Hornets-Raptors

Dang. Way to clamp down on D at the end. I thought we'd lost it going into the final 5 minutes. Toronto really turned it on. A Davis was hitting everything he threw up.

Mash didn't seem to have his legs -- everything was coming up short for him. I'm glad to see him play through it though. I figured he was due for a let down after the last game.

Good win though. Finally above .500 again. Still behind Philly for the 8th spot, tho.

 

grate win guys i sow it on TNT grate to see horntes for ones on TNT it good that you tie for 8 sopt but every one hear you guys or on TNT or tbs every one hear and tv like the season is going to end in few days guys dont forget there steil about 25 games to go i man today you couid be tie for 8 soopt at the end of the year you edier be in te 12 spoot of in the 3 spoot in the east it to eairl to take about post season

 

Most of you probably saw this game on national TV. It was a HUGE win for the Hornets that almost got away. The Hornets dominated from start to finish, building a lead that reached 11 points at least twice. We were up by 11 with about a minute and a half left in the first half, when the Raptors scored the last 7 points of the half. It was a sad way to end, but we were still up 40-36. The game was fought hard by both teams, similar to a playoff atmosphere. PJ got in early foul trouble (thanks to a phantom call against Morris Peterson on the first possession), but he contributed on the glass. Basically Elden Campbell kept us rolling with some timely jumpers and overall abuse on Eric Montross. Our 10 first half turnovers kept the game close though, as Toronto hit a run right at the end of the half to close it to 4 points. The second half we had no answer for Antonio Davis. He was pulling moves off that I didn't know he was capable of. The 6' 11" burly forward once threw a head fake and went reverse for the layup like a guard would do. He was clearly a man on a mission, with Vince Carter and Jerome Williams out for the game. The Hornets played well enough for a double digit win, but this game went down to the wire thanks to some key offensive rebounding by the Raptors and some "questionable" calls by the refs (I know, don't make excuses). Seriously though, any of you guys who watched the game must have seen Baron drive all night and not get a single call, while any time the Raptors lost the ball it was an immediate foul. That's the way things go in the NBA though, especially on the road. Things came to a head in the fourth quarter, as the Raps built a 76-70 lead with about 4 minutes left. I was so frustrated that the remote slammed the floor. I thought for sure we were going to lose, and the Air Canada Center was rocking. Baron hits a nice 20 footer. A stop and defensive rebound (FINALLY), and Jamal gets fouled. He hits both and we are only down two. Another stop (thank God), and Jamal gets the ball in the post again. He fakes left for his patented fade-away, and drives to the middle with a beautiful finger roll. Tie game. ANOTHER stop (the Hornets are an underrated defensive team), and we give Jamal the ball in the left post again. This time he takes the fadeaway, just over Mo Pete's outstretched hand. Nothing but net. The crowd is silent. Mash had been off all game, but hits the biggest shots of the game. He's finally back, and he's healthy. Toronto goes in and gets fouled, but only make 1 of 2 with less than 30 sec on the clock.

We run the time all the way down and Nailon bricks a wide open 20 footer (he was off all game too). Toronto boards and calls TO to set up for the final play. It's 5 sec to go and one-on-one Alvin Williams vs. Baron. Baron forces him into a fadeaway 21 footer that falls harmlessly off the rim and the Hornets go above the .500 mark for the first time since they were 2-1. They survive an awesome game by Antonio Davis with 29 points and 14 rebounds to beat their Central Division rival. Since the Pistons and Bucks both won, the Hornets are still 3.5 games out of first place. Plenty of time left.

 

DJ, that was a GREAT game review! I'd rather read what you wrote, that listen to some of the drivel Marv Albert provides. Great point on the Hornets D being under-rated, and that's with D-Dub out. Lynch has been a great addition, as has the Tractor and Augmon.

Team chemistry as a whole is continuing to evolve and improve. If Wesley can come back healthy for the playoffs (re-integrating before then), we have a good of a chance as anyone else to do some playoff damage.

Very glad to have Mash back, and I heard he really helped Nailon develop while he was on the I.R. If the Bugz can keep turning-up the volume, someone will pay.

 

Yeah, they called a strange game (the refs). How many times did they call an offensive foul on a guy driving? It was pretty strange. There were a couple blown calls, but really I think they were giving the Defense a little more leeway than they normally get. Towards the end of the game, we got the majority of calls.

Lynch is guaranteed to miss at least one lay-up per game. I dunno what it is. I remember him as a Laker when he first came into the league. He was really self-conscious or something. Always made these weird mental lapses. Didn't seem comfortable on the court or something. He's much improved, but still goofs the easy stuff sometimes...