasquez’s big go-ahead layup to set the defense for the Jazz response . . . and he was grinning while he was doing it.
It’s a good time to be a Hornets fan, all things considered.
The Hornets take on the Bulls Saturday, 7 p.m. CDT. Check here if you need help finding the guys under the new TV deal.
16 responses to “Hornets Take First Win This Season From Jazz”
Great win! Ryno, lopez, and aminu played lights out. Beautiful!
Gotta give some love to Robin Lopez, who was what he needed to be against a super powerful Jazz frontcourt all night
AFA shot 7/10, with 15 pts on 10 shots. Very efficient! 8 REBs and 2 steals to balance the 2 TOs and 2PFs.
What did his actual play show that the the stat line misses?
The stat line doesn’t show that he played the most amazing help defense I have seen since I have been a Hornet fan. No exaggeration; that good. His rotations were spot on and he contested everything. Non stop energy and movement on that end of the court, without gambling to the point that he gave his man open looks.
One of the most impressive defensive performances by a Hornet on the wing in a long, long time.
Great to hear.
Now, what about GV, who’s never been known as a speedy defender?
Vasquez appears to be learning how to use his size to compensate for his lack of quickness. He can’t blow past his defender, but he can get the ball out if front where he can get to it but the shorter defender can’t.
Aminu was as good as his statline. He scored mostly on cuts, putbacks, and running, but did knock down a long 2 without hesitation when left wide open. His sense of cutting and understanding where the defense is may be his most improved quality this year, and he looked smooth making some tough finishes. His defense was also outstanding—he bothered Utah’s big men with his length when he double-teamed the post, and he was quick to rotate.
In the early returns, Robin Lopez’s robotic post game is effective. Two-game sample and all, but he was huge tonight.
Anderson’s corner three was a thing of beauty. This guy is great. My dad, for some reason, just doesn’t buy it.
And where leave Greivis Vasquez, despise think his game, no one notices that he is decisive in this wonderful awakening of the Hornets, is the team leader, who played more minutes with 37, got 13 points, with a discreet 38% shoting, with 4 rebounds, many rebounds for a PG, has 11 in two games, and the most remarkable 1o assists, the best in the board, the best in the league, has 23 in two games, one of the reasons for the improvement in his game by Amino are the plays that dealt Vasquez, Vasquez hits the game completely in the game for the Hornets ….
Sorry for my poor English
Nassim — no problem with the English my friend. But use “despite” instead of “despise” … despise means you don’t like his game.
Welcome to the best Hornets board in the world, and one of the best basketball blogs you’ll find.
Vasquez is not the fastest, not the best shot, not the best dribbler, but he is the best player to view team’s game, the best brain when making decisions ….. has a big heart, has a lot of courage, a warrior, the last three elements constitutes a winning player, this is Vasquez, a winner and hand him, the Hornets
Perfect layup, Mr. Vasquez! Great!
I’m so happy with the team tonight! Let’s go Hornets!
This is a good team. Monty is a great coach. With Davis back, this is a dangerous team. The teal sun is shining bright. Geaux Hornets!
Was poking around on the League Leaders board a while ago and noticed our man GV is 4th in the league in assist (11.5). Good job team.
If this keeps up, there just may be some playoff opportunities for this team this year. If nothing else, they are going to be a spoiler team that nobody is going to want to play toward the end of the season when teams are vying for playoff positions.