Game Thread: Los Angeles Lakers (8-10) @ New Orleans Hornets (5-11)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AD23forMVP

And what else? Henry is better at LITERALLY EVERYTHING else.

Sad part is, like I said, Henry isn't good at anything either. That just goes to show how bad Austin is.

---

Henry has been in the league for 2 years now...just playing devils advocate

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

I am just frustrated and tired of watching guys wear a hornets jersey that do not belong in the nba. bottom line is that demps will have tons of cap space to work with in the offseason and we should have davis healthy. Not even gonna factor eg into this because he is not apart of this until he can play 50 games at least. I do not expect us to be a contender right now. I just get upset because I am a die hard fan and it is painful to watch this team sometimes. I believe next year is a make or break year for demps and monty. Is that fair?

---

And who would you replace Monty and Dell with?
Same as all the other crap the Hornets have had since being in New Orleans?

Monty is a good coach.....a little too defensive minded but he had one A grader player tonight on the floor and that's it.
No coach could do much better with what he has out there.

Demps has done a good job. If he would have let Gordon walk and instead add more mediocre players this
team would be just as bad as Orlando.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AD23forMVP

And what else? Henry is better at LITERALLY EVERYTHING else.

Sad part is, like I said, Henry isn't good at anything either. That just goes to show how bad Austin is.

---

If literally everything else does not include FT, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks then you would be right.

I think everyone will agree that rivers is playing the worst basketball he probably will ever play in his career, and he still has been better these first 17 games than X has his whole career. X has shown no improvement ever and is on his 3rd season in the NBA. C' mon man

Rivers doesn't need D-League. He needs to start taking what's there instead of forcing everything. He had a wide open 3 then a wide open jumper and passed no them both. Game still isn't coming natural too him. But then he does a ball fake, drives, and kicks to a wide open shooter in Vasquez that has knocked down 3s before. Hard for me to say he doesn't belong. But he is VERY, VERY, VERY inconsistent.

If you are expecting drastic changes next season, prepare to be disappointed. The only big move left is what to do with cap space next season. Everything after that is going to be small steps while our team matures and improves. If that doesn't happen as expected, then there will be drastic moves again three years from now.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AUSSIE_HORNET

And who would you replace Monty and Dell with?
Same as all the other crap the Hornets have had since being in New Orleans?

Monty is a good coach.....a little too defensive minded but he had one A grader player tonight on the floor and that's it.
No coach could do much better with what he has out there.

Demps has done a good job. If he would have let Gordon walk and instead add more mediocre players this
team would be just as bad as Orlando.

---

I havent lost my faith in either of them yet. So,I wont start naming people to replace them. I have had nothing but good things to say about either one. We should be an 8 seed at worse next year. Bottom line. I will not be ok with nothing less. there are head coach worthy guys out there tho. Brian shaw will be 1 sooner or later. I think he is gonna be an excellent coach for whatever team he gets his 1st job with.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eman5805

Rivers doesn't need D-League. He needs to start taking what's there instead of forcing everything. He had a wide open 3 then a wide open jumper and passed no them both. Game still isn't coming natural too him. But then he does a ball fake, drives, and kicks to a wide open shooter in Vasquez that has knocked down 3s before. Hard for me to say he doesn't belong. But he is VERY, VERY, VERY inconsistent.

---

Agreed. Rivers was a pick for the future. I have no doubt they knew he'd be a project.
As bad as he seems sometimes i've seen enough good things to know the future can be/will be bright for him. Dudes 19 years old. I still believe he'll be fine.
If in 2 years i'm wrong i'll eat my crow with a smile.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WhoDatHornet

Agreed. Rivers was a pick for the future. I have no doubt they knew he'd be a project.
As bad as he seems sometimes i've seen enough good things to know the future can be/will be bright for him. Dudes 20 years old. I still believe he'll be fine.
If in 2 years i'm wrong i'll eat my crow with a smile.

---

fixed

Well he's 20 now but I agree with your post.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WhoDatHornet

Agreed. Rivers was a pick for the future. I have no doubt they knew he'd be a project.
As bad as he seems sometimes i've seen enough good things to know the future can be/will be bright for him. Dudes 19 years old. I still believe he'll be fine.
If in 2 years i'm wrong i'll eat my crow with a smile.

---

a project?..yes...this big of a project?...think not lol

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

a project?..yes...this big of a project?...think not lol

---

Who are these really small project players that only need a couple games then they take off?

Because that is NOT a project. That's just a slow starter.

So, I really have to ask you guys. Do you not expect us to be at least an 8 seed next year?? With all the cap space and fa's becoming available??

I don't think you understand how player development or franchise development works in the nba. Rivers will not be James harden 1 month from now. It is going to take time.just like building this team I to a contender is going to take years of time, it will not happen in 1 or 2 years.

Sorry. Should have gone with my original choice of not old enough to legally drink a beer. :2thumb2:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eman5805

Who are these really small project players that only need 20 games then they take off?

Because that is NOT a project. That's just a slow starter.

---

I will not debate rivers game with you because there is none to debate. I can name quite a few players that are showing more promise and looking like they will take less time to develop that were drafted after rivers. So, your telling me you knew rivers would be this bad when we drafted him?? think not

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RaisingTheBrow

If literally everything else does not include FT, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks then you would be right.

I think everyone will agree that rivers is playing the worst basketball he probably will ever play in his career, and he still has been better these first 17 games than X has his whole career. X has shown no improvement ever and is on his 3rd season in the NBA. C' mon man

---

Henry has better advanced stats than Austin in every one of those categories other than assists.

I'm moving past the "it's only 16 games" thing. If Austin gets better, excellent, I'm excited. I'm not giving up on him in anyway, I'm not calling him a bust, I'm not even saying he needs to ride the bench and not get any minutes. What I am saying is that Xavier Henry, at this very minute, is a better basketball player. Maybe a month from now that's not true, maybe two weeks from now that isn't true, but right now it is. Advanced statistics back this up, sadly.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

So, I really have to ask you guys. Do you not expect us to be at least an 8 seed next year?? With all the cap space and fa's becoming available??

---

I think we push for an 8th seed THIS year if we have AD and Gordon for at least 75 games.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AD23forMVP

Henry has better advanced stats than Austin in every one of those categories other than assists.

I'm past the "it's only 16 games thing." If he gets better, excellent, I'm not giving up on him, I'm not saying he's a bust. But people bring up the 16 games because they don't want to admit that he is an awful basketball player. There is literally no way you can say he is better than Xavier RIGHT NOW, every statistic that you look at says otherwise.

---

No I'm bring up 16 games because you are comparing him to a person who has over 2 years of NBA experience to a player who has a couple months worth. So I'm saying 2 years from now rivers is going to be leaps and bounds ahead of where X is right now. But that is no excuse for his play right now, and I never said he should be given a pass.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RaisingTheBrow

I don't think you understand how player development or franchise development works in the nba. Rivers will not be James harden 1 month from now. It is going to take time.just like building this team I to a contender is going to take years of time, it will not happen in 1 or 2 years.

---

I am sorry, but you guys are cutting this regime way too much slack on this. Signing a max player(sg at that) coupled with davis and anderson. Looking like we should get a stud in the draft next year if we continue on this path. With all of our cap room and all of the players to choose from this offseason. If you do not think this team should be AT LEAST .500 or above. Which will get an 8 seed then you guys will never hold this regime accountable. Last year wasnt their first year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RaisingTheBrow

No I'm bring up 16 games because you are comparing him to a person who has over 2 years of NBA experience to a player who has a couple months worth. So I'm saying 2 years from now rivers is going to be leaps and bounds ahead of where X is right now.

---

cleo?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

I am sorry, but you guys are cutting this regime way too much slack on this. Signing a max player(sg at that) coupled with davis and anderson. Looking like we should get a stud in the draft next year if we continue on this path. With all of our cap room and all of the players to choose from this offseason. If you do not think this team should be AT LEAST .500 or above. Which will get an 8 seed then you guys will never hold this regime accountable. Last year wasnt their first year.

---

Where did I said we wouldn't? I said contend. 8th seed is not contending. If we had Gordon AD GV ryno and Lopez healthy the entire season THIS YEAR I think we would be 6th seed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eman5805

I think we push for an 8th seed THIS year if we have AD and Gordon for at least 75 games.

---

thank you. Thats all I have been saying and what I said I was expecting in the beginning of the year. I understand nobody saw the freight train hit eg's knee in the offseason. Just a disappointment man. I ama die hard tho and I will always support this team win,lose or draw. I will also talk **** about the people in charge when I get pissed. :hihi:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

I will not debate rivers game with you because there is none to debate. I can name quite a few players that are showing more promise and looking like they will take less time to develop that were drafted after rivers. So, your telling me you knew rivers would be this bad when we drafted him?? think not

---

This isn't me talking out both sides of my mouth, forewarning, but something worried me about Rivers from day one. I don't know if it was because I learned of the potential nepotism that went into his selection, that his game looks so flaky at Duke, or what. But now I push him because I have to. It's in my nature.

Also, hindsight is 20/20. Real easy to say right now who we should've drafted to get more production at this point. But that's what a project player is. You select now for dividends down the line. No telling when or even if we'll reap the benefits. Just gotta keep watching.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

So, I really have to ask you guys. Do you not expect us to be at least an 8 seed next year?? With all the cap space and fa's becoming available??

---

You have already stated that you will take EG out of the equation so I assume we trade him.
To be honest if we make trades next season to just make the 8 and sacrifice youth then I hope not.
I would rather suck next season and grow as a team for another year and be successful for longer periods.
I don't want to gamble with signing FA's who come here for money and then decide they want to chase a ring when they hit their 30's.

I expect the team to go deep into the playoff in 2014/15.
Up until then I don't care as long as we are seeing improvements in our core players.
Making the 8 or just missing the playoffs makes little difference.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eman5805

I think we push for an 8th seed THIS year if we have AD and Gordon for at least 75 games.

---

Gordon could lead this team to 40 without randerson when healthy. I think its BS we dont have them but ppl dont realize how much better this team is with them. Ppls hate towards Gordon is understandable but this guy is gonna be huge for us IFFF he plays.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eman5805

I think we push for an 8th seed THIS year if we have AD and Gordon for at least 75 games.

---

I felt the same but I predicted about 33 wins before the season started because I knew we wouldn't be lucky enough to stay healthy.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RaisingTheBrow

Where did I said we wouldn't? I said contend. 8th seed is not contending. If we had Gordon AD GV ryno and Lopez healthy the entire season THIS YEAR I think we would be 6th seed.

---

8th seed is big strides for this regime tho. I just want to see continued improvement year after year. We should not be the bobcats lol. Only reaso their gm is still there is he is his own boss alas jerry jones status

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eman5805

This isn't me talking out both sides of my mouth, forewarning, but something worried me about Rivers from day one. I don't know if it was because I learned of the potential nepotism that went into his selection, that his game looks so flaky at Duke, or what. But now I push him because I have to. It's in my nature.

Also, hindsight is 20/20. Real easy to say right now who we should've drafted to get more production at this point. But that's what a project player is. You select now for dividends down the line. No telling when or even if we'll reap the benefits. Just gotta keep watching.

---

I agree

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

thank you. Thats all I have been saying and what I said I was expecting in the beginning of the year. I understand nobody saw the freight train hit eg's knee in the offseason. Just a disappointment man. I ama die hard tho and I will always support this team win,lose or draw. I will also talk **** about the people in charge when I get pissed. :hihi:

---

would you rather draft kendal marshall? Hes a poor mans greveis vazquez... I think Rivers will improve big time next season. He should just forget about defense and work strictly on offense lol. Defense can come later. Id rather him be good at one thing than nothing at all.

We should of got bledsoe in that cp3 trade!!!!!!! That was bs and they know it. The clips played hard ball with us and got us to bite.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JJackisangry

would you rather draft kendal marshall? Hes a poor mans greveis vazquez... I think Rivers will improve big time next season. He should just forget about defense and work strictly on offense lol. Defense can come later. Id rather him be good at one thing than nothing at all.

---

absolutely not lol...I would of loved to hear meyers leonard name get called at 10. Even jeremy lamb or pj3

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

We should of got bledsoe in that cp3 trade!!!!!!! That was bs and they know it. The clips played hard ball with us and got us to bite.

---

I'm 99.9% sure it was said we wanted him in the deal but the Clips wanted their cake and to consume it too.

Didnt Lamb get sent to the D League?

EDIT: yep he did http://sports.yahoo.com/news/oklahom...8808--nba.html

I would love to have sully coming off the bench for ad.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

We should of got bledsoe in that cp3 trade!!!!!!! That was bs and they know it. The clips played hard ball with us and got us to bite.

---

Yeah that was stupid. I dont think we would have gotten AD though. Things will work out. Im just upset that EG and davis havent played much. I really wanted a playoff push.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WhoDatHornet

Didnt Lamb get sent to the D League?

---

he is on the thunder tho. Cant expect to get any min on that stacked team. Especially at the 2

I love watching odom struggle,looking all fat running up n down the court!!!! hahahaha bum

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eman5805

I'm 99.9% sure it was said we wanted him in the deal but the Clips wanted their cake and to consume it too.

---

yes we did

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

absolutely not lol...I would of loved to hear meyers leonard name get called at 10. Even jeremy lamb or pj3

---

And i would have been fine with either. But there was no lilliard or drummond like we had hoped... You take what you can get and rivers was better than some of the guys i thought were going to be picked.

Rivers just needs to get bigger. His game will be driving to the rim for a while. I hold out faint hope they fix his shot mechanics at some point, but he'll be good with added weight without it.

I do recall Dwayne Wade didn't make his mark in the league until he met, and trounced, Baron Davis and the Hornets in the 1st round of the playoffs rookie season.

been good talking hornets bball with you guys. Good night guys.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eman5805

Rivers doesn't need D-League. He needs to start taking what's there instead of forcing everything. He had a wide open 3 then a wide open jumper and passed no them both. Game still isn't coming natural too him. But then he does a ball fake, drives, and kicks to a wide open shooter in Vasquez that has knocked down 3s before. Hard for me to say he doesn't belong. But he is VERY, VERY, VERY inconsistent.

---

Good insight. This season, despite how it might feel to him or look to us as fans, can still be a valuable opportunity for Rivers. He can play worry-free and simply learn to see the pro court as it is. Monty can work on these green tendencies and Rivers will hopefully be ready when pressure time eventually arrives.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by luckyman

I do recall Dwayne Wade didn't make his mark in the league until he met, and trounced, Baron Davis and the Hornets in the 1st round of the playoffs rookie season.

---

This is incorrect as Wade as very good in his rookie year. Had a couple signature games prior to the playoffs. That 1st round cemented himself as a star.

Takes have already taken away Rivers' driving ability because he doesn't shoot well. Until he improves that, it won't matter how well he can drive.

And Rivers isn't as explosive or strong as Wade. He is younger than when Wade came into the league. About 2 years younger.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nola Hornet

This is incorrect as Wade as very good in his rookie year. Had a couple signature games prior to the playoffs. That 1st round cemented himself as a star.

---

He also had a rising 4th year star to play with in Lamar Odom for the 61 games he played that year. Not to mention starter minutes. I say again, that playoff series is where you knew who Dwayne Wade was. Is this incorrect? He averaged 16 points for that season.

Yet, there has only been 17 games played this year for Rivers. Also like Rivers, in Wade's rookie season he only shot 53 three pointers. Less than one attempt per game and only made 16 of them. That's .26 made 3s per game played.

Not saying they will take the exact same track in their careers, but some similarities are there. Give it time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by luckyman

He also had a rising 4th year star to play with in Lamar Odom for the 61 games he played that year. Not to mention starter minutes. I say again, that playoff series is where you knew who Dwayne Wade was. Is this incorrect? He averaged 16 points for that season.

Yet, there has only been 17 games played this year for Rivers. Also like Rivers, in Wade's rookie season he only shot 53 three pointers. Less than one attempt per game and only made 16 of them. That's .26 made 3s per game played.

Not saying they will take the exact same track in their careers, but the similarities are there. Give it time.

---

I knew who he was due to his Marquette Tourney run and his draft status which a lot of people considered him the 3rd best player in that draft. People who actually pay any attention to teams outside of the city knew who he was and knew how good he was. He was over shadowed due to Lebron/Melo and Darko(hot topic) at the time.

Most NBA fans knew who he was when he went on a tear for a couple of 30+ point games in his rookie year. You can continue to try to compare Wade to Rivers all you want but it doesn't make sense at all. Wade on his worst day is better than Rivers even if Wade can't shoot behind the arc.

Third quarters are the best for us

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nola Hornet

I knew who he was due to his Marquette Tourney run and his draft status which a lot of people considered him the 3rd best player in that draft. People who actually pay any attention to teams outside of the city knew who he was and knew how good he was. He was over shadowed due to Lebron/Melo and Darko(hot topic) at the time.

Most NBA fans knew who he was when he went on a tear for a couple of 30+ point games in his rookie year. You can continue to try to compare Wade to Rivers all you want but it doesn't make sense at all. Wade on his worst day is better than Rivers even if Wade can't shoot behind the arc.

---

Actuallu the point with the shooting is Wade TODAY is a decent shooter now, when he was NOT back then. See the picture? Is it developing? Also, nobody knew or supposed Wade would become the NBA player he is today. To say MOST NBA fans saw that coming is proposterous. He was considered a good player with great potential, but not great at that time.

To say a player chosen 10th in a deep draft won't be this or do that 17 games into their NBA career, as a light weight 20 year old, while comparing them to an NBA veteran needs no response. Just look at it like the train wreck that it is.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by luckyman

Actuallu the point with the shooting is Wade TODAY is a decent shooter now, when he was NOT back then. See the picture? Is it developing? Also, nobody knew or supposed Wade would become the NBA player he is today. To say MOST NBA fans saw that coming is proposterous. He was considered a good player with great potential, but not great at that time.

To say a player chosen 10th in a deep draft won't be this or do that 17 games into their NBA career, as a light weight 20 year old, while comparing them to an NBA veteran needs no response. Just look at it like the train wreck that it is.

---

Unfortunately for you, I was talking about Wade as a rookie. Wade was always been head and shoulder better than Rivers at every level.... even in college. The one thing Wade does that has always followed him as a player is the ability to finishing around the basket weather it's after contact or without contact. He has always been a high percentage finisher even as a freshman. Rivers on the other hand has always been a poor finisher even back when he was playing at Duke.

Talking about Rivers jumpshot is kind of pointless becuase his problem is finishing with or without contact near the basket. He just has poor touch.