GT: Hornets vs Lakers Tue March 3 7PM EST

[Diop]

Iwish our **** beat writer had the balls to ask Clifford why Marvin played the last 16-17 minutes of the game. Lebron James doesn't even do that for Christ sake

our beat writer likes the way Marv spoke to him once, so he thinks Clifford made the right choice in playing him. He also would like to mention "what would you know you drunken hick"

[W_HAMILTON]

Missed the game. Anybody wanna give a quick synopsis?

Started out slow, Lakers were hitting a ton of shots, we picked it up on offense but our defense was still lackadaisical, basically played down or even for more of the 1st all the way through the 3rd, I think we built a nice little cushion (around double digits) but promptly lost it, was even going down the stretch, but we made some clutch baskets and basically stiff-armed them in the final minute or so (which actually lasted like 15 minutes) by mostly hitting our FTs, oh, and even though Zeller had a double-double in just like 20 minutes, he was benched and we watched Marvin Williams play for all but like 10 seconds of the 4th (literally).

[Diop]

(never understood why people call him Viking, but whatever). :

he comes from the land of vikings

[W_HAMILTON]

I wondered how Mo could score 50 in a game before he became to the hornets...I can see it now.

I never thought much of him either, but I really never paid much attention. Figured he made a name for himself by riding LeBron's coattails, but he's a damn good player. Not sure why he hasn't found a permanent home somewhere by now.

[MasterIchiro]

The situation is good for Mo as well as for the Hornets. Mo has some weapons at his disposal and #organization. This system is nearly 2 years matured. Mo was fast to read his teammates and how to best use them. The experience helps. I think he could show Kemba a thing or two about tricking the defense. It's tough to guess when Mo will pass or hold or shoot. When you watch Kemba, sometimes it's obvious he has no intention nor plan to find a teammate. Mo is very unpredictable and very savvy. Whether you back off or give him space he seems to make the right play and make you pay for it. Kemba is not as versatile on offense but that will come with experience. I think when they're both on the court Kemba look incredible. I've been dying to see Kemba operate with just a sliver more space. Mo gives him that and more.

[TheKingofSting]

Al would look good in any other uniform.

[MasterIchiro]

So would Chandler Parsons.

[W_HAMILTON]

he comes from the land of vikings

Oh, yeah, duh. Well that was very anticlimactic. Womp womp.

[TheKingofSting]

womp womp

[yosemiteben]

So nobody's going to talk about Lance getting nine minutes?

[TheKingofSting]

I am too sick to talk about. It took awhile longer than most but I get sick looking at him now.

[catch20two]

So nobody's going to talk about Lance getting nine minutes?

Nothing to talk about. Smart move by Clifford.

[fatlever]

So nobody's going to talk about Lance getting nine minutes?

Its about **** time. He should have stopped getting minutes the day after the trade deadline. Put him in a suit next to PJ for all I care. Give Troy Daniels a shot. Maybe he is up to the task unlike the other clowns we have at shooting guard.

Make him earn those minutes again. Right now he isn't earning minutes.

[TheKingofSting]

So nobody's going to talk about Lance getting nine minutes?

Its about **** time. He should have stopped getting minutes the day after the trade deadline. Put him in a suit next to PJ for all I care. Give Troy Daniels a shot. Maybe he is up to the task unlike the other clowns we have at shooting guard.

Make him earn those minutes again. Right now he isn't earning minutes.

Time to fake a season ending injury.

[Braggins]

So nobody's going to talk about Lance getting nine minutes?

It was strange the way it happened. He started off playing a few good minutes, then he had a series where he turned the ball over two times in a row and then fell asleep on defense. I expected him to get yanked for the rest of the game at that point, however, Clifford left him in for at least 3 more minutes. He didn't really do much either way in those few extra minutes and then never came back into the game.

[Braggins]

So nobody's going to talk about Lance getting nine minutes?

Its about **** time. He should have stopped getting minutes the day after the trade deadline. Put him in a suit next to PJ for all I care. Give Troy Daniels a shot. Maybe he is up to the task unlike the other clowns we have at shooting guard.

Make him earn those minutes again. Right now he isn't earning minutes.

Do you know if Daniels had a training camp his rookie season?

[Braggins]

Brian Roberts is like that kid who is a backup on the JV team his junior year but still comes out for the team as a senior and gets put on varsity just because the coaches feel bad cutting him after 3 years. Next thing you know he is starting games at PG for an NBA team.

[Liver_Pooty]

"From here on out it's got to be sub-to-win," Hornets coach Steve Clifford said of not playing Lance Stephenson in second half.

[ball teacher]

Sorry guys, I know I complain about Cliff alot due to his rotations, but this guy kills me with is personnel choices. Cody has been playing well, and when he plays well the team is better. There is no reason Marv should play when all he does is give us a three point option to stretch the floor.

The second half of games our whole strategy changes, we rely less on our solid defense and hard, disciplined, unselfish style of play, and slowly evolve towards a more iso/Alfense style because it seems that Cliff only trusts Al, Hendo, Kemba and now Mo to make plays with the ball. This is why Cody doesn't play in the 4th, MKG plays some but wont be anywhere near the ball, and we play unproductive 2 man games that has failed us time after time.

It's one thing if these guys hurt us before to warrant the lack of trust, but Cliff just assumes these guys cant produce for us. When your a coach its your job to coach your players up, that's not what he does to the young guys with the exception of Kemba. If we stick with what makes us build up these leads early in games we'd be alright, when Cliff tinkers with the rotations and gets over analytical we struggle.

[Robot Rock]

I was at the game tonight. Very glad we won. Relieved more than glad, really. The glad part will come later.

Here are some of my thoughts:

-The Lakers fans can safely go home and put their Cavaliers stuff back on now that the Hornets have added to their misery.

- I got pissed off at every Hornets player on the court at least once tonight EXCEPT for Cody Zeller. The kid had himself a solid game, a double-double even, and took it coast-to-coast once for a hoop. He usually saves his 1-5, 2 points, 3 rebound games for when I'm in the Cable Box. Not tonight. Props, Zeller.

- Henderson made some big shots, but my God, it was like he was playing for the Lakers at some points, he was so bad. Same went for Mo, but Mo redeemed himself (Mo-stly) by scoring in the clutch.

- Whenever it's late in the game and MKG has two free throws, just give the ball to the other team and call it a turnover. Saves us some time.

- Al was great in the first quarter, solid in the second, respectable in the third and not good in the fourth. He kept taking bad shots in the fourth in hopes of getting fouled, but hell, he wasn't making free throws, so why bother?

- I actually ate at the arena for what I think was the first time since Game Three of the 2010 playoffs against the Magic (that's a long time for me since I've been to 24 games since then). Paid $26.50 for a huge double cheeseburger, a big cup of fries and a small root beer. The food was excellent. Great burger. But damn, that's high.

- I was sitting there calling the Lakers' offense as it ran plays – I'm sorry, a play – in the fourth quarter, literally telling those around me what would happen as Lin brought it up. And whether the ball went in or not, I was usually right about where it went before it went to the hoop. If I can see this, can Clifford not make adjustments for it?