WWL Hornets Blog

Scott wants to stay, Hornets want to keep him

Thu, 22 May 2008 11:51:16 -0600

Byron Scott could become a coaching free agent but he doesn't appear inclined to do so and the Hornets' owner says he wants to keep him.

Hornets finally saw real Spurs, ESPN says

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:23:17 -0600

Looking for another reason, to go along with poor shooting in the third quarter and bad perimeter defense, that the Hornets season is over?

Go no further than looking at the Spurs. Marc Stein of ESPN.com says, "It took until the final game and 17th day of this second-round series for the heartbroken locals to get their first glimpse of them, but the execution masters from the Alamo City duly arrived for this Game 7, snuffing out the Hornets and their storybook season with a 91-82 victory that sends San Antonio into a Western Conference finals showdown with old friends Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher and Phil Jackson."

Popovich: No doubt the Hornets time will come

Mon, 19 May 2008 22:25:06 -0600

Gregg Popovich was effusive with his praise of the Hornets after the game. His first comment was, "I'm glad that's over."

He said they were unbelievably good and had a fantastic year.

"I don't think there's any doubt their time will come," he said. "They were something else. We were fortunate."

Live at the Hive - Game 7: Hornets fall at home 91-82, season over

Mon, 19 May 2008 19:14:54 -0600

New Orleans couldn't do it. With home court and a rowdy crowd in tow, the Hornets fell 91-82 to end its season in the Western Conference semifinals.

Chris Paul fouled out and Jannero Pargo had a great fourth. But nothing was enough to overcome an experienced and determined San Antonio.

It's the first time the Spurs have ever come back from an 0-2 series deficit. New Orleans still has never moved into the Conference finals.

Someone please explain NBA playoff schedule

Mon, 19 May 2008 09:26:43 -0600

Okay, I understand, the NBA wanted its biggest draw (LeBron) and its most historic and winning franchise (the Celtics) for a Game 7 on Sunday - and it was a classic.

But why have the Celts played two games since the Hornets last played? Why did the Hornets and Spurs get three full days off? After having three days off, why will the Hornets or Spurs be forced to rush to L.A. to play Wednesday after what figures to be a draining Game 7.

I know the answer is TV, but I don't understand the reasoning. You mean a doubleheader of Game 7's on Sunday wouldn't have drawn fans? You mean TNT's Law and Order Marathon Sunday night drew more viewers than a Hornets-Spurs Game 7 would have.

I can't look a gift horse in the mouth, because David West certainly could use the extra time to heal.

Now, this may have been explained somewhere, but when the media asked Byron Scott about it last week, prior to Game 6, he didn't know the reason.

CNNSI: Now we'll see what Hornets are made of

Mon, 19 May 2008 09:25:15 -0600

CNNSI.com's Marty Burns says the Hornets haven't faced much adversity in the playoffs so far and that tonight's 'winner-take-all' contest will tell a lot about their mettle.

ESPN's Scouts pick Hornets

Mon, 19 May 2008 09:23:10 -0600

With a long and detailed analysis, Scouts Inc., of ESPN picks the Hornets to prevail in Game 7.

ESPN's Hollinger: Hornets earn early playoff awards

Sat, 17 May 2008 17:10:08 -0600

Who says it's too early to start toasting the playoff's top players? Certainly not ESPN's John Hollinger who has a couple of Hornets up for awards.

One thing Hollinger does question is why David West was still in the game to get injured when the Hornets were down 21 in the fourth quarter, he had a back back and hadn't been effective.

Yahoo! - Hornets seethe over Horry hit, fans chant

Fri, 16 May 2008 12:12:39 -0600

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports said the Hornets were seething after Robert Horry gave David West a cheap shot in the back but they were even more dismayed over the crowds' reaction - chanting Horry's name as if he had done something good.

Hornets official: West will be fine

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:28:42 -0600

The Hornets are off today (Friday), but an inquiry about David West's back was met with an official response that there is nothing new to report on his back, and he'll be fine.

CBS Sportsline: Hornets choked; Paul a flop

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:00:36 -0600

Wow! Gregg Doyel absolutely savages the Hornets in this rip piece. Come on now, the Hornets aren't exactly playing against chopped liver, I mean the Spurs had the same number of wins as the Hornets this year and are the defending champs.

Doyel correctly points out that the Hornets blew their cool and that Scott rolled the dice by playing Paul, Chandler and West for almost all of the first three quarters, but while most writers have been giving the Hornets a pass for being young and playoff inexperienced, Doyel seems to be expecting the Bulls of the early 90s.

The Hornets may yet lose Game 7, but with three and a half days off before the next tip, I hardly think they left it all on the court.

ESPN's Smith gives edge to Hornets in Game 7

Fri, 16 May 2008 06:47:34 -0600

Stephen A. Smith says the Hornets' struggles at San Antonio are understandable, because of their lack of experience, and perhaps the idea in the back of their mind that they have a home game left to win it.

Smith does think the younger, more athletic Hornets can't be had in Game 7 by the Spurs in New Orleans.

Another cheap shot accusation against Horry

Fri, 16 May 2008 04:39:54 -0600

Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express News draws no conclusions about Robert Horry's shot to David West's already ailing back other than to say after last year's 'dip of the hip' to Steve Nash, Horry won't be getting the benefit of the doubt.

Hornets-Spurs Gm. 6 4th Quarter

Thu, 15 May 2008 22:04:32 -0600

Mike James starts the fourth quarter for CP3... Paul is gassed and so are the Bees, Manu just opened the quarter with back-to-back 3's... Duncan has checked out and so will I... See you back in NOLA for Game 7...

Quick note... Robert Horry just put David West down hard. West was slow to get up and left the game. Don't think that won't be an issue Monday night. What's the NBA word for beanball?

Hornets-Spurs Gm. 6 3rd Qtr.

Thu, 15 May 2008 21:32:24 -0600

Stumbling out of the locker room, literally... Mo Pete falls, first bucket of the half goes to Parker, DOH!

Bum Phillips once said on an NFL Films classic mic'd up... "That's four holding penalties on one football team in a quarter and half... it ain't funny!"

Once again the refs have made themselves part of this series with five foul calls in less than a minute and a half span on the Hornets, capped off with a technical against David West. It ain't funny.

West plays at his best when he's angry. 8:05 to play in the third. Let's watch...

All of that foul mess coupled with Manu Ginobli's impression of Larry Bird this quarter... and the Spurs lead still just 9. It could be MUCH worse.

It got much worse... the Hornets go cold... nothing falls in the final 4:43 of the quarter. San Antonio takes a 15 point lead (their largest of the game) into the 4th.

I just saw Popovich on his cell setting up dinner plans for Sunday night in New Orleans. Game 7 in NOLA... I'll bring ear plugs