Game Thread: Hornets @ Timberwolves

[FlyGirl]

"At the same time, you still have to stick to the plan,’’ Williams said. "That plan is that this is year one and Mickey Loomis (Hornets executive vice president) reminds me of that all the time. He always says, 'Monty this is not year three, it’s year one.' I firmly believe we’re going to be better in the long run. We’re going to take a jump here soon.’’

http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ss..._mont_105.html

Just let that paragraph sink in for a few minutes. I know what it looks/sounds like to me but what does it look/sound like to ya'll?

A plan to help us be better in the long run? Hmmm...

[luckyman]

It looks/sounds like Monty listens to this before and after every game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ2UxYYquKg

[iNolaNightmare]

Our team has very little talent overall, that's why we lose.

Post of the year. Finally someone with sense.

[ImSorryMonty]

Ya'll can blame Vasquez all you want for Monty's failing but even I can see that he is better suited at the 2 or the 3 and not our primary ballhandler or on-ball defender. Monty hasn't played him there for ONE WHOLE game all season long. Monty hasn't stuck Gordon on the other team's PG and allowed him to be the primary. Monty hasn't even tried to let Roberts or Rivers guard the quicker PG's. Instead, we get the same tired thing over and over again. Vasquez exposing our bigs, our bigs getting into foul trouble or just being out of position, our team defense collapsing, shooters getting wide open 3's, etc. It all starts at the BALL on both ends of the court and Monty hasn't adjusted. It's 67 games into the season and we are still complaining about the same crap we were at the beginning of the season.

Our late-game execution...

Never mind. I don't even care enough right now. Been to almost every game this season at the Hive (Nest?) and sometimes it's just a chore. I get frustrated watching obviously poor decision making and watching us **** games down the drain. I started watching Shameless with us up 4 with 1 minute left. Why? Why not? Fricking Monty.

[Luke's Pelicans]

It looks/sounds like Monty listens to this before and after every game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ2UxYYquKg

Lol exactly, sounds like tanks.

[Pelicans78]

People are still watching the games?

[FlyGirl]

People are still watching the games?

Yes because some of us like watching Anthony Davis. At least that's my main reason right now.

[NOLa.]

Gotta stay optimistic. For example, Davis had another productive night.

[UNO Gracias]

The season has been over for me for nearly a month. These games all feel like pre-season games that don't count. I am going to the Clipper game (as its the final one in my ticket package) but that's about as far as I will go.

I am ready for the offseason.

[Eman5805]

Our team has very little talent overall, that's why we lose.

Talent poverty.

[wuggie]

Talent poverty.

Seriously just though look at our player's stats before this season.

We have Aminu, Lopez and GV starting who were on the bench not too long ago. Monty has took what he has and made it work as best as he can. Monty's known to develop players and he's done that greatly but how far can you push someone before hitting their ceiling?

[rt0307]

RoLo had a 20-10 night tonight... but he still had moments

[Topdawg26]

Talent poverty.

Well we are only a year away from being one of least talented team in league. Outside of Ryno, AD, Gordon, and Rivers, we really don't have much talent on the team. We have good hustle players in Lopez and Smith and a decent system PG in Gravy but that's it!

[carpo_07]

I honestly believe we shouldn't bother taking offensive timeouts in close games. We never run any plays out of them and it just gives the defense time to put a scheme in place and sort their personnel.

[AD23forMVP]

RoLo had a 20-10 night tonight... but he still had moments

But the tandem of he and Vasquez killed us defensively late in the game. I've said it before, you can't afford to have those two playing together.

[Inner_GI]

That timeout that monty called on the fast break that was a one-handed jam by Davis cemented my view of Monty's lack of coaching know-how. Sure he can coach players in practice, but during the game he makes some bone-headed decisions.

[GeauxPelicans]

Yes because some of us like watching Anthony Davis. At least that's my main reason right now.

Well, you can basically turn your TV off come crunch time

Monty is slowly but surely losing my support. I'm all for losing and getting a better draft pick, but there is absolutely no reason to have our best player on the bench come crunch time in close games for a scrub like Robin Lopez

[Silverfoxx]

I'm sitting here watching KD put the Thunder on his back and he's killing the Mavs... meanwhile our "best" player only takes 6 shots the whole game and failed twice at giving his team the lead.

I think through frustration, people fail to forget that Monty is a old school coach who don't believe in pushing rookies. He clearly knows who his best player is. Just wanna teach the game slow. He did say that before the season started. U can tell AD accepted it too.

[AD23nEG10]

Seriously just though look at our player's stats before this season.

We have Aminu, Lopez and GV starting who were on the bench not too long ago. Monty has took what he has and made it work as best as he can. Monty's known to develop players and he's done that greatly but how far can you push someone before hitting their ceiling?

great point. even Lee Nailon averaged 16 a game as a Hornet when the team was bad. Not the best example but just the idea that basically the points have to come from somewhere no matter how good or bad your team is. would Robin, GV or Aminu be starters on playoff teams this year or next? Maybe Robin, the other two no way.

[NemesisKING]

Talent poverty.

Tanking makes us eligible for talent welfare. I'll take the Ben Mclemore money right now.

[Eazy-P]

That timeout that monty called on the fast break that was a one-handed jam by Davis cemented my view of Monty's lack of coaching know-how. Sure he can coach players in practice, but during the game he makes some bone-headed decisions.

I was like what the hell is he doing. That was so dumb. He is so stuck in his ways it hurting the team. I understand he wanted a TO but in that situation you just let the play and Get the easy 2 points. Luckily they scored after the timeout but it was still was a bad decision by Monty, it could have easily been 2 points taken off the board.

[bradael]

I realize it could be seen as symantics, but I don't consider this team as having a lack of talent. I see it as a lack of experience. I don't see it as a lack of talent because I believe a majority of franchises out there would switch positions with the Hornets if given the opportunity. You don't win Championships in the NBA due to depth. You win games in the regular season, but during the playoffs you shorten your rotation and there are no back to back games.

You win Championships in the NBA due to your two to three best players. Anthony Davis could easily be a top 10 player next year and top 5 by the year after, if not better. Eric Gordon has shown he can be a top 5 SG, although there are still issues with his injury history. Then add Ryan Anderson to that group. This doesn't even consider Austin Rivers's potential or whoever they draft this year. If Davis, Gordon, and Anderson play to their potential... this is a Title contender in a few years.

As for Lopez and Vasquez... I think they are stop-gaps. There's a reason Lopez's contract isn't guaranteed. I think he's traded once Davis is ready to take over the starting Center position. It could even be as early as this off-season considering Lopez's trade value may not ever be higher. I think Vasquez is gone too when Rivers is ready and/or depending who they draft this year.

It's the second youngest team in the league and that's mainly because they have veterans deep on the bench that bring up that average up. This team doesn't lack talent, they lack experience.

Shoot... even with Durant and Westbrook... the Thunder finished 23-59.

[NemesisKING]

I realize it could be seen as symantics, but I don't consider this team as having a lack of talent. I see it as a lack of experience. I don't see it as a lack of talent because I believe a majority of franchises out there would switch positions with the Hornets if given the opportunity. You don't win Championships in the NBA due to depth. You win games in the regular season, but during the playoffs you shorten your rotation and there are no back to back games.

You win Championships in the NBA due to your two to three best players. Anthony Davis could easily be a top 10 player next year and top 5 by the year after, if not better. Eric Gordon has shown he can be a top 5 SG, although there are still issues with his injury history. Then add Ryan Anderson to that group. This doesn't even consider Austin Rivers's potential or whoever they draft this year. If Davis, Gordon, and Anderson play to their potential... this is a Title contender in a few years.

As for Lopez and Vasquez... I think they are stop-gaps. There's a reason Lopez's contract isn't guaranteed. I think he's traded once Davis is ready to take over the starting Center position. It could even be as early as this off-season considering Lopez's trade value may not ever be higher. I think Vasquez is gone too when Rivers is ready and/or depending who they draft this year.

It's the second youngest team in the league and that's mainly because they have veterans deep on the bench that bring up that average up. This team doesn't lack talent, they lack experience.

Shoot... even with Durant and Westbrook... the Thunder finished 23-59.

I think people are referring to the supporting players. And i don't think it's your 2-3 best players who help you win championships, they help you get into the playoffs and possibly contend for tittles, but it's those other guys that make up the majority of your roster that win you those championships.

Davis, Anderson,Rivers, Gordon(as a player or trade piece) and i add Aminu too, that is your core on this current team. 4 of the 5 play the same position. You need more talent, wether you trade Eric Gordon or not. The draft will give you one more guy.

You have a lot of guys that you have to find and put together to support those guys.

[james_k_p]

Ok, I'll try to talk myself into supporting Monty.

He MUST be trying to tank. I, and many here, have really noticed how bad his decisions has been in the last month or 2. I was a supporter until how bad a job he's been doing as of recently, unless he's doing the tank tank again.

So if he is tanking, he might not be that boneheaded after all, just doesn't want to win meaningless games without being totally obvious.

Ok, let's all laugh together now. LOL

Oh, and let me rant....ENOUGH of forcing the ball to EG. Draw up a play, or since Monty sucks at it, let an assistant draw up something, for RYNO! When he was out go-to guy earlier in the season...things didn't end so ugly. Ok, glad to get that off my chest.

[Inner_GI]

Ok, I'll try to talk myself into supporting Monty.

He MUST be trying to tank. I, and many here, have really noticed how bad his decisions has been in the last month or 2. I was a supporter until how bad a job he's been doing as of recently, unless he's doing the tank tank again.

So if he is tanking, he might not be that boneheaded after all, just doesn't want to win meaningless games without being totally obvious.

Ok, let's all laugh together now. LOL

Oh, and let me rant....ENOUGH of forcing the ball to EG. Draw up a play, or since Monty sucks at it, let an assistant draw up something, for RYNO! When he was out go-to guy earlier in the season...things didn't end so ugly. Ok, glad to get that off my chest.

This is why a lot of people question whether Ryan is a core piece. He can easily be neutralized by opposing teams, and in a 7 game series, you can't expect him to have more than 2 great games. I love Ryno, and he has shown some other pieces to his game that will make him harder to shut down, but a smaller SF type easily makes him a non-factor on offense.