Game #33 Hornets @ Lakers 1-6-09 7:30 PM

[hermes]

i'm with snaq, if everyone was healthy, we win this game

[semi-sentient]

Frankly, I dont eye stats day in and day out as some " best for the day/week".

Those stats are still important in determining who runs the most efficient offense. Right now (and I mispoke earlier), we are slightly ahead of Cleveland overall, so that gives us the #2 offense in the league behind Portland.

The one individual statistic that pops out at me is FG% which is down from last season (we're currently at #6). To me, this is a direct result of sharp drop off in efficiency by Bynum and Vujacic, as everyone else is either the same or better.

I know that we when we are "on" we are the best offensive team in the league. I stand by that and even if we are number one or drift in the top on a nightly stat wise. I am confident that we have the most weapons.

I agree with that, actually.

The problem is, we're almost halfway into the season and Bynum and Vujacic have yet to turn it around, so I'm a bit concerned by that.

[TylersLakers]

Credit to the Hornets. They were the better team tonight and the Lakers didn't play much defense.

But, some of the calls in this game were absolutely ridiculous. That Bynum "charge" was no where near a charge. West didn't even flop, .. Truly terrible call, there.

And if Sasha's 3rd foul was a foul, there should be about 4 players fouled out on each team, each game. That wasn't even funny. Terrible.

[semi-sentient]

There were lots of bad calls on both sides. The ref's simply had their mind set from the start that they were not going to allow either team to play physical.

I though a few calls on Chandler and West should have been let go, and I certainly think some of the calls on Vujacic and Bynum should have been non-calls.

It's always frustrating to watch a game where the refs are blowing their whistle constantly. It completely kills the flow of the game.

I seriously wish they would change the rules and allow hand-checking again. That would eliminate many of the ticky-tack fouls that we see on a consistent basis.

[TylersLakers]

By the way, Kobe should have had at least 12-15 assists in this game.

The launching of threes by pretty much everyone in the fourth quarter was stupid. Fisher and Ariza would catch the ball on the right wing and shoot a three pointer, when there was a lane to the basket with no one there, because that New Orleans player helped get the ball out of Kobe's hands.

Oh well. Move onto Golden State, hopefully we can pull it out without LO.

[TylersLakers]

There were lots of bad calls on both sides. The ref's simply had their mind set from the start that they were not going to allow either team to play physical.

I though a few calls on Chandler and West should have been let go, and I certainly think some of the calls on Vujacic and Bynum should have been non-calls.

It's always frustrating to watch a game where the refs are blowing their whistle constantly. It completely kills the flow of the game.

I seriously wish they would change the rules and allow hand-checking again. That would eliminate many of the ticky-tack fouls that we see on a consistent basis.

Totally agree with you.

[hermes]

wiretap]
Hornets Believe Lakers Underestimated Them

The Hornets lost two games to the Lakers this season prior to Tuesday night's battle, and coach Byron Scott believes Phil Jackson's crew underestimated them.

"For our psyche, we've got to play one of those games where we know we can beat them," Scott said before the game.

"I don't think right now they think we can, although I know in my heart I think we can."

New Orleans defeated Los Angeles 115-106 thanks to star performances from David West and Chris Paul.

did any of you guys get that impression?

[The_Cut]

and this is where I will get slammed.

Walton was the missing piece. he is the one that would have made the right passes to the open guys.
then again Lamar was having a good game too.

anyone knows how long he'll be out?! with farmar already out i don't want him out long - we need LO

[TylersLakers]

and this is where I will get slammed.

Walton was the missing piece. he is the one that would have made the right passes to the open guys.
then again Lamar was having a good game too.

anyone knows how long he'll be out?! with farmar already out i don't want him out long - we need LO

We should find out in a couple hours.

[Sedale Threatt]

wiretap]
Hornets Believe Lakers Underestimated Them

The Hornets lost two games to the Lakers this season prior to Tuesday night's battle, and coach Byron Scott believes Phil Jackson's crew underestimated them.

"For our psyche, we've got to play one of those games where we know we can beat them," Scott said before the game.

"I don't think right now they think we can, although I know in my heart I think we can."

New Orleans defeated Los Angeles 115-106 thanks to star performances from David West and Chris Paul.

did any of you guys get that impression?

I felt it was the exact opposite. We certainly had lapses of concentration, especially the last two minutes of the first half, but I thought our effort and energy was good from the start. We just got outplayed.

[BallAboveAll]

When a guy is hot he's hot. Period. Sure Pau could have bodied him up on the perimeter but I doubt he's comfortable guarding his man that close 18 feet away from the basket. To me it was just a guy who was rolling that night. He even backed down Bynum a few times and scored. LO usually does a good job on him though. Pau could have went back at him last night too. Because West didn't really have to expend much energy on the other end.