HOME OPENER! Kings @ Hornets ... 10/30/09

[Copperhead]

Preview

For a team hoping to compete with the other Western Conference powers, the New Orleans Hornets came out flat in their opener.


The Sacramento Kings also didn't play well in their first game, but that's not much of a surprise.

The Hornets try to bounce back from a disappointing loss Friday night when they host a Kings team that finished with the league's worst record last season.

With the emergence of Chris Paul as one of the league's best players, New Orleans is expected to make a third straight trip to the playoffs.

Paul and the Hornets were eliminated by Denver in a first-round series last season, but the team is hoping to make a deeper run with the addition of Emeka Okafor as an inside scoring presence.

In Wednesday's season opener against San Antonio, Paul had 26 points and nine assists while Okafor finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds but New Orleans lost 113-96.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=291030003

[Copperhead]

Once again another close game against the Kings. Glad the Hornets closed it out to get the W.

Recap

Emeka Okafor, a year-round fitness fanatic, missed it and seems to be doing fine.

Chris Paul scored 31 points and Okafor capped another strong performance with two key blocks in the final seconds to help the New Orleans Hornets beat the Sacramento Kings 97-92 on Friday night.

"I'm just happy that I was able to contribute, considering that I didn't have a preseason, that I could come in, have a couple decent starts and kind of put everybody's mind at ease," said Okafor, who came to New Orleans in a trade that sent Tyson Chandler to Charlotte. "It was on my mind, having a decent first impression to just kind of calm everybody's nerves."

After sitting out training camp and all eight preseason games with a sprained toe, Okafor returned for the Hornets' season-opening loss in San Antonio and was one of the bright spots with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

"I'm very proud of them," Westphal said. "They proved they can compete. It's the little things we need to learn as a team. ... We were in position to win the game. They closed the deal and we didn't."

And the bolded part is why the Hornets won the game. They knew how to close it out. Westphal is right. And he should be proud of his team because they definitely competed.

http://espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=291030003

[og15]

It is interesting that Paul had to score so much in this game. I also mentioned it elsewhere, but dividing FT's by two, the Kings took 17 more shots than the Hornets because of all their offensive rebounds. They shot terrible, 38% FG, 28% 3PT and 65% FT but were still in the game. Jason Thompson had a decent amount of O boards in the game.

Also Chris has yet to get steal this season or get over 10 assists in a game.

[Copperhead]

It is interesting that Paul had to score so much in this game. I also mentioned it elsewhere, but dividing FT's by two, the Kings took 17 more shots than the Hornets because of all their offensive rebounds. They shot terrible, 38% FG, 28% 3PT and 65% FT but were still in the game. Jason Thompson had a decent amount of O boards in the game.

Also Chris has yet to get steal this season or get over 10 assists in a game.

Chris has much time left for that. He's trying to gell with all these new teammates and rotations. Scott is still trying so many different things right now. He even took CP out of the game with about 5 or 6 minutes left to play in the 1st. He never does that. Once things get a bit normal, these types of things will start to come. I went to that game, had a blast and didn't even realize CP had 31 until I got home. Oh and let me say that Emeka is looking really good for the Hornets right now. Hope he keeps it up.

[og15]

The steals and assists were just an observation, not really anything related to if he is playing well or not because of those numbers.

I actually thought he would be scoring less and dishing more earlier on in order to try and accommodate everyone, but since wins are also important, he's doing what is necessary to win. In the San Antonio game it was like no one else really showed up but Paul. Hopefully others can step up though and Paul doesn't need to score so much for the team to win games.

[Copperhead]

The steals and assists were just an observation, not really anything related to if he is playing well or not because of those numbers.

I actually thought he would be scoring less and dishing more earlier on in order to try and accommodate everyone, but since wins are also important, he's doing what is necessary to win. In the San Antonio game it was like no one else really showed up but Paul. Hopefully others can step up though and Paul doesn't need to score so much for the team to win games.

I agree.