11/14/08 .... Hornets vs. Trailblazers

Copperhead · Post #1 » by **Copperhead** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:22 am

vs.

7:00pm CST
New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA

Hornets
Chris Paul
Morris Peterson
Peja Stojakovic
David West
Tyson Chandler

Trailblazers
Steve Blake
Brandon Roy
Nicholas Batum
LaMarcus Aldridge
Joel Przybilla

If the Hornets lose this game, I might not waste my time making game threads for a while. The Hornets need to win this game. It certainly won't be easy because the Blazers are a pretty darn good team. They need to win this game because the Rockets will be a challenge as well on Saturday.

ChrisTheFuturePaul · Post #2 » by **ChrisTheFuturePaul** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:09 am

Amen to that, regardless of the fact it's the start of the season i've lost some confidence in this team. We only -just- scraped past the Warriors, the Phoenix game was close, the Cleveland win was good, but the loss to the Bobcats was inexcusable. Atlanta may be off to a hot start, but they're not supposed to be on our level, and we were downright aweful against the Lakers (1st half)

Not looking good, we need a lights-out Peja performance, and soon.

Post #3 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:56 am

Something doesn't seem right, the roleplayers don't seem in rhythm, and the defensive intensity just isn't there.

Copperhead · Post #4 » by **Copperhead** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:58 am

No the Phoenix game never was all that close. Hornets led from beginning to end. Up by 12 at the end of just about each quarter. Matter of factly, the Golden State game was closer. The Charlotte game was inexcusable but Atlanta isn't quite as bad as they used to be. They took the Celtics to 7 games and probably would've won game 7 if it were in ATL. And then just the other night they loss by 1 thanks to a winning go ahead shot by Pierce. No team is to be taken lightly no matter how much you think you're better than them. The Hornets all but admitted they thought they could turn it up when they were ready against the Hawks. No, they have to be ready all the time, not just turn it on when they think they're ready. And then they went there and did the same thing against the BobJohnsonCats. I don't want to hear any talking from this team. Show me. Show and prove. Show and prove b*tches! :lol:

BlazertheGreek · Post #5 » by **BlazertheGreek** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:34 am

I think you guys are going to be ready. After the loss to the Lakers, I just don't see a Chris Paul led team losing two in a row at home. The Blazers are coming off two big road wins and are feeling pretty good right now. Even with the confidence of the Blazers, this is our third game on this road trip against a really good Hornets team that is coming off a loss at home. Add to the fact we don't have that much luck in New Orleans. I hope this turns out to be a good game.

Jack wore plaid · Post #6 » by **Jack wore plaid** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:02 pm

This game is gonna be tough for Portland. 3rd game on the raod trip against a team that is better than they are. I don't like Portland's chances tonight. Roy isn't 100%, Oden isn't 100%, our starting SF is still out, Aldridge has a stiff neck.....eek

Good luck this season

mfn1020 · Post #7 » by **mfn1020** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:28 pm

Personally i think much of the blame should be put on Byron Scott. He doesn't seem to be making game adjustments in accordance to the play of his players and continues to let Peja and David West shoot the ball even when they are ice cold. Peja was 0-8 from the three point line and instead of taking the ball out of his hands Byron Scott just encouraged him to shoot and miss more and more. Also when David West can't get a good opportunity he forces his own shot and tries too hard to score, ultimately turning the ball over. The ball should always be in CP3's hands and should be up to him to create the good shot and not just give West the ball and hope for the best. Also we are NOT taking care of the ball and have been turning the ball over way too much giving other teams too many points off of turnovers. You can't expect to win when we play selfish basketball, period. The hornets have looked awful so far in a year that is supposed to be theirs, I think some big changes need to be made if we expect to be a contender for the NBA title, and so far this season we haven't been that team at all. I expect to see a lot of changes in the next few games from the New Orleans Hornets.

Wizenheimer · Post #8 » by **Wizenheimer** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:30 pm

mfn1020 wrote:Personally i think much of the blame should be put on Byron Scott. He doesn't seem to be making game adjustments in accordance to the play of his players and continues to let Peja and David West shoot the ball even when they are ice cold. Peja was 0-8 from the three point line and instead of taking the ball out of his hands Byron Scott just encouraged him to shoot and miss more and more. Also when David West can't get a good opportunity he forces his own shot and tries too hard to score, ultimately turning the ball over. The ball should always be in CP3's hands and should be up to him to create the good shot and not just give West the ball and hope for the best. Also we are NOT taking care of the ball and have been turning the ball over way too much giving other teams too many points off of turnovers. You can't expect to win when we play selfish basketball, period. The hornets have looked awful so far in a year that is supposed to be theirs, I think some big changes need to be made if we expect to be a contender for the NBA title, and so far this season we haven't been that team at all. I expect to see a lot of changes in the next few games from the New Orleans Hornets.

well, if they are playing that poorly right now, as a blazer fan I have a suggestion: don't make any changes until saturday

farzi · Post #9 » by **farzi** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:47 pm

Good luck tonight boys and girls.

I think you guys win this one by about 10 points. Just don't have a good feeling, but that could totally be rectified with a few thunderous Oden dunks.

Don't see anyone slowing down Paul, so just have to hope everyone else is off.

Should be fun

CP3FingerRoll · Post #10 » by **CP3FingerRoll** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 2:13 am

A change in the rotation tonight, with Paul playing the entire first quarter and Devin Brown in and Mike James out as the backup point. David West still doesn't look comfortable out there. He has four turnovers and refuses to take his patented 18 foot jumper, choosing to fake and drive to the basket instead. The problem is he's turned it over twice doing that.

44-41, Hornets down three at the half.

BlazertheGreek · Post #11 » by **BlazertheGreek** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:27 am

good game, this was one of those grind it out games and we missed a couple of crucial shots down the stretch. Oden finally came out of his shell a little at least.

Copperhead · Post #12 » by **Copperhead** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:31 am

BlazertheGreek wrote:good game, this was one of those grind it out games and we missed a couple of crucial shots down the stretch. Oden finally came out of his shell a little at least.

Good game indeed. The Blazers will probably beat the heck out of the Hornets when they meet in Portland. Portland is a good team. Oden will be a monster once he plays more and become more adjusted. His block on West will probably make NBA.com's Block of the Night. I knew this wouldn't be easy for the Hornets.

Copperhead · Post #13 » by **Copperhead** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:38 am

West has been on the court moving like he has a stick up his a**. I had to watch on League Pass tonight and the Blazer commentators made me laugh saying that it's almost like the ref asked Paul how many free throws he wanted on that last shot. :lol:

Paul just knew to shoot the ball right as Blake was grabbing at him. He makes a lot of smart decisions on the court. I had to put the tv on mute because while I know the Hornets commentators suck, Portland's commentators are extremely biased. I only listened to the last minute of this game. I've listened to them before and vowed never to listen to them again. I watch most games on mute. Some fans let commentators misinform them. They could be watching a team with a yellow uniform on and if the commentators say it's blue, they'll think it's blue. Brandon Roy is clutch, outside of that shot he took that would've tied the game at 82 with 07.3 left.

CP3FingerRoll · Post #14 » by **CP3FingerRoll** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:43 am

Solid win for the Hornets. I think the new rotation is a step in the right direction. The starters played less minutes tonight which is nice since they head to Houston tomorrow for another tough battle.

Oden will indeed be a beast if he stays health. He was force to be reckoned with in the middle and his confident seems to grow as the game progressed.

Milkdud · Post #15 » by **Milkdud** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:44 am

It was a very good game, I was very impressed with the hornets defense on Roy. The outcome didn't shock, NO switched to a different gear and the blazers couldn't grind with them.

Walton'sBeard! · Post #16 » by **Walton'sBeard!** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:45 am

Copperhead wrote:West has been on the court moving like he has a stick up his a**. I had to watch on League Pass tonight and the Blazer commentators made me laugh saying that it's almost like the ref asked Paul how many free throws he wanted on that last shot. Paul just knew to shoot the ball right as Blake was grabbing at him. He makes a lot of smart decisions on the court. Brandon Roy is clutch, outside of that shot he took that would've tied the game at 82 with 07.3 left.

This is true, Paul was shooting. But I have seen guys do that shot as they're fouled in the backcourt a hundred times and I have never seen the ref give a guy 3 free throws. Not that it would have mattered. I suppose it makes up for Oden's obvious goaltend.

Good game tonight. We are going to have some nice battles over the next few years.

Copperhead · Post #17 » by **Copperhead** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:48 am

CP3FingerRoll wrote:Solid win for the Hornets. I think the new rotation is a step in the right direction. The starters played less minutes tonight which is nice since they head to Houston tomorrow for another tough battle.

Oden will indeed be a beast if he stays health. He was force to be reckoned with in the middle and his confident seems to grow as the game progressed.

Which makes me wonder something about our center. Tyson hasn't been aggressive at all this season. I hope that ankle is ok because he's not jumping much out there.

Another thing. Those last shots CP missed, he usually hits. That's the same shots he hit down the stretch against the Heat last week. Now on to Houston. Oh brother. They'll be happy to be back home in front of their fans after their road trip and that place will be crazy and they will have tons of confidence. I'm glad the Hornets managed to pull this one out because I think tomorrow's game may even be harder.

CP3FingerRoll · Post #18 » by **CP3FingerRoll** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:50 am

The three free throws at the end were legit. Blake clearly grabbed Paul while he was jumping for the shot. The Blazers announcers aren't TOO bad, but I hate having to watch the other teams broadcast. Plus, back to back broadcast with no HD. It's called upgrade people!

Copperhead · Post #19 » by **Copperhead** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:50 am

Walton'sBeard! wrote:
Copperhead wrote:West has been on the court moving like he has a stick up his a**. I had to watch on League Pass tonight and the Blazer commentators made me laugh saying that it's almost like the ref asked Paul how many free throws he wanted on that last shot. Paul just knew to shoot the ball right as Blake was grabbing at him. He makes a lot of smart decisions on the court. Brandon Roy is clutch, outside of that shot he took that would've tied the game at 82 with 07.3 left.

This is true, Paul was shooting. But I have seen guys do that shot as they're fouled in the backcourt a hundred times and I have never seen the ref give a guy 3 free throws. Not that it would have mattered. I suppose it makes up for Oden's obvious goaltend.

Good game tonight. We are going to have some nice battles over the next few years.

Copperhead · Post #20 » by **Copperhead** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:54 am

CP3FingerRoll wrote:The three free throws at the end were legit. Blake clearly grabbed Paul while he was jumping for the shot. The Blazers announcers aren't TOO bad, but I hate having to watch the other teams broadcast. Plus, back to back broadcast with no HD. It's called upgrade people!

It's the old guy that I didn't care too much for. When I saw his face during the pre-game I hit mute. :lol:

Good night. Gotta go somewhere. I'll probably be back later to put up the Houston thread.