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Hornets BLOG |
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October 2008
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Tom Planchet: May 2008 ArchivesByron 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. ...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." ...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.<... 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. ...With a long and detailed analysis, Scouts Inc., of ESPN picks the Hornets to prevail in Game 7. ...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 effe... 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. ...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. ...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 ... 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. 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. ...Marc Stein of ESPN.com says that long before the rest of the basketball world got a whiff of the Hornets, the Spurs knew there would be trouble. ...That's what the third quarters in New Orleans have amounted to - the Hornets have devastated the Spurs 93-46 during the three third quarters played here and it has proved devastating. John Hollinger of ESPN tries to explain the phenomenon. ...Anyone out there doubting that David West is one of the best forwards in the NBA now? This San Antonio writer, who has seen one of the best in league history in Duncan, says West reminded him of the Spurs star with his play Tuesday. More importantly, he says there were no officials' calls, nor virus to explain away We... What makes a guy who is barely six feet tall one of the best in the NBA? NBA.com goes in depth with his trainer. ...
Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express News thinks either the Spurs or Hornets may pay for the fury inside of Chris Paul but I think it was sort of a low blow to bring back a moment from years ago that Paul swore would never happen again....and apparently never has. Paul is a fierce competitor, but so far, I don't think anyone in... That seems to be what San Antonio writer Mike Finger is suggesting, and assuming he is quoting David West correctly - and I assume he is, that's what some Hornets players and their fans might have thought. The Spurs have thrown down a challenge...now the Hornets have to answer. This is what the playoffs are about. ...I'm not sure what Orlando writer Mike Bianchi is watching, but he has the Spurs as the top team, followed by the Lakers and then the Hornets. ...The Spurs have pretty much given up on trying to stop Chris Paul - and they didn't last night - but Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express News says that proved a winning strategy. ...Chris Paul may not have won the league's MVP award, but he is receiving plenty of notice, especially since his postseason performances have wowed viewers. Paul was named to the All-NBA first team Thursday. He was just three votes shy of unanimous. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, who did pick up the MVP award, was a unanimous choice. The rest of the squad included LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard. Chris Paul was sitting on a basketball with a sleeve on his right knee and didn't participate in the running portion of Thursday's shootaround prior to Thursday night's Game 3. Coach Byron Scott said it was no big deal. He said that Paul has run plenty this year and is in good shape and didn't need the extra work. Paul did participate fully in the shootaround. ...I'd been wondering, since hearing Gregg Popovich's two post-game press conferences and reading an account of an exchange he had with a New Orleans media member during the off day, whether I had missed something the past decade. Had I missed the NBA's version of Bobby Knight with the media? Apparently not. Mike Finger of the San A... Mark Singletary of City Business says the city should go nuts for the Hornets as they approach unchartered waters in the playoffs. He says he was in Houston when the Rockets won a title in the mid-90s and says they went nuts. ...Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express News says the Hornets and Chris Paul are taking what they want this postseason. ...The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette says the Hornets have a chip on their shoulder that is fueling the furious post season run and that the head coach just might be using it for motivation. ...J.A. Adande of ESPN says don't let Chris Paul's boyish charm and looks deceive you the guy dancing in the Louisiana promotion at Hornets' games is cutthroat on the court. ...Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express News says if the Spurs are to rally against the Hornets, they'll need someone other than Tim Duncan to lead the way as the Hornets are determined to take the perennial All-Star out of his flow. ...ESPN's Marc Stein says the Hornets are growing more convincing by the quarter as they have handled the defending champions decisively - twice. ...Charles Barkley was effusive about the Hornets all night long. He chided TNT for not showing more Hornets games this year. "We've been sleeping on the Hornets all year," he said, more than once. More from Sir Charles: "The past has nothing to do with the present. The reason I think New Orleans is going to win is they're just the better team. These guys are better defensively. They are so active. Chandler is everywhere. David West had a terri... Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express News also offers the opinion that this series will see some possible on court fireworks as these two teams apparently have no love for each other, especially where it concerns Bruce Bowen. ...Count the San Antonio media as believers in the Hornets now. Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express News said there was no panic in the Hornets, even when they got down big early. ...As a guy who has won several championships, Greg Popovich has seen it all and isn't about to get upset about losing a game. He was short with his answers to the media and seemed to feel several questions were silly. Popovich said he couldn't tell if the crowd was loud or not, because that's not what he does, and all crowds are loud. He doubted it had any effect on his team. Pop also noted that any talk of pressure for Game 2 is 'psy... The San Antonio Express News' Buck Harvey discusses the fall and rise of Byron Scott. He says no matter what happens to Byron Scott, he'll remain calm in this series. ...Gm. 1- Saturday at 9 pm Gm. 2- Mon. 5/3 8:30 pm Gm. 3- Thurs. 5/8 8:30 pm Gm. 4- Sun. 5/11 7 pm Gm. 5- Tues. 5/13 TBA If Necessary Gm. 6- Thurs. 5/15 TBA If Necessary Gm. 7- Mon. 5/19 TBA If Necessary ESPN is reporting that the Lakers Kobe Bryant will be the league's MVP when the voting is officially announced this week. As much as I would have loved to have seen Chris Paul win the award, I can't argue with this choice, nor could I have argued with LeBron or Garnett. This will be remembered as a year when any of four guys could have won the award. For the record, if I ha... The USA Today has an article touting the Hornets' emergence both on the court and in the stands. I do have to say that I'm reaching my saturation point with media outlets finding clever ways to put Buzz in the headlines, but this is a positive story, especially the attendance totals since the All-Star game (near 17,00 per), the 2,000 additional season tic... Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express News talked to Melvin Ely who won a ring with the Spurs and now plays with the Hornets about the two teams and he says they are more similar than you might believe. ...Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Post Express breaks down the matchup between what he says are the NBA's two best point guards. ... |
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