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02-04-2012, 11:17 PM
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#25 |
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The Hard Way
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Re: A New Start {NEW ORLEANS HORNETS}2K12
 Hornets head into April with playoff expectations (New Orleans, Louisiana) - Expectations are hitting an alltime high for the Hornets this season as the team that was once fighting for the best lottery odds, is now fighting for the eight seed in the Western Conference, the Hornets of course suffering from playing in the much harder Western Conference, the Hornets sit 3.5 games out of a playoff spot, opening with a loss to Phoenix in the month of April that dropped them to 35-38 after a good showing in March that saw them hit .500 before a losing skid hurt the Hornets in many ways. The Lakers having 10 games left, one more than the Hornets have much better odds of making the playoffs than the Hornets do of stealing the spot from the Lakers.The Hornets welcome the 44-29 Knicks to New Orleans, before traveling to San Antonio to face a perennial playoff contender in the Spurs. The Spurs sit at 41-32 and should feel secure in their playoff odds. Than returning home to face the Timberwolves in what could be their only win this week. Something the Hornets really can''t be happy about. The following week they open with none other than the Lakers in what could have huge playoff implications, in the middle of their five game home stand they get another California squad in the Sacramento Kings, who continue to struggle amidst terrible team chemistry that has basically made the city a barren wasteland for talent. Yet another playoff team after an easy Sacramento game in the Utah Jazz (40-34) , the Jazz have been trending in opposite directions of the Hornets. Once an outside bid at a playoff spot, a recent streak that includes an 8-2 performance in their past ten games has them nearly securing a spot in the West. In what could very well be their final home game of the season, they welcome the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies have solved some of the issues that had plagued them earlier and find them fairly successful and sitting at second in the Southwest divison. Albeit that fact, the Hornets are 2-0 against them, taking both the home and away earlier this season. Their final home game and final regular season game will be against the Grizzlies, with the sputtering Rockets sandwiched between. Despite a rocky end to March and the amount of roster changes that this team had gone through, the Hornets chemistry has been amongst the best of the NBA and many players have been surveyed to say they have "100% trust and chemistry in the locker room". A rare feat but the idea of losing together builds a community could be held true. The Hornets would love to be winning but they have the foundation available. Eric Gordon is averaging 19.8 PPG slightly down from his total last season but playing 4 less minutes per game with the result of a little less than 2 points lower per game isn't a terrible ratio. Thaddeus Young is one of the few players to not take a step backwards, with increased minutes he has raised his points per game to 13, but the rest of his numbers have sputtered. In an outside bid for Rookie of the Year, Gustavo Ayon is putting up 9.4 PPG and 8.2 RPG becoming more and more known around the league at the power forward slot. As the offseason nears, the Hornets have seven expiring contracts, a near majority. Only one starter is looking at a contract crisis and that is Greg Oden, Oden has said he would like to be back with the Hornets but at 8 million a year and three picks in the first round of the draft, unless he will resign fairly cheap he could be a free agent. It wasn't by any means a failure, he would manage 8.7 PPG and 9.0 RPG but the Hornets would like to find an elite center and Oden hasn't shown much to make the Hornets believe he could be that. Joey Graham has already stated he will be leaving, while Mo Williams the acquisition from a second trade with the Clippers has stated his desire to stay in New Orleans something that may not be possible as he too has a big contract and he would need to sign much cheaper especially to be coming in off the bench. Anthony Parker a short term signing is playing for his spot on the roster, with retirement being a possibility. Jemario Moon and Pops Mensah-Bonsu will most likely be retained to serve as depth players, while Omer Asik will most likely be let go, with the Hornets eying Andre Drummond out of Connecticut and Jordan Taylor out of Wisconsin and the pair being the most likely picks, if they can get them both, Mo Williams and Asik will for sure be gone. Oden could also be gone if Drummond impresses enough. The Hornets went 8-9 in March, they sit at #17 in the NBA Power Rankings. Dwayne Wade and Blake Griffin were named players of the month for the Month of March. In the East, a Miami Heat player has won the award every month this season, while Kevin Durant is the only repeat offender in the West (he would win November and February) . Kemba Walker would earn his second rookie of the month award while Kenneth Faried of the Nuggets would earn his first nod. LeBron is the favorite to win the MVP award, as expected, Kyrie Irving is running away with the rookie of the year award. Josh Smith is the favorite to end Dwight Howards' streak of winning the defensive player of the year award sitting in first by a wide margin. Josh Smith is sitting atop the list for most improved player. This hectic NBA season is finally starting to wrap up and things are getting exciting. With the only real surprise this season being the Trailblazers having the best record in the West, things could be set to get wild in the playoffs.
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02-04-2012, 11:45 PM
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#26 |
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The Hard Way
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Re: A New Start {NEW ORLEANS HORNETS}2K12
Hornets pushed to brink The Hornets would manage to upset the Spurs, but a follow up with a weak performance against the Timberwolves and Ricky Rubio would leave a lot to be desired and after a 1-3 week, the Hornets very well could be on their way out. If the Hornets lose one more game or if Golden State wins one more game, it will eliminate the Hornets from playoff contention. Golden State went on a late hot streak and owning the season record against the Hornets in a sweep, the Warriors are in control of their own destiny. The Lakers trail close behind but the Hornets at this point are not a threat to make the playoffs. Brandon Jennings suffered a minor MCL injury in the victory against the Spurs but is expected to be 100% for the Lakers game, things are certainly not looking good in Cajun Country in terms of playoff prospects but one thing New Orleans has a lot of is hope. It's unlikely but if they play their hardest and win out, they could very well be rewarded with a playoff trip, if things prove favorable. With no other injuries of note, the Hornets are healthy for a final push through the end of the season and should build upon their performance with a playoff bid next year at the very least. Scores Phoenix Suns (37-39) 95 New Orleans Hornets (35-38) 75 Phoenix, Arizona New Orleans Hornets (35-39) 89 New York Knicks (47-29) 104 New Orleans, Louisiana San Antonio Spurs (43-34) 91 New Orleans Hornets (36-39) 98 San Antonio, Texas New Orleans Hornets (36-40) 90 Minnesota Timberwolves (26-50) 91 New Orleans, Louisiana
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02-05-2012, 12:08 AM
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The Hard Way
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Re: A New Start {NEW ORLEANS HORNETS}2K12
Kobe eliminates yet another team from playoffs Although his Laker team might not make the playoffs, Kobe continues to ensure teams are eliminated from the playoffs with a second half rally against the Hornets, in a 28 point performance to headline the Lakers win on Monday that officially eliminated the Hornets from any form of playoff contention. The Hornets (36-41), even if winning out, would tie the eight place Warriors who hold the tie breaker. The Lakers win pulls them within half a game of a play off bid, with the 7th and 8th place spots being held in tight contention of eachother the Lakers could conceivably even claw their way to the sixth seed if they win out. The Hornets had some highs and a lot more lows this season but they defied expectations of a rebuilding team by staying right in the thick of a playoff race until the final weeks of the season, a feat not to be taken lightly. However Tom Benson said he will be evaluating on whether Monty Williams will retain his job. Williams still would have another year on his deal but if another coach becomes available, it may lead to Benson shifting his personnel around a little. The Hornets had bright spots from Eric Gordon who put up a team high in points and Brandon Jennings added a double double, going only two rebounds shy of a triple double. Greg Oden was a late scratch from the line up after bruising his rib in practice and the team opted to allow him to sit and recover and avoid what would've been a very physical match up with Andrew Bynum. "It's never easy, the goal of any season is to win a title, to know you won't get that opportunity, it's difficult to continue playing after hearing that. It kills you, but we need to keep building. This is a growing team and we will continue to work at becoming the best team that we are capable of being." Spoke Monty Williams in a post game interview.
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02-05-2012, 12:53 AM
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The Hard Way
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Re: A New Start {NEW ORLEANS HORNETS}2K12
NBA Regular Season Wrap Up
Eastern Conference Playoffs (1) Miami Heat (66-16) (8) Indiana Pacers (37-45) (4) Chicago Bulls (49-33) (5) Boston Celtics (50-32) (3) Atlanta Hawks (50-32) (6) Orlando Magic (46-36) (2) New York Knicks (50-32) (7) Charlotte Bobcats (43-39) Western Conference Playoffs (1) Portland Trailblazers (54-28) (8) Memphis Grizzlies (42-40) (4) Los Angeles Clippers (47-35) (5) San Antonio Spurs (47-35) (3) Oklahoma City Thunder (51-31) (6) Utah Jazz (43-39) (2) Dallas Mavericks (51-31) (7) Los Angeles Lakers (42-40) The Bottom fourteen Non Playoff teams, worst record to best 1) Milwaukee Bucks (24-58) 2) Toronto Raptors (27-55) 3) Philadelphia 76ers (28-54) 4) Detroit Pistons (28-54) 5) Minnesota Timberwolves (28-54) 6) Cleveland Cavaliers (29-53) 7) Sacramento Kings (29-53) 8) Washington Wizards (31-51) 9) New Jersey Nets (36-46) 10) Houston Rockets (37-45) 11) New Orleans Hornets (40-42) 12) Phoenix Suns (41-41) 13) Denver Nuggets (42-40) 14) Golden State Warriors (42-40)
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Last edited by K0ZZ; 02-05-2012 at 12:57 AM. |
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02-05-2012, 01:43 AM
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#29 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Hard Way
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Re: A New Start {NEW ORLEANS HORNETS}2K12
Statistical Analysis
 New Orleans Hornets 2011 - 2012 (40-42) Tenth in Conference .488% 95.0 PPG - 95.2 PAPG - -0.2 Diference .458 FG% - .416 3P% - .774 FT% 28.0 APG - 46.4 RPG -11.2 ORPG - 9.2 SPG - 4.2 BPG - 18.8 TOPG - 21.5 FPG Review of the Season The Hornets parted ways with Emeka Okafor and Chris Kaman prior to the start of the season, soon after Trevor Ariza would also be on the outs, followed by Al-Farouq Aminu who decided he would no longer stay in New Orleans and even threatened a hold out. There was several new faces brought in and some were only temporary. As the team formed the chemistry and cohesiveness finally started clicking as Tom Benson put a hold on any further moves, bringing in another young face in Brandon Jennings to aid Eric Gordon along with experimenting with Greg Oden and taking a shot with having him as a starter. The season had it's ebs and flows but when the dust cleared the valleys were too long and too difficult to scale out of for the Hornets to climb into a playoff race, something that should be a goal for next season. With seven expiring contracts, three first round picks and a lot of cap manueverability and the potential for a strong free agent and draft class the Hornets are poising themselves for what could be a new season that brings about the new look of the franchise and the team could finally stop calling itself a rebuilding club and be a playoff contender on a yearly basis.
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02-05-2012, 02:21 AM
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#30 |
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The Hard Way
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Re: A New Start {NEW ORLEANS HORNETS}2K12
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02-05-2012, 02:39 AM
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#31 |
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The Hard Way
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Re: A New Start {NEW ORLEANS HORNETS}2K1
  Trailblazers battle back to cap off an unbelievable season The Trailblazers battled adversity through every round of the playoffs, coming into the series having played 18 games compared to Chicagos' 16 and having to battle back from facing elimination in two consecutive series leading up to the sweep of the Lakers. The Blazers lost Brandon Roy and Greg Oden this season but they countered things beautifully capping off an unbelievable season that included winning the top seed in the tougher NBA Conference, coming back to win three seven game series all three they would face elimination in. This is a team that a year ago finished sixth in the conference and many wondering if they had built a team that could handle the grind of a NBA season. In the preseason Brandon Roy shocked the world with a retirement that seemingly came out of no where after suffering knee injuries and after Greg Oden suffering yet another knee injury a year ago, the Blazers and their knees just couldn't sustain the grind of a NBA season. Yet the past few years had one team come from relative obscurity to dominate the league. In a testament to that two of the such teams faced off for the title. Last year it was the Bulls who grinded out a 60 win season seemingly out of nowhere. They fell to a fourth seed this season but would overcome the Heat in the semifinals and destroyed the Hawks, having faced off against two opponents they met last year in the playoffs seemed to get them ready for the Finals. They had control but when the series shifted back to Portland the momentum was left in the United Center, the Blazers would blow out the Bulls in two consecutive games to take the series in seven, something not even Derrick Rose last seasons MVP could even explain. A rather status quo season ended in the unthinkable, the lethargic, injury riddled squad of a years past, pulled together and grinded out the title. Portland won their second title in the history of the program, this being their first title in 35 years.
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02-05-2012, 02:55 AM
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#32 |
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The Hard Way
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Re: A New Start {NEW ORLEANS HORNETS}2K12
 Players announce their retirements Fransisco Elson (C) - CHA - 9 Years Pro - 36 Years Old 03-06 DEN 06-08 SA 08 OKC 08-10 MIL 10 - PHI 11 - UTA 12 - CHA Derek Fisher (PG) - LAL - 16 Years Pro - 37 96-04 LAL 04-06 GS 06-07 UTA 07-12 LAL 8.4 PPG 2.1 RPG 3.3 APG 1.1 SPG .402 FG% .374 3P%  Jason Kidd (PG) - DAL - 18 Years Pro - 39 Years Old INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME 94-96 DAL 96-01 PHX 01-08 NJ 08-12 DAL 12.7 PPG 6.4 RPG 9.2 APG 1.9 SPG .400 FG% .349 3P%  Vince Carter (SF) - DAL - 14 Year Pro - 35 Years Old INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME 98-05 TOR 05-09 NJ 09-10 ORL 10-11 PHX/ORL 11-12 DAL 21.6 PPG 5.1 RPG 3.8 APG 1.1 SPG 0.7 BPG .444 FG% .372 3P% Chris Andersen (C) - DEN - 10 Year Pro - 33 Years Old 01-04 DEN 04-08 NO 08-12 DEN Nazr Mohammed (C) - DEN - 14 Years Pro - 34 Years Old 98-01 PHI 01-03 ATL 03-05 NY 05-06 SA 06-07 DET 07-08 CHA/DET 08-10 CHA 10-11 OKC 11-12 OKC/DEN Jamaal Magloire (C) - TOR - 12 Years Pro - 34 Years Old 00-05 NO 05-06 MIL 06-07 POR 07-08 NJ/DAL 08-11 MIA 11-12 TOR 7.0 PPG 6.3 RPG 0.6 APG 0.3 SPG 0.9 BPG Grant Hill (SF) - PHX - 18 Years Pro - 39 Years Old 94-00 DET 00-07 ORL 07-12 PHX 17.1 PPG 6.3 RPG 4.2 APG 1.3 SPG 0.6 BPG .484 FG% .336 3P% Brad Miller (C) - OKC - 14 Years Pro - 36 Years Old 98-00 NO 00-02 CHI 02-03 IND 03-09 SAC 09-10 CHI 10-11 HOU 11-12 MIN/OKC 11.2 PPG 7.1 RPG 2.8 APG 0.7 SPG 0.7 BPG .481 FG% .326 3P% Kurt Thomas (C) - 17 Years Pro - 39 Years Old 95-97 MIA 97-98 DAL 98-05 NY 05-07 PHX 07 OKC 08-09 SA 09-10 MIL 10-11 CHI 11-12 POR/GS 8.2 PPG 6.7 RPG 1.1 APG 0.7 SPG 0.8 BPG .486 FG% .258 3P% Flip Saunders will retire from coaching after 17 years as being a head coach.
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Last edited by K0ZZ; 02-05-2012 at 03:04 AM. |
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