Hornets vs Hawks (10/30/2015)

Another day! Another game. Tonight the Hornets visited the Atlanta Hawks, the so-called “Spurs East” and their all powerful coach Mike Budenholzer. What transpired, my bullet points shall tell. With Jeremy Lamb returning to a usable level of ankle stability, the Hornets saw some small changes in the lineup when compared with Game 1. Through the course of the game, the Hornets did show some solid fight as they struggled through and made it a game late in the 4th quarter, with a last second three just missing. Assorted thoughts:

• It was great listening to the Hornet’s new television broadcast crew. I had zero problems with last year’s play by play man Steve Martin, but Eric Collins did what a play by play guys is supposed to: act excited, and ask leading questions for the color analysts. Certainly acceptable. Stephanie Ready was due for a more important role with the team, and she really showed solid knowledge and timing. She and Dell Curry will have to work on their rapport with each other, but they should be solid together, both bringing a unique perspective.
• Shooting: This may be a subject that we talk about 82 times this season. I WILL be keeping an eye on the 3pt percentage throughout the year, and the number of threes that we are shooting. For the game, the Hornets shot 30 threes, and hit 12 of them. That is a totally acceptable number!
• As much as there are arguments against Marvin Williams playing minutes at the four, you can see why he is on the floor. He gets a lot of open looks in the Hornets offense by sliding out to the perimeter around pick and rolls, and he rewarded Coach Clifford tonight with 13 pts (3 3’s) and 11 rebounds.
• Batum: He looked awesome early in this game. He stole the opening tip for a bucket plus the foul, then continued to play aggressively in the first quarter. He did not look great for much of the rest of the game, and finished with 7 turnovers.
• Lamb: Jeremy Lamb was the 2nd quarter Batum. 8 points on three straight possessions! he scored once in the 4th, but I am sure he will be worked more regularly into the rotation as his ankle gets healthier.
• Zeller: He was bad tonight. When Cody isn’t effective on the boards, and when his jumper isn’t falling...
• TURNOVERS! The Hawks some some excellent defenders, and they were aggressive in this game. Additionally, the Hornets kept getting trapped in corners, or stuck without a dribble in poor spots, it was really an ugly passing game. The team finished with 18 total turnovers.
• BIG OPINION: This is game 2 of 82. Lets all calm down a little bit. The Hawks and Heat are top 4 teams in the East this year, so we can't freak out when we lose to teams like that. We have mistakes to fix, but this isn't hair-pulling bad yet.

This game was in reach until the end of the 3rd quarter. The Hornets of last year were a team who went through large scoring slumps, and they fell into that trap tonight. Coach Cliff will have to keep finding a way to manufacture offense in those periods. On the other end, our defense is hopefully still in the throes of birth. These guys should work better together as the season goes on, and can be a little more prompt on rotations. On to the Home Opener on Sunday!

Hornets vs Heat (10/28/2015)

There is something inviting about fall. Consider the forest. In the spring and the summer, the forest is full of life and growth and noise. There are brambles and nettles and hordes of mosquitoes, squirrels and birds make their raucous calls to their brethren, and the heat of the day pounds through the canopy above you. Then comes the fall and all of those things still. The forest becomes a place of peace. The brambles and nettles are dead, the animals are retreating towards their winter homes, and the sun has released the world into a gentle cool. You can walk unmolested in the woods (Unless you look like a deer. Wear some orange) and simply exist without interruption.

Then the peace of fall is startled by the full throated call of the NBA! It appears, running through the shadows like Cody Zeller on a full court break to the rim!

Game one of an NBA season is such an exciting time. The players are new, the fans feel renewed, and the record is pristine. No heartbreak has happened (cough MKG cough) and we can imagine our Hornets slipping into the #7 or #8 spot in the playoffs. It may unfold!

GAME 1 Notes

• Al Jefferson can still score. He had 13 in the 1st quarter, and finished the game with 17 after a very slow second half. In fact, as the Hornets went into catch up mode in the 4th quarter, Marvin Williams and Cody Zeller shared the floor for much of that time.
• Shooting: Not as good as we had hoped...The Hornets shot 6 for 24 from three point range. That percentage is not going to cut it, especially when the opposition hit twice as many threes at a 60% clip.
• Defensively, the Hornets were kind of terrible, but not wretched. They definitely miss a rim protector. There is not intimidating presence at the rim, and the Heat scored inside quite a bit. 40 of their 104 points were scored inside the paint. While this is less than the Hornets, the Heat do not have a post up threat like big Al. Their paint points came from penetration and lobs.
• The Heat have a great bench. Gerald Green is the perfect 6th man, and Josh McRoberts only makes that second unit hum smoother. They will win a lot of games in the East, and in the league as a whole.
• Nic Batum guarded Dwayne Wade for the majority of the 2nd half, and did a reasonable job. It is excellent to see Batum already assuming that responsibility.

As the season goes on, I will do my best to incorporate some advanced statistics, perhaps some more storytelling techniques, and of course some gimmicks to keep you internet wolves satisfied.