In a game in which the Hornets must have thought that basketball is scored like golf, New Orleans fell to the Philadelphia 76ers at home in front of a national TV audience.
I have been staring at my computer screen for the past 15 minutes without typing a word because, quite frankly, I don’t even know what to say after that game except “yikes.” I mentioned in the preview for tonight’s game that both teams play at a slow pace, but even I didn’t expect the game to be this low-scoring. First, let’s review my three keys to the game and see how they each played out.
1) Defensive Rebounding – The 76ers collected just 9 offensive rebounds on their 49 total missed shots for an offensive rebound rate of just 18.4% (and therefore an 81.6% defensive rebound rate for the Hornets). If sustained over the course of an entire season, this rate would likely be best in the NBA, so the team clearly improved in this area. Unfortunately, when you make only a third of your shots, it often doesn’t matter how well you rebound.
2) The Turnover Battle – As expected, in a low possession-total game such as this, the team that took better care of the ball left the arena victorious. The 76ers turned the ball over 15 times, whereas the Hornets finished with more turnovers (24) than made shots (23). I honestly cannot remember the last time I have seen that happen. To make matters worse, Philadelphia turned New Orleans’ 24 turnovers into 26 points, while the Hornets scored just 10 points off of the 76ers’ 15 turnovers. Not good.
3) Knock down 3s – I noted that the Hornets were due for a regression in second chance points, and it was true. New Orleans’ 23.9% offensive rebound rate was pretty close to their average over their first three games, but they only turned those second chances into 6 points, a far cry from their 17.3 average. Unfortunately, the Hornets were unable to make up that scoring at the three point line as I had hoped, going just 4-19 from long range. In basketball, you can do a lot of things wrong and still find a way to pull out a victory, but if you can’t make shots, you’re going to have a rough night.
Now, for some individual player notes:
- Bad shooting nights all-around for the Hornets, but wow, was Aminu all over the boards tonight. He finished with 16 rebounds, 4 of them offensive; the advanced numbers aren’t available yet, but if I had to guess, I’d put his offensive rebound rate around 10%, his defensive rebound rate around 30%, and his total rebound rate at about 20%. Those numbers are pretty impressive for a player who spends most of his time on the wing. Props to Al-Farouq for doing work on the glass, and he even seemed to pass the eye test while handling the ball for most of the night; his 4 turnovers were more a result of poor decision making than dribbling deficiencies.
- As a team, the Hornets blocked just under 11% of the 76ers’ total shots, another fairly impressive stat; in fact, the blocks came from only two different players – Robin Lopez (4) and Jason Smith (5). Great job of protecting the paint from those two.
- Apart from some good overall team defense (I was particularly impressed by Darius Miller’s defensive activity), not much else positive to talk about from this game. Robin Lopez played about 32 minutes and made 3 of his 7 shots without committing a single turnover, but he also was invisible on the boards, hauling in only four rebounds all night.
- As for Vasquez… oh boy. Just 7 points on 13 shots, zero free throw attempts, and just two more assists (7) than turnovers (5). Certainly a night that Greivis will want to forget.
I think that about wraps this one up. When two teams that run their offenses at such a slow pace play each other, things can get ugly, but this game tonight was just brutal. Thanks to injuries, there was very little firepower on either side, and it shows in the results. Hopefully, the Hornets can put this one behind them and set their sights on taking down the lowly Bobcats at home on Friday night.
15 responses to “Hornets post lowest point total in team history in 77-62 loss to 76ers”
Collins in halftime made the adjustment to put Lopez in the pick-and-roll all night. He looked pitiful trying to defend it and it really gave the Sixers easy baskets all night.
Imagine if Aminu had a decent jump shot.
hopefully AD and AR can play next game……
wow
That disaster second half of play, that disaster Roberts, Henry and Mason …. Mason is not an NBA player, which will play into the league of the Philippines …. That crap … I’m not exonerating Greivis Vasquez, had a bad night, Holiday ran over, by my computation, played for a coefficient of 96, a coefficient Vasquez 58, but Mason a ridiculous 7 ….. can not be, for there was the game, with responsibility for Anderson, he has the responsibility of being the shooter of the team, failure, Smith with four turnovers in the second half, simply reflects the helplessness and despair to see the disaster of the team, is not there to lead the attack …. Pity the loss of the 16 Amino rebounds ….. I worry about the lack of spare parts, replacements that give rest to GV, and has 4 games playing almost every minute, you look like a blown motor, no spares, GV does not reach half of season without a tear or other serious injury … hiso much needed Rivers, will be for his defensive contribution, a key player in the system … a future Monty GV will remain PG holder, escorted by Gordon as SG, Rivers will be the replacement, the replacement, which will give break both …. At least this first year will be well ….. ultimately …. Friends …. Awaken … welcome to reality ..
The whole reason for all of this is Eric Gordon, he single handedly is going to ruin 2 or 3 seasons just because the Hornets matched PHX. on that contract!!! I got one word for the hornets though “Amnesty”!!!
For those reading this and getting the wrong idea: the New Orleans Hornets can not use the Amnesty on any player unless something changes in a future CBA.
Under last years new CBA, each team was granted one Amnesty contract the hornets have not used their’s as of yet.
But it can be used only to remove salary from counting against the cap when two conditions are present:
The contract was in place during the last CBA (this one was not, so we are done)
The was on the team for the duration of this CBA from some point during the prior CBA (also not met, so double wammy)
I just listed both conditions so people could decide about players who could be amnestied next offseason.
I was impressed with aminu the first 3 games but after last night i think until Gordon comes back if he comes back miller needs to start to produce more scoring because aminus half court offense is horrible teams are gonna take away anderson because lack of scoring threats we need another shooting threat to free up anderson
I agree with you 100. They cannot slow down and run half court offense sets with Aminu. They really need IMO a PG who can score and is a playmaker like a Brandon Jennings, or someone with similar game. My reason for using Jennings as an example is I think he’s been shopped for trades.
Jennings would be wonderful.
CP3/Westbrook – type of player would be blessing.
Every time I saw Roberts come into the game I cringed. The ball went straight from his hands towards the basket with a resounding brick.
Dell:
Do something about the backcourt!
[…] Hornets dropped a home game Wednesday night to the Philadelphia 76ers to the tune of 77-62 — the lowest point total in franchise history. As Hornets247 points out, our boys actually managed more turnovers (24) than made shots […]
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