.51. Hornets @ Bucks (02/13/08)

[2poor]

Game 51/82
February 13, 2008
8:00 PM ET
Bradley Center
Milwaukee, WI

(35-15) @ (19-33)

The Southwest Division-leading New Orleans Hornets look to enter the NBA All-Star break atop the Western Conference on Wednesday night when meet the stumbling Milwaukee Bucks.

The Hornets (35-15), one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season, are one-half game behind Pacific Division-leading Phoenix, which travels to Golden State on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, New Orleans overcame a sluggish first half to beat Chicago 100-86 and run its winning streak to three games. Chris Paul spurred the victory with 25 points and 14 assists, while Peja Stojakovic and David West added 27 points each.

"Coach (Byron Scott) really got on us at halftime. When he does that I feel like he's talking directly to me," said Paul, who will join West -- and be coached by Scott -- in Sunday's All-Star game in New Orleans. "That's part of my job when he said we needed to pick up the intensity and push the ball."

Paul's performance against the Bulls came after he had his worst shooting game of the season on Saturday. Though he had 16 assists, Paul went 1-for-10 and missed all four 3-pointers to finish with two points in a 112-99 victory over Memphis.

He is averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 10.9 assists puts Paul second behind All-Star teammate Steve Nash of Phoenix, who has 11.7.

Stojakovic, one of the best outside shooters in the league, has been key during the three-game surge, averaging 26.3 points on 58.5 percent shooting.

"When Peja is shooting the ball like that, we understand we've got to get it to him," said Paul.

Stojakovic had 18 points in a 106-92 win over the Bucks (19-33) on Jan. 21, and he is averaging 20.1 points in 15 career meetings against them.

Preview

to going into the All-Star break on a high note

Geaux Nawlins!

[2poor]

No CV for the Bucks tonight (ankle)

Mo Pete will miss his second in a row (back)

Both expected to return after the ASB.

[Copperhead]

Another Hornets win heading into All-Star weekend would be great!

[2poor]

Dallas gets Kidd eh?

Devin Harris

[Copperhead]

Dallas gets Kidd eh?

Devin Harris

Hornets better win the next game against Dallas. That's all I ask. Well, that's not all but you get the point.

I can't believe they're giving up young Devin Harris. BTW, how many more years does Kidd have on his contract?

[sarah42]

i think one more after this year Copperhead at about 20 million a year! plus he can't shoot! this might backfire on them more than shaq on the suns....cuz the suns are great with or without shaq. devin harris gives the mavs quickness that they really don't have and keeps defenses honest.

2poor, its third in a row for mo pete....meaning we have to put up with rasual for yet another game.

i bet he gets pulled 2 minutes into the 1st quarter again so we get to see pargo and paul playing together...plus jackson for longer than usual...ugh i really hate our small lineup.

i don't know how we kept them under 90 points last night! they have trouble scoring, but our midget lineup isn't scaring anyone.

at least rasual was clutch near the end and hit the shots that really mattered!

[Buck You]

You guys WILL win by 100.

[2poor]

I figure Butler's getting the starts in hopes of motivating him to play better and/or showcasing him in lieu of potential trades.

He's starting to remind of Bass; always tentative on the court, almost as if you can see him think to himself "is coach going to kill me for doing this?" every time he shoots/passes/fouls/etc.

Change of scenery would do him a lot of good. In a perfect world, they'd come up with a package to send to Memphis for Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry.

[2poor]

[Copperhead]

i think one more after this year Copperhead at about 20 million a year! plus he can't shoot! this might backfire on them more than shaq on the suns....cuz the suns are great with or without shaq. devin harris gives the mavs quickness that they really don't have and keeps defenses honest.

Thanks.

[2poor]

whew! closer than I would've liked, but a win's a win!

Hell of a job to BS for drawing up that final play for Peja.

[Buck You]

Good game guys, we are dumber than a pile of bricks. Good luck on the rest of the season.

[2poor]

9-1 in the second of back-to-backs now for the season.

4 game winning streak heading into the break.

Life is good in New Orleans.

[Copperhead]

Man oh man! That was too d*mn close! That play for Peja to hit that 3 was gorgeous. I'm glad the Hornets closed this one out going into the All-Star break.

[sale011]

This team is really pleasure to watch. I just hope they will all stay healthy for the playoffs. They are so smoooooooooooooooooooooooth. Go Hornets!!

[99 Problems]

You guys just keep winning don't you...

[sarah42]

(picture)

2poor, i don't think that small innocent child is thinking what you are thinking.

at least i hope he isn't or what a messed up world we are living him! lol

i'm a girl, as you know, but i can appreciate a hot girl when i see one. nice legs hornets dancer!

i hear they don't like to be called cheerleaders, since well, they don't actually cheer or do flips like those girls you see in high schools and colleges. a lot of them have lots of different types of dance training.

[2poor]

They aren't "cheerleaders," they're Honeybees!

[sarah42]

look at chris' face! he always has the type of look when going in for a layup among the trees around him standing 7 feet tall!

way to go chris. true warrior for getting into the lane like that with force!

just stop losing your cool and getting technicals.

does anyone know where we rank as a team with technicals?

probably close to the pistons and near the top than the bottom.
even peja has at least two that i remember. i hope chris and tyson don't rub off on peja.

i don't want this team to rely on fouls calls to get by and get angry when calls don't go our way. it'll be like that in the playoffs.

i hope mo, peja and bobby tell chris about all this before the playoffs start, because it is a much more physical game, and if chris is annoyed with bruce bowen - he better get used to and try not to slap him or other players in full view of the refs!

i've seen rookies and guys new to the playoffs crumble because they couldn't adapt to the physicality of the playoff atmosphere. tyson is already emotional and david west doesn't have a clear grasp of getting out of double teams like a vet - someone like KG.

i hate to say it, but lack of playoff experience for chris paul especially might hurt, but i won't be surprised if he kills it!

long post! lol!

[sarah42]

They aren't "cheerleaders," they're Honeybees!

(picture)

did you read my post first about the cheerleaders...or is this one big coincidence!

lol