NBA: Week 13

[TheNextBigThing]

Geez, Hornets up big in San Antonio, leading by 24 with a couple to go.

 

[celtic_pride]

OH dear it looks as though the Spurs don't have the intenstinal fortitude to go back to back ever - CULTURE !!!

 

[Darealrath]

Heat finally get the win.

Sickening isn't it

 

[mdc]

OH dear it looks as though the Spurs don't have the intenstinal fortitude to go back to back ever - CULTURE !!!

Yep, because we know that how the Spurs play in January is a great indicator.

 

[X_box_X]

Eight wins in a row for the Hornets, and now 16-5 on the road.

 

[Inferno]

Yep, because we know that how the Spurs play in January is a great indicator.

Getting done by 20+ points on their home court against another contender and they fact they have struggled to go back to back for a while now might indicate they aren't up to it.

Anyway we have gone great this season! I haven't seen the Hornets remotely near the level they are playing at since the Glen Rice days almost 10 years ago. Hopefully we can keep up this form all the way through to the end of the playoffs because no one can stop us atm!

 

[mdc]

Getting done by 20+ points on their home court against another contender and they fact they have struggled to go back to back for a while now might indicate they aren't up to it.

Anyway we have gone great this season! I haven't seen the Hornets remotely near the level they are playing at since the Glen Rice days almost 10 years ago. Hopefully we can keep up this form all the way through to the end of the playoffs because no one can stop us atm!

Obviously they'd prefer to win, but I don't think they really got particularly amped for this game. I have a feeling they were looking forward to the "rodeo trip". For example, in the first quarter (all I watched before getting frustrated with Chinese commentary), Parker and Duncan were switching on the Paul/West pick-and-rolls, leaving Duncan on Paul and Parker defending West. Something tells me they wouldn't really let this happen in a playoff game.

As for the Hornets, I agree completely. Especially in the last month or so, everyone seems to have found their role, and the team has played better than anyone else in the NBA. Peja in particular seems comfortable now, after seeming a bit unsure at the start of the season.

I don't expect a drop-off either, this team seems completely legit to me. Hopefully they start getting some good home crowds - they have a better record on the road than at home right now

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Only concern would be their playoff experience, but they are certainly taking on all comers at this point. Be interesting to see how they play out the remainder of the season.

Great to see them thump the Spurs....sensational stuff.

 

[eathb]

A lil snippet

New Orleans leading the western conference is setting up a scenario where it will be the first time a number one seed has played in front of a half empty arena in the conference semifinals. Heck, almost anyone who finishes eighth would feel pretty good heading into the first round having to face the Hornets instead of one of the big three. It would be like getting a reprieve just before they start to open the valve to juice you up with the lethal injection.

 

[Inferno]

Obviously they'd prefer to win, but I don't think they really got particularly amped for this game. I have a feeling they were looking forward to the "rodeo trip". For example, in the first quarter (all I watched before getting frustrated with Chinese commentary), Parker and Duncan were switching on the Paul/West pick-and-rolls, leaving Duncan on Paul and Parker defending West. Something tells me they wouldn't really let this happen in a playoff game.

I didn't watch the game so I can't really comment on that but the Hornets only flew in the morning of the game because of bad weather after a game the night before yet they just ran over the Spurs in the end, lets not forget going into the game the Spurs were the second best home team in the league and one loss can make all the difference come the end of the season with how close the West is atm. If the Spurs are giving that little effort then maybe they just don't have the heart or commitment to go back to back.

Oh and try this site to watch NBA games instead of Chinese ones: http://www.channelsurfing.net/

As for the Hornets, I agree completely. Especially in the last month or so, everyone seems to have found their role, and the team has played better than anyone else in the NBA. Peja in particular seems comfortable now, after seeming a bit unsure at the start of the season.

I don't expect a drop-off either, this team seems completely legit to me. Hopefully they start getting some good home crowds - they have a better record on the road than at home right now

New Orleans Hornets - the first team to have the best record while having the worst attendance in their conference....

Our home record is getting better, we were only just over .500 from memory at home after about 20 games so we have improved and so have the crowds. It will steadily get better as more people get back on their feet in New Orleans and we did get 13k to the game against the Clippers yesterday which was good by our standards, but geez those 19k Oklahoma City sell out crowds are looking good

In other news Chris Andersen is eligible to return to the Hornets after being banished for two years by the league, if we sign him it would give us some much needed depth at the PF-C positions.

 

[thewhippersnapper]

Obviously no one has heard of Raptorsnation... you can watch all the matches live on this, perfect quality and if you miss the match you can watch the archieved replay a couple of hours after it has finshed.

 

[mdc]

In other news Chris Andersen is eligible to return to the Hornets after being banished for two years by the league, if we sign him it would give us some much needed depth at the PF-C positions.

As I understand it, you'd have to sign him at his original contract price (which was 3.5m/year). That seems a bit high given the risk/negative PR involved.

I think the Hornets might let him go to FA, and then hope he chooses them on a minimum contract (as I doubt anyone else would pay him more than that this season).

Then again, Ryan "I try hard but don't have any basketball ability" Bowen is the current back-up PF, so who knows.

Obviously no one has heard of Raptorsnation... you can watch all the matches live on this, perfect quality and if you miss the match you can watch the archieved replay a couple of hours after it has finshed.

Not exactly - it has most matches (as do a couple of other sites), but it doesn't have certain nbatv/national games (not exactly sure how it works).

I did try it today as I was looking forward to the match, but had no luck other than the sopcast feed.

 

[Inferno]

As I understand it, you'd have to sign him at his original contract price (which was 3.5m/year). That seems a bit high given the risk/negative PR involved.

I think the Hornets might let him go to FA, and then hope he chooses them on a minimum contract (as I doubt anyone else would pay him more than that this season).

Then again, Ryan "I try hard but don't have any basketball ability" Bowen is the current back-up PF, so who knows.

Ansersen was a crowd favorite in both New Orleans and Oklahoma City because of his energy off the bench and his shot blocking, saying it would be a negative PR move to resign him is like saying it would be a negative PR move for the Eagles to resign Cousins (of coarse Andersen isn't as good as Cousins at their respective sports). Word is he has been training bloody hard and has not touched any drugs or alcohol or anything since the suspension started.

We might let him go to the FA and hope he signs with us but signing him now would not put us over the luxury cap and we really do need another PF-C bench player as Armstrong is struggling and Ely is pretty average.

 

[jerry springer]

Not a good game by the Spurs but if they have a weakness it is always against a quick PG.Seeming to lack a bit of a spark at the moment.Its always hard being the hunted with teams getting up every night to test themselves against the current NBA champions.

History will show that come the all-star break we will flick a switch and go into the play-off on a roll.However as the years get on you cant rely on this to happen at will.Do we have the hunger against teams like Dallas,Suns,Celtics who have players desperate for a title???Time will tell i guess.

TBH I havent given a flying **** about the regular season records since we dominated in 1995 with Robinson and Rodman and then got caned by the Rockets. Home court record means nothing,absolutly nothing,one off game and its lost so why cane yourself for 82 games?We lose it every year in the first round against Denver then win it back.

One thing i would like the Spurs to do is trade for another veteran who is hungry for a title to give us a spark and something to play for.Maybe get PJ brown out of retirement??The fans arent giving us the boost we need at home games,the fans have probably been a bit too spoilt over the last decade and need to get behind us for one more big run

The team im most worried about is dallas,they are just cruising along at the moment not flogging their stars winning when they should.They should of learnt some valuable lessons from their first-round mauling last season and it is all above the shoulders with them.

Going to be a good 2nd half of the season anyway

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Not a good game by the Spurs but if they have a weakness it is always against a quick PG.Seeming to lack a bit of a spark at the moment.Its always hard being the hunted with teams getting up every night to test themselves against the current NBA champions.

History will show that come the all-star break we will flick a switch and go into the play-off on a roll.However as the years get on you cant rely on this to happen at will.Do we have the hunger against teams like Dallas,Suns,Celtics who have players desperate for a title???Time will tell i guess.

TBH I havent given a flying **** about the regular season records since we dominated in 1995 with Robinson and Rodman and then got caned by the Rockets. Home court record means nothing,absolutly nothing,one off game and its lost so why cane yourself for 82 games?We lose it every year in the first round against Denver then win it back.

One thing i would like the Spurs to do is trade for another veteran who is hungry for a title to give us a spark and something to play for.Maybe get PJ brown out of retirement??The fans arent giving us the boost we need at home games,the fans have probably been a bit too spoilt over the last decade and need to get behind us for one more big run

The team im most worried about is dallas,they are just cruising along at the moment not flogging their stars winning when they should.They should of learnt some valuable lessons from their first-round mauling last season and it is all above the shoulders with them.

Going to be a good 2nd half of the season anyway

I agree, the way the west is going it wouldn't at all be surprise to see 2 out of the 5,6,7 or 8 seeds win their first round series. I guess it's good now that the first rounders are best of 7 and not best of 5 because there would be some crazy times in the betting ring!!! Of course I think some teams will drop off before the playoffs but it's a wide open conference at the moment. I think the Spurs are just doing enough, much like Dallas and Phoenix to get by and then look to get fired up for the playoffs. Will be interesting to see what happens after the all star break.

 

[PHX]

Yeah so we beat Boston today . . . .

 

[peternorth]

Yeah so we beat Boston today . . . .

did ya see the hedo shot to win it? i practically leaped outa my chair!

 

[PHX]

did ya see the hedo shot to win it? i practically leaped outa my chair!

Doesnt matter how it gets there, as long as it goes in.

 

[X_box_X]

Another game against a quality opponent, another quality win for the Hornets.

 

[peternorth]

Another game against a quality opponent, another quality win for the Hornets.

some might say that denver is poo

 

[X_box_X]

I disagree. They have three quality players. Only two with Anthony out, but even the likes of Martin and Kleiza are more than decent players.

KG to miss his second straight game today.

Kidd has asked to be traded.

Webber looks set to return to LA where he started thirteen years ago. Will he have much fantasy value?

 

[peternorth]

I disagree. They have three quality players. Only two with Anthony out, but even the likes of Martin and Kleiza are more than decent players.

KG to miss his second straight game today.

Kidd has asked to be traded.

Webber looks set to return to LA where he started thirteen years ago. Will he have much fantasy value?

he's not coming to the lakers or the clips.

 

[Biggie]

Isnt Webber headed for GSW?