This year we’re hoping if we all gather in one place and force our collective will on David Stern, we’ll cause the exact same thing to happen again! Our friends over at Tracey’s in the Irish Channel have offered to host the official Bourbon Street Shots NBA Draft Lottery Party.

Details

What: The Official Bourbon Street Shots NBA Draft Lottery Party

Where: Tracey’s Bar & Restaurant. Located at Located on the corner of Magazine and Third St

When: Tuesday, May 21st. The lottery starts at 7:30 pm central but most writers will be there earlier to talk some hoops

Specials: Tracey’s has graciously offered us drink specials on Abita beer and Sailor Jerry rum. There will also be 50 cent wings!

It’s always fun to put a face to the username so come talk Pelicans basketball, watch the lottery and celebrate the anniversary of the franchise’s turning point! If you plan to attend, be sure to let us know on Facebook!

Added:

Who: People of all ages. The drink specials don’t mean the future of America can’t enjoy the future of the Pelicans.

Why: Because it’s about time people start publicly displaying their affection for the team . . . and wings . . . and Tracey’s is cool.

Then, we talk Eric Gordon’s injury. Sound off! 504-322-3333.

Enjoy the Podcast!

We’ll tell you what you need to do with links, etc. below, but for now, just read and enjoy.

As our readers know, we were on the name change situation from before the start of the Benson era. As our readers may not know, we started bandying names about immediately, already having the short list of team names (Pelicans was on it). After a year of deliberation, we wound up here.

Some will love the name, some not, many won’t care, but here’s some background if you care. Early on, we got some advice to not include the team name in the title. This gives brand independence that cuts both ways . . . it’s clear we are not a part of the team and not treading on their intellectual property, but it may not be clear that we are dedicated to covering the New Orleans Pelicans. Well, the content makes that clear to readers and search engines, so that sort of solves the issue. Also, there were a number of names that were preferable. Some of them cost $50,000 or more, though. Getting a new, complete brand is tough (people pay BIG bucks for that). Trust us, we know. (More on this at SLAM).

Regardless, this is where we are, and this is where we will stay.

With the rebrand here, much will stay familiar. All the writers are still here. All the articles are still here. All your bookmarks will work. Old links to your favorite stories, they’ll just redirect. (Still, you should update your bookmarks, etc. in case we ever let the old domain lapse.) The twitter has updated to @BourbonStShots, so if you were following before, then all is well. If not, go ahead and follow. We’ll still provide all the posts you love and all the posts of mine, too.

Just like we got better over the last year with the site redesign and adding writers and reader-submitted posts, we’ll continue to add quality to this community in ways that you can probably guess and in some ways you almost certainly can’t.

We’re very excited.

Thanks for sticking with us, giving us a chance, and giving us all of those second chances we’ve needed along the way.

We’ll be tweaking things this weekend (and maybe past that), so please excuse our progress.

Now, how about them Pelicans?!?!

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that guard Eric Gordon underwent a successful arthroscopic procedure yesterday in his left ankle to alleviate pain caused by particles of scar tissue. The procedure was performed by Dr. Richard Ferkel of the Kerlan-Jobe Clinic in Los Angeles, CA.

Gordon is currently recovering from the procedure and will begin rehabilitation immediately while returning to basketball activities later in the summer.

What follows are very brief reactions and opinions from Jason and I.

Mason Ginsberg: I’m still not sure how to feel about this. On one hand, this injury helps to explain Gordon’s lackluster 2012-13 season. On the other hand, add this procedure to the list of Eric Gordon maladies. It’s certainly nice to see the team’s most expensive player toughing out games despite the ankle pain, and hopefully him being allowed to play means doing so wouldn’t make the injury worse. It will be interesting to see how, if the team looks to move him this summer, other teams react to the injury. Do they respect Gordon’s drive to play even with this lingering issue? Or does it scare teams away even more as a result of his prior injury history? Only time will tell.

Jason Calmes: While Eric Gordon has taken inordinately long to recover from arthroscopic surgery on his knee, I am, perhaps incorrectly, not too worried about this injury to his left ankle. We had some information about this earlier, as tweeted out by his family, yet he continued to play and to play well. He even upped his output level (slightly) we he played in his first back-to-back in over a year near the season’s end. Plus, he has not injured either ankle in his professional career, so this should not aggravated some linger condition or residual damage, though the team did say that it was to remove scar tissue, so something may be smoldering. It does raise more questions about his overall durability.

Overall, this seems to be handled much better than the last . . . matter . . . and it seems less serious. Time will, of course, tell.

About The Dohertys
The new annual awards show honoring moments and characters from each season. Named after the founder of Hornets247, Niall Doherty.

Without further ado…The Dohertys!

The Sweet Boy Award: LANCE THOMAS

Photo from Lyons Yellin

We’re not sure what Lance Thomas did for his boo on Valentine’s Day, but we know what he did for Hornets fans who showed up to the McDonalds on Canal Street between 7:00 and 8:00p with a ticket stub from the previous night’s game. He purchased them each a bag of french fries (17% of your daily fat allowance) after he “ruined” the “Free Fries when the Hornets score 100 points” promotion the night before. The game was over (one of the Hornets’ 27 victories), but the fans reacted quite negatively to the whole “gotta buy your own fries” thing. Lance felt bad and well, he purchased everyone fries. That’s a sweet boy move right there.

Runner-up: Robin Lopez (because of this)

The Road Dog Award: AL-FAROUQ AMINU

What do you value most in a road trip partner? Intelligent conversation (What do you think happens when you die?), playful chatter (Which finger would you assign the most strength to if you had 15 units of strength to distribute and no finger could have more than 5 units?) or complete silence? Most here in the Hornets247 office prefer the latter so the runaway winner for The Road Dog Award is the “backup small forward of the future”. Or “future San Antonio All-Star”. Or “the better Julian Wright”. Guess it depends on who you ask. Just don’t ask him.

Runner-up: Robin Lopez (you can ask him questions about twins and since he’s from Stanford he’ll probably be pretty polite)

The Smith-Birdman Memorial Award: CHRIS PAUL

Which former Hornet had the most annoying season? Easy, that’s the former savior of Crescent City Hoops, Chris Paul. But good news, optimists, he’ll have the most amazing season next year when he comes back to the Big Easy. We won’t tell him he won this award though, just like we won’t tell him how most of us are still on the Memphis bandwagon.

Runner-up: Jannero Pargo (because he’s still in the league)

Performance of the Year RYAN ANDERSON – November 23rd, 2012

The team added a loss to their statsheet but Ryno was good for 34 points, including 8 from downtown.

Runner-up: Robin Lopez (29 points, ten shots, one turnover – according to Mason Ginsberg, no center has done that since Tim Duncan in 2001)

Chime in on the comments below – what do you think was the Performance of the Year?

Runner-Up of the Year: ROBIN LOPEZ

It’s the least we could do, Robin. Love your instagram.

Runner-up: Robin Lopez

The Dohertys were compiled and edited by staff columnist Chris Trew with input from the Hornets247 staff. Follow Chris on Twitter here and Hornets247 here.

Seriously – if you will only ever listen to In the NO once, listen to this one.

Will CP3 return? Sound off! 504-322-3333.

Enjoy the Podcast!

When: Today (April 30th) 6:00pm CDT

How to Join: Dial 1-877-229-8493 and enter pin 16182 to join the live conference call at any time.

Updates (courtesy of 42):

Players

• Monty is not unhappy with any players. He was pleased with the team laying the foundation, but they need to add talent so they can have long-term success.
• I missed a Gordon question and will try to get this from another listener . . . It seems like they said everything is fine and everyone gets along.
• Rivers is viewed as a dynamic player. He’s working with his left hand per a conversation with Rivers a couple of days ago. He can play point at times and can give a different look. His speed is attractive.
• Offseason strengthening and conditioning is a big deal, especially for the younger players. Monty praised Carlos Daniel highly.
• Responding to questions about the defensive identity they are going for, he mentioned adding speed. He noted that they are top 15 in offensive efficiency, but he’s emphasizing that they will work on this in the offseason. The defense leads to offense is repeated. Speed is a theme.
• They are thrilled with Roberts. They like that he took a chance to come earn non-guaranteed money rather than guaranteed money in Europe (see here). He’s a good learner, and really improved on defense.
• Monty likes that his married players set an example of responsibility to the younger players on the team.
• Monty would like to have Anderson and Davis on the floor together more, but he has to protect Davis from the larger centers. So, this may happen more as Davis physically grows.

Offseason Moves

• Sounds like Pellisier got a question in . . . how do they select players in the draft or free agency . . . fit or best players? Dell’s answer seems like they are going after some free agents but was vague on the process other than that they work together. Monty helped convince Anderson this was the place to be, so the entire product has to be attractive to attract free agents.
• $13m-$14m in cap space to use, ballpark. Can get creative and change that.
• The Practice Facility has a hard to quantify effect on attracting free agency, but it has an effect when they are going to work at a state-of-the-art facility, which will also be the only one that shares its site with an NFL team.
• Bringing in veterans is a priority this coming season.
• Dell feels the talent in Europe is “coming back.” He feels they are actually better in the younger groups of players because of the different system and earlier starts and different paths to pro careers.
• Monty laughed when reminded that he mentioned that opposing players tell him to not forget about them in the offseason on the way to discussing how attractive New Orleans is to free agents. He says the ownership being “all in” and the franchise’s assets improving makes a difference, but it may take a while longer for them to be taken seriously.

Business

• Some Pelicans staff are in the office portion of the new practice facility.
• “Logo” sales are high, and ticket renewals are higher than they’ve ever been. They should surpass last year’s totals soon.
• Fans will have input in many aspects of the rebrand such as mascot, dance team, nicknames, chants, and more. June, July. A survey is coming out about the in-Arena experience. They use fan comments and secret shoppers.
• Got mine in: Actively in the market for naming rights and pursuing them with multiple companies. Champions Square may get more use and more development to the structure. The food court got a good deal of talk.
• There are no plans for a D-League team to be owned by the Pelicans organization.

Other

• There will be changes to replay, but it’s not always clear what those change would be. They look at plays a often and give feedback to teams when they miss calls.
• Apparently, only a few states have shot clocks in high school. Not news for those in such states, but I thought it interesting.
• The team is working with youth programs all summer. They invite people to call the team and put them to use.

Check out Mason’s twitter for his take, or if you like twitter better . . . or if you just like Mason better.

UPDATE (5/1/13 at 10 AM): The Pelicans have posted audio of the entire call on the team’s website which you can listen to here.

42 Sense

This was great. It was well done, organized, professional, and candid. They answered all questions openly, hedging only where it was clear that they’d be tipping their hand.

Again, kudos to Mr. Benson, Mr. Lauscha and more. I always considered Team Benson to be the safe pick, but I am truly and deeply impressed by how this thing is being run. It’s not perfect, but . . . wow . . . what a difference.

Give us a call to sound off! 504-322-3333.

Enjoy the Podcast!

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Ben McLemore, G, Kansas and Andre Iguodala, G/F, Denver Nuggets

People often say that if we take McLemore that we have to trade Eric Gordon. I go the other way. Not only should we keep Gordon, but we should add another guy who has primarily played shooting guard this season in Andre Iguodala. The fact is that Eric Gordon played a lot of point guard on both ends at the end of the season this year and looked fairly good doing it. He is best in the pick and roll and Andre Iguodala was 4th amongst all non-PG’s in assists this year behind only Lebron, Kobe, and James Harden. In fact, when Ty Lawson went down for an eight game stretch, Iguodala played nearly half of his minutes at point guard. Gordon and Iguodala can share the playmaking responsibilities while McLemore and Ryno give the team two elite spot-up shooters and Anthony Davis has a field day in a lane that should be wide open.

On the defensive end, the perimeter trio would give the Pelicans plenty of length and athleticism, along with the versatility to defend based on matchups. McLemore and Iguodala are both good rebounders, turnover creators, and shot blockers for their position, making up for areas where Gordon’s game is severely lacking. They also give the Pelicans two guys who can get out and finish on the break, which could make this an elite transition offense with Anthony Davis rim running and Ryan Anderson spotting up in transition. The bottom line is that a Gordon-McLemore-Iggy-Anderson-Davis unit could be devastating on both ends of the court.

Otto Porter, F, Georgetown and Eric Bledsoe, G, Los Angeles Clippers

The big worry with Eric Bledsoe is that he can not run an offense full-time like a traditional, ball dominant point guard. With Porter and Eric Gordon on the wings, he won’t have to. Georgetown ran a lot of offense through Porter, and not only was he able to create for himself and others, but he was able to keep his turnovers down as well despite his high usage rate. Porter is fantastic coming off the pick and roll or passing out of the high post, which matches up perfectly with Bledsoe, who was at his best in the half court this season on cuts. Porter played in the Princeton offense at Georgetown, which is a system predicated on back door cuts and lobs. With Eric Bledsoe and Antony Davis on the roster, Porter’s passing skills could make him a 4-5 assist guy on this team from day one.

On the defensive end, Porter and Bledsoe would give the Pelicans the length and rebounding ability that Eric Gordon sorely lacks. Although Bledsoe only measures out at 6’1.5″, his brute strength, freakish athleticism, and 6’8″ wingspan allows him to cover both backcourt positions. Meanwhile, Porter stands 6’9″ with nearly a seven-foot wingspan and has the quickness and intelligence to be a fantastic help defender on the perimeter. His defensive rebounding is phoenominal as well, as evidenced by the fact that his 19.0% defensive rebound rate was better than some of the elite big men prospects in this draft. Combined, those two could lock down the perimeter while simoultaneously helping Anthony Davis control the glass.

Victor Oladipo, G, Indiana and JJ Redick, G, Milwaukee Bucks

How’s this for a strange combo?  Again, I recommend two shooting guards to pair with Eric Gordon, but as I have said in the past- positions are dead, it’s all about skill sets. Victor Oladipo is an incredibly efficient offensive player, but that is in large part due to the fact that he knows his limits and he does not try to push the envelope. He is still limited offensively, although his recent growth gives plenty of reason to be optimistic. Like Eric Bledsoe, he is a terrific slasher in the halfcourt and a very good shooter when he can get his feet set. To help spread the floor for Oladipo’s drives, and to help Eric Gordon distribute, the Pelicans should bring in JJ Redick, a fantastic three-point shooter who is also averaging four assists per game this year.

Defensively, Oladipo can defend positions 1-3, while Eric Gordon can cover both guard positions. Despite his reputation coming out of college, Redick has actually turned himself into an above average defender, and he wouldn’t be asked to do much in this situation, as Monty can simply place him on the team’s worst perimeter scorer. Redick also would give the Pelicans an intelligent team leader to direct this young unit. He was beloved in Orlando for his unslfishness and candor with young players, and adding him and Oladipo to this team could help change the culture of the franchise overnight.

Trey Burke, G, Michigan and JJ Hickson, F/C, Portland Trailblazers

Offensively, Trey Burke loves to play in the pick and roll and he loves to throw the lob pass. JJ Hickson, along with Anthony Davis, give him two incredible options to do both of this things with on a regular basis. Like Davis, Hickson can slip the screen, roll hard to the basket, or pop out to 17 feet, which would allow Burke to have a multitude of options will running the pick and roll in the half court. Hickson and Davis would also provide the Pelicans with one of the fastest frontcourts in the NBA, allowing Burke to get out into transition, where he is incredibly dangerous. Burke is also a good spot-up shooter with deep range, which would allow him to play off the ball when Gordon is in the pick and roll with those two, properly spacing the court for the Pelicans.

Defensively, a Hickson/Davis combo would be incredibly long and would dominate the defensive glass, which is what you need if Eric Gordon and Trey Burke are your starting backcourt. Hickson was sixth in the NBA last season with a defensive rebound rate of 28.5%, and Davis was a monster on the glass despite being just 220 pounds in his rookie year. Projecting forward, it wouldn’t be a surprise to anybody if this became the best defensive rebounding duo in the league if they were to join forces. Hickson and Davis both have the versatility to defend and contest on the perimeter as well, a skill that cannot be underestimated in this new NBA where we see more and more teams going with small ball lineups. Both of these guys can play with Ryan Anderson as well, who can stick to being a dangerous scorer off the bench who finishes games. Add a sharpshooting small forward like Martell Webster to that team, and you have a possible championship core that will terrorize opposing defenses and control the defensive glass.

Nerlens Noel, F/C, Kentucky and Brandon Jennings, G, Milwaukee Bucks

Nerlens Noel and Anthony Davis are two guys that can impact a game without ever having a play called for them on the offensive end, which is great for Brandon Jennings because he likes calling plays for himself. Noel took just under seven shots per game in his freshman year, scoring mostly off of lobs and offensive putbacks. Jennings, meanwhile, is a very good spot-up shooter who can create for himself, but struggles with finishing around the rim. Enter Anthony Davis and Nerlens Noel, two of the most gifted offensive rebounders to enter the draft in the last five years. Much like Derrick Rose did in Chicago, Jennings can break down the defense and get to the rim at will. If he makes the shot, great. If not, Davis and Noel will clean it up like Boozer and Noah do in Chi-town. Also, Noel is a terrific passer for a big man, which would allow the Pelicans to run the offense through him at times, and that would mean that Jennings could play off the ball.

Defensively, a combination of Noel and Davis locking down the paint and flying out to shooters on the perimeter would allow Jennings to be ultra aggressive when he pressures the ball. Jennings is a guy that likes to pick up his man at half court and his quick hands result in a lot of steals. Davis and Noel also would give the Pelicans the ability to trap almost every pick and roll, as one big would trap with the guard and the other could lock down the paint. Once they put on weight and adapt to the NBA game, a Noel and Davis frontcourt would be terrifying on defense, and Jennings would benefit from the tipped passes and smaller passing lanes that those two would create. Throw in another athletic wing who could stretch the defense like Chase Budinger, and you would have the makings of one of the longest, quickest, and most fun to watch teams in the NBA.

Shabazz Muhammad, G/F, UCLA and Nikola Pekovic, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

As I wrote in my Shabazz profile a few weeks ago, Muhammad loves to come off of screens in the halfcourt. What better player to set those screens that Juggernaut himself, Nikola Pekovic? Imagine an offense that has Gordon up top with Davis in the pick and roll, Vasquez spotting up, and Shabazz coming off a screen on the weakside set by Pekovic. Then, even if somebody happens to miss, you have three elite offensive rebounders in Davis, Pekovic, and Muhammad to crash the boards. Not to mention that Pekovic was fantastic in the pick and roll this year as well, where he averaged 1.23 ppp as the roll man and shot over 62% in those situations. And when Davis comes out and Anderson comes in, the unit gets even more spacing, which allows Muhammad and Pekovic to post-up and score if they are not double teamed or kick it out to shooters if teams clamp down.

On the defensive end, a Muhammad-Davis-Pekovic frontcourt gives you everything that you need. Pekovic is a very good post defender, which allows Davis to roam and rack up steals and weakside blocks. Meanwhile, Muhammad is a very good on-ball defender and his inability to rebound or block shots is masked by Davis and Pekovic. Muhammad and Davis are both incredibly long and have the ability to get out to shooters on rotations, while Pekovic provides a brute in the paint that will discourage wings from attacking hard. If you can somehow add a point guard like Eric Bledoe, who can help Davis and Pekovic on the boards while also racking up blocks and steals, you would have a young foundation in place that could one day be labeled a dynasty.

The Missing Piece is a weekly feature that you can find every Saturday only on Hornets247.com For past articles in the series, click here. 

So, in order to try and predict the future, let’s take a glance into the past and see just how similar (or different) these two situations truly are.

The Teams

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers were a young team with a talented nucleus that included Danny Granger, Tyler Hansborough, Roy Hibbert, and the recently drafted Paul George. They didn’t own any future picks other than their own and the veterans on their roster didn’t really hold any trade value. Their young players did, but trading one young guy for another would have been counterproductive to their plan. In several ways they are similar to the New Orleans Pelicans in that the players that have the most value are likely off the table with regard to the Bledsoe trade. In other ways, however, there are differences, as the Pelicans have young productive players in Robin Lopez and Greivis Vasquez who are on great contracts.

New Orleans Hornets

The Hornets were in ‘win-now’ mode, as franchise cornerstones David West and Chris Paul were two summers away from becoming unrestricted free agents. They had a new coach and a new GM, desperate to try and avoid what everybody saw coming, and instead they tried to meet Chris Paul’s request of building a championship contender around him. The front court was solid, with David West and Emeka Okafor patrolling the paint, but New Orleans had absolutely nothing on the wing outside of a steadily decling Peja,a defensive black hole in Marcus Thornton, an unknown in Marco Belinelli, a rookie in Quincy Pondexter, and an overweight, unproductive player in James Posey. They were desperate for a wing who could provide the defense that Monty Williams philosophy was built around, and a guy who could knock down the open trey when CP3 kicked it out.

In some ways the Clippers and the Hornets are similar, but in more ways they are different. The Hornets had a two year window, while the Clippers figure to have CP3 and Blake locked up for 5 more years starting this summer. That is their window. The Clippers also reside in a larger market and are probably more likely to pay the luxury tax if it came to that, and as much as I joke about Vinny Del Negro, they do have some stability in the front office and at coach – at least more than the Hornets had at the time when they executed this trade.

The Trade

The Hornets traded Darren Collison and  the bloated contract of James Posey to the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, in return sent out the expiring contract of Troy Murphy to the New Jersey Nets. The Nets sent Courtney Lee to the Rockets, who completed the puzzle by sending Trevor Ariza to the New Orleans Hornets. The fact that this was a multi-team trade gives us multiple things to look at. First, there is a difference between what the team who landed the young point guard (Indiana) gave up and what the team who traded him (New Orleans) received. Indiana did not have the ‘win now’ young wing veteran that the Hornets sought out, but by taking on a bad salary and finding other teams to get the Hornets what they wanted, they got their young guard without giving up any significant pieces of their young core.

The Players

Production

Darren Collison’s rookie year was a tale of two seasons. As a reserve, he really struggled finding his role on the Hornets second unit. In his 39 games off the bench, he averaged just 6.4 points and 2.5 assists, shooting 45% with an assist to turnover ratio of 2:1. In the 37 games he started when CP3 went down, however, he was fantastic, averaging 18.8 points and 9.1 assists per game. He shot nearly 49% from the field and 43% from three, and posted an assist to turnover ratio of nearly 3:1. The more minutes he played, the better he produced, as evidenced by his rediculous numbers when he got 40+ minutes: 21.4 points, 10 assists, 52% from the field, 41% from three. While the stats look great, there was one problem – the Hornets were not winning. They went 14-23 with him as a starter and many feared that his numbers were more of a result of Byron Scott’s point guard friendly system than anything Collison was doing in particular.

Eric Bledsoe, meanwhile, has more data to pore through, but he has only started one more game in his first three seasons than Collison did in his rookie year. In his rookie year, Bledsoe started 25 games and put up some solid numbers, averaging 9 points, 6 assists, and nearly 4 rebounds while shooting close to 45% from the floor. After his rookie year, Chris Paul was brought in and Bledsoe has only started 13 games since, twelve of which came this year when CP3 went down with a knee injury. In those games, Bledsoe put up some fantastic numbers defensively, and led the Clippers to a respectable 7-6 record without their superstar. Bledsoe put up 14, 5, and 5 as a starter with 2.5 steals and 1.3 blocks a game. The points and assists are admittedly pedestrian for a point guard, but if Bledsoe put up those same numbers throughout the season, he would be 1st in the NBA in steals, 1st amongst guards in blocks (by a WIDE margain), and 2nd amongst all guards in rebounds per game (1st amongst PG’s).

The one area where we can not compare the players is in their playoff production. Collison’s Hornets did not reach the playoffs in his rookie year. Meanwhile, Bledsoe is a key cog in the Clippers playoff run for the second consecutive year. Last year in the playoffs, he posted a PER of 22.2 over 11 games, as he attacked with great efficiency and was a nightmare for opposing teams on the other end. Despite playing just 17 minutes per game in the playoffs, he was second on the team in steals and third in clocks. He also shot a team high 59% from the field and had the second best defensive rating on the team. This year, he has picked up right where he left off, averaging 12.5 points (on 78% shooting) and 5 rebounds in just 16 minutes per game as the Clippers second unit has been one of the biggest reasons the Clippers lead their current series 2-0.

Advantage: Bledsoe

Contract

Darren Collison still had 3 years and just $5.1 million total on his deal when he was sent to the Pacers. He would then become a restricted free agent with a qualifying offer of just $3.4 million. Basically the Pacers were getting a starting point guard who was getting paid like a 10th man. Eric Bledsoe is locked in for $2.6 million next season, but then becomes a restricted free agent with a qualifying offer of $3.7 million. Whatever team Bledsoe is on this summer can negotiate an extension with him that will kick in during the 2014-15 season. If you project that Bledsoe will get something similar to what Jrue Holliday got this past summer, you could be looking at paying Bledsoe a total of 40-48 million dollars over the next five seasons.

Advantage: Collison

Upside

At the time of the trade, Collison was just two weeks shy of his 23rd birthday. Eric Bledsoe turned 23 six months ago. Collison had just one season in the NBA, but played for four years at UCLA, while Bledsoe has three years under his belt in the NBA after having playing just one season at Kentucky. Bledsoe is really just learning how to run a team, while Collison had plenty of experience by the time he was traded to the Pacers. Essentially, Darren Collison came into the league and was already close to his ceiling, while Bledsoe was as raw as they come, and has been slowly adding subtle nuances to his explosive game each and every season. Collison was a cat quick guard in transition with the ability to beat the other guys down the floor on a consistent basis, but Eric Bledsoe is that same guy plus 20 pounds of muscle, better agility, and more vertical explosiveness. There aren’t ten guys in this league with the combination of strength, speed, and explosiveness that Bledsoe possesses, which means that he can become an elite player if he can continue to refine his skills.

Advantage: Bledsoe

X-Factors

New CBA

Back when the Hornets were looking to move Collison, there was a completely different CBA in place. The penalty for going into the tax was on dollar for every dollar over. The new CBA went in place last year, and next season is when it really starts to get punative. It the prior CBA, the Clippers could have entertained the thought of keeping Eric Bledsoe and paying him 9-11 million dollars a year to be their 4th best player, but not anymore. Bledsoe will be a restricted free agent next offseason, and after the Clippers re-sign Chris Paul, they will be committing close to $50 million per year to Paul, Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan alone. Signing Bledsoe to a big deal will put them in the luxury tax year after year, which would mean a double penalty because of the repeater tax. Because of the new CBA, it looks like keeping Bledsoe long term is just not an option for the Clippers, while the Hornets could have held onto Collison without being penalized financially.

2014 NBA Draft

GM’s view first-round picks as gold in this new era where the CBA restricts teams from spending up to and beyond the luxury tax. Not only are these guys on rookie scale contracts, but GM’s believe that with the way that restricted free agency works in the 5th season, you can essentially control a guy for the first 8-9 years of his career. If a first round pick is normally gold, then the depth and star power in this 2014 class could make a 2014 1st rounder double platinum. I’ve talked to two people in the league and asked them the same question, “If you were to make a Big Board with everybody from the 2013 draft class and everybody you expect to be in the 2014 draft class in it, how many guys from the 2014 class would be in the top 25?” One guy said 19, the other said 21. In essence, what that says is that you could theoretically get the same guy at 20 that you can get at 7 this year. Plus that class figures to have superstars at the top, while this one doesn’t. Bottom line is that 2014 pick, even if it is protected, could fetch you quite a bit in a trade.

The Market

You can try to gauge the intrinsic value of a player and project what trades might be on the table, but the fact of the matter is that a player is worth what a team can get for him. The more bidders, the more that the team trading the player can get for him. In 2010, there weren’t in many teams in dire need of a young point guard. Older teams who had the assets that the Hornets coveted weren’t going to give up those veteran players for a young guy who wasn’t going to get them over the hump immediately. Meanwhile, younger teams either had their point guard of the future, or didn’t have the veteran assets the Hornets wanted in a trade. Indiana was the clear favorite to land Collison from day one, with the Raptors also reportedly in the mix.

Now that it appears likely that Chris Paul will re-sign with the Clippers, and with Marcus Smart returning to school, there are several teams starving for a point guard for the future that the New Orleans Pelicans will likely have to contend with. The Magic, Jazz, and Mavericks figure to be the most aggressive in looking for a point guard this summer, and add Milwaukee and Atlanta to the list if they lose their point guards to free agency. The Celtics also showed interest in the past and could be a factor again if they are willing to move either Avery Bradley or Rajon Rondo in a deal. Detroit, Sacramento, and Charlotte are all darkhorses as well. Expect there to be more of a bidding war for Bledsoe than there was for Collison.

Summary

For slightly different reasons, both the New Orleans Hornets in 2010 and the Los Angeles Clippers in 2013 have to trade Chris Paul’s young backup point guard. While Collison was locked into to a better contract, Eric Bledsoe clearly has the bigger upside  and there are more teams after him than there were after Collison in 2010. For those reasons, Eric Bledsoe should fetch more for the Clippers than Collison did for the Hornets. What the New Orleans Pelicans have to consider when pursuing Bledsoe is whether or not they think he is significantly better than other options they can pursue in free agency. Eventually, Bledsoe will get a contract similar to what Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans, and Jeff Teague will get this summer, but there is a chance that you can get those guys without giving up an asset. When you are a young team in a small market, trying to build a title contender, every asset matters. But if the Pelicans believe that he can be an elite player in this league, which he has shown that he can be in spurts, then you give up replaceable assets to get the type of player you don’t see on come onto the market very often. It all comes down to how you evaluate Bledsoe and what you project moving forward.

Possible Trades

(*All trades were approved by Clippers writers. Many were proposed, and these were the ones that they said they would at least strongly consider)

Two-Teamers

Lopez, Vasquez, and lottery protected future 1st for Bledsoe, Grant Hill, and Willie Green

The Pelicans will start off with just trying to give up Lopez and Vasquez, but you wouldn’t blame the Clippers for turning that down. Vasquez isn’t Chris Paul’s favorite player on the planet, and he doesn’t really fit what the Clippers do. Robin Lopez would be a huge upgrade for them as a third big, but not big enough to downgrade from Bledsoe to Vasquez. Expect the Pelicans to have to throw in a future protected first to start to tip the balance in this deal. Grant Hill and Willie Green are added to the trade to make salaries work, but expect Hill to retire after the season. Willie Green would be welcomed back with open arms by Monty.

Lopez and 2013 1st rounder for Eric Bledsoe and Grant Hill

If the Pelicans are slated to pick 6th, the Clippers might have some interest in adding another young, talented piece to the roster and if Dell doesn’t love anybody on the board, he might oblige. Shabazz Muhammad would fit in perfectly with the Clippers and LA wouldn’t have to pay him big money for another 4-5 years, making it a trade the Clippers would have to consider. Again, Hill is here just to make the salaries work.

Eric Bledsoe, 2013 1st rounder, and DeAndre Jordan for Ryan Anderson and Lance Thomas

Yeah, you read that correctly – I actually included Ryan Anderson in a possible trade. The Pelicans will not want to part with him, but when Dell calls, the Clippers will look up and down the roster and Ryan Anderson will be the guy that they ask about the most. The reason why LA’s offense stalls at times is because their bigs can’t stretch the floor. Blake Griffin and Ryan Anderson wouldn’t strike fear into teams on the defensive end, but that team might be unguardable on offense. Meanwhile, the Pelicans unclutter the power forward position and get their point guard of the future along with another pick. On top of that, they still have Lopez and Vasquez to move in other trades while having the ability to pair Jordan with Davis to give the Pelicans one of the longest and most athletic front courts in the league.

Multi-Teamers

Greivis Vasquez, Darius Miller, and 2014 top-10 protected 1st to Magic, Aaron Afflalo to Clippers, Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler to Pelicans

A lock down, defensive minded shooting guard who can knock down the three is exactly what the Clippers need next to Chris Paul in the backcourt. In this deal, they also get to unload Caron Butler’s contract as they go younger. Meanwhile, the Magic get their possible point guard of the future, a young wing, and another quality pick to add to their stash, while making their team worse for the loaded draft of 2014. The Pelicans lose some cap flexibility for this summer, but that space opens back up for the summer of 2014, where they can target any number of quality small forwards that will be on the market.

Robin Lopez and Wilson Chandler to the Clippers, Caron Butler and Eric Bledsoe to the Pelicans, Nuggets get Pelicans lottery protected 1st and Clippers 2013 1st rounder

The Nuggets are in an interesting position with their wing players. Both Andre Iguodala and Corey Brewer are free agents this summer and Evan Fournier is showing signs that he can start full-time next year. If they can get some picks for Wilson Chandler, they can use his money to re-sign Brewer and Iggy and avoid the luxury tax. And even if the picks are in the teens or 20′s, the Nuggets have shown the ability to get very solid players that late in the draft. Meanwhile, the Clippers get a very good wing to put next to Paul and Lopez as a third big. In this scenario, the Pelicans still have Vasquez as a trade chip and nearly $9 million in cap room this summer, plus their 2013 pick and in all likelihood, their 2014 pick as well since they likely wouldn’t make the playoffs.

Eric Gordon to Phoenix, Jared Dudley and Marcin Gortat to Clippers, Caron Butler, Eric Bledsoe, and picks to Pelicans

This is the blockbuster trade that could drastically change all three franchises. The Suns get the guy they wanted last year in Eric Gordon while the Clippers get two guys in who can help them win right now on reasonable contracts. The Pelicans get Bledsoe, unload Gordon, hold on to valuable assets in Lopez, Vasquez, and their draft picks, and even add a few picks. The Suns own Minnesota’s 2014 pick (lotto protected in 1st year, top-12 protected in future years) and the Lakers 2015 pick. Throw in one of those picks and the Clippers 2013 pick and there would be enough incentive to do this trade and move from the Gordon Era to the Bledsoe Era.

It’s time for the team to keep moving forward, and not just with a new name!
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Letting go of you was so hard to do
And I thought that it would kill me
But I made it through somehow
And I’m so much stronger now

– Warrant, Stronger Now (R.I.P. Jani Lane)

From the moment we knew the New Orleans Hornets would rebrand, we knew things would change for us here at Hornets247. It was pretty clear with the whole Hornets/Pelicans thing. Sure, we could go the Bullets Forever route, but that’s been done.

No, like with the Hornets, things must change here, and Hornets247 will no longer be name of this site in just a few days.

A few things about this.

First, we’re not going to announce the name. Or the time of the change. One day, you’ll use your bookmark or your search or whatever, and you’ll go to a new URL instead. All the old links, etc. will still work, but the URL will be rewritten. No biggie. The twitter will just change names, no issue, nothing to do on your part. We will tell you that the site is not Pelicans247, but that URL will work (it does now). Moreover, the name does not include Pelicans at all. Rather, the name focuses on New Orleans. Have some fun with some guesses in the meantime.

Second, we want to think everyone that made Hornets247 such a great site. First and last are, of course, the readers (pssst . . . that’s you!). A little something else goes out to those people who comment, since they add even more life to the site. Thousands of people from around the world read what’s going on each day here and have done so for a long time. It’s that dedication that keeps the site going, and it is for you that we are evolving into . . . oh, wait . . . evolving along with the franchise.

Third, this site is not just going to have a new name. We’re going to do our best to bring more and better content to you deserving fans . . . you’ve been through so much . . . . We hope to surprise you in a few ways this summer.

Lastly, let’s remember the good time we had here whether is wins or losses, Shinn or Benson, Lakers or Clippers, Paul or Davis. Remember Ron Hitley and Niall Doherty. Remember Ryan’s Survivor comparisons. Remember Queen Bee’s running commentary during the games. Remember the little parts of each day where total stranger who will likely never see each other know that so many people feel the way they do about an misfit franchise.

Remember all that and more, because one day, and you won’t know when, it’ll all be gone.

But not really.

I held you for a moment in my hands
The moment with you slipped away like sand through my fingers now
In front of me a choice I have to make
To carry on or simply fade away, I lose you either way

I’d like to say that it was easy, it was hard
To say goodbye, I thought that I would die

Letting go of you, was so hard to do
And I thought that it would kill me
But I made it through somehow
And I’m so much stronger now

I gave to you my love and my respect
But I could never make you love me back, I denied it so
I grew bitter watching you grow cold
My life became your prison, took it’s toll

I decided like a bird that’s trapped inside a gilded cage
It’s right to set it free, hurts to watch it fly away

Letting go of you, was so hard to do
And I thought that it would kill me
But I made it through somehow
And I’m so much stronger now, so much stronger now

Letting go of you, was so hard to do
And I thought that it would kill me
But I made it through somehow
And I’m so much stronger now
Oh I’m so much stronger now
Yes I’m so much stronger now

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hornets.com and nba.com/hornets now both point to nba.com/pelicans, along with pelicans.com, of course.

Here is the team’s press release:

Following last night’s final game of the 2012-13 season, the New Orleans Hornets officially took on the team’s new identity as the New Orleans Pelicans. The team will participate in its first NBA event as the Pelicans on May 21 at the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery.

The Pelicans launched their new website today, www.pelicans.com, as well as introducing a new presence in social media on Twitter (@pelicansnba), Facebook (Facebook.com/pelicansnba) and Instagram (@pelicansnba).

As the Pelicans introduce their new mascot, new uniforms and a new name and look for the dance team, fans will have the opportunity to be a part of the process and should stay tuned for more information on www.pelicans.com. Official Pelicans merchandise is also available on the team’s site.

“We have been looking forward to this day since we announced the Pelicans as the new name,” said Owner Tom Benson. “The Pelican is a symbol for our city and region and we’re excited to start a new era in Louisiana basketball history. This off-season is going to be a special time for the Pelicans.”

Benson announced on Jan. 24 that at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season, the name of the team will become the Pelicans, adopting an identity that will represent the culture and resolve of the Gulf Coast region while also symbolizing Louisiana’s most pressing initiative of coastal restoration and wildlife conservation. Benson introduced the team’s new logos, as well as color scheme, during the announcement.

The Pelicans’ colors are blue, gold and red. The team’s primary color, blue, is taken from Louisiana’s state flag. The Pelicans and Saints share the color gold, uniting the organizations, while celebrating the spirited life of New Orleans and its many celebrations (gold is also a commonly found color on the “crown” of the pelican). Red represents fraternity and is indicative of the blood provision of the mother pelican and the vibrant color underneath the pelican’s throat. All three colors are found on the flag of the City of New Orleans.

 

More information about the Pelicans’ logos and brand can be found HERE.

They wasted no time in getting started with this, and the changes were more and more visible as night turned to day turned to night. nba.com has updated the list of teams to New Orleans Pelicans, as well. There are a few remnants for them to clean up, but the degree of change to be done in the manner it was is pretty impressive. An example of an internal straggler is the E-newsletter page (the email address), and an external example, which they have less control over, is the Season Ticket Holder Account Manager site (the URL).

The team will be holding a Town Hall conference call on Tuesday, April 30th at 6:00 p.m. CDT (UTC -5) with Season Ticket Holders to tell them about the future of the franchise. Stay tuned.

They will also have a season-ending press conference Monday, April 22 at 11:00 a.m. CDT (UTC -5) with Mickey Loomis, Monty Williams, and Dell Demps.

Also, the team has lowered some ticket prices even further. There are now “Value” seats in The Balcony that are discounted by roughly 60% from the comparable balcony seats. These seats are, of course, the seats in higher row numbers, and the starting row is 7 to 15, depending. These go for just under $5 (end), just under $7 (corner), and just under $10 (side) per game. Benson is putting his money where is mouth is in trying to pack the Arena. Good job. I continue to be impressed by Benson’s team, led by Dennis Lauscha.

With the practice facility on track for preseason and Arena renovations on track, at least, the Pelicans still have many little things to do, but the only major off-the-court piece of the puzzle is Naming Rights for the New Orleans Arena.

Enjoy, New Orleans (and Pelicans nation!) . . . you earned this.

A connection to a basketball team is much more than just its players. It’s the brand, logo, colours and most of all it’s moments. This is why reflecting back on the Hornets memories is so nostalgic. It’s a connection we’ve had for a significant part of our lives and we don’t want to forget that.

While this list is subjective in nature, it is unique to every person. The intrinsic values of the fan and their life story will effect the perception of events in the past. With that, I take a look at what can be considered significant moments in the history of an iconic sports label, the Hornets.

5. Alonzo Mourning 20-footer to beat the Celtics

VIDEO

I personally don’t remember this moment but it still sticks out as probably the first time the Hornets had a “Sportscenter” moment in professional basketball. Mourning received a pass with 3 seconds left on the clock, dribbled right and with the Celtics confused defensively drained the 20-foot jumpshot to win the game 104-103.

Mourning was humble in his view of the shot saying, “To tell you the truth, it was a lucky shot.”

From that point on the Hornets would hit many more “lucky shots” all of which were exciting. For me this sets the precedence as to why being a Hornets fan was so darn fun.

4. The Crescent City Connection & the Peja Heads

The CCC and Peja Heads were a quintessential part of Hornet games a few years ago. It gave you a warm fuzzy feeling and separated us from them. Tyson Chandler and Chris Paul were without a doubt two of the most in-sync players in the entire league from 2007 through till 2009. Paul had eyes in the back of his head, knew exactly when Chandler was rolling, where he was rolling to and exactly how high he needed the ball to be placed.

It was one of the most picturesque sights in professional sports when two athletes work together as one; true beauty.

The Peja heads were a hilarious now antiquated relic of the past. Every time the Hornets were on a fast break they’d kick the ball out to Peja and as the crowd rose a collective gasp would give way to a chorus of “Yeah!”

Peja and his handsomely lovely haircut would the hover below the TV screen and you’d be satistified with the outcome. It was fun, it was silly, it was childish. It’s why we love the NBA and it’s why we loved the Hornets.

3. Chris Paul & David West in Game 5 in 2008 playoffs vs. Spurs

VIDEO

One of my fondest memories of my entire fandom was when Chris Paul and David West dominated the Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs in 2008. There was no stopping them; they were just in a zone like I’ve never seen them before.

Chris Paul was finding his team-mates, stealing the ball and scoring at will. It was a time when Paul could get to any spot on the floor. It didn’t matter what you did defensively he was going to get there. He had the ball on  a string. He danced and weaved his magic to finish with 22 points and 14 assists.

David West, my favourite NBA player, had arguably his best game as a professional. West scored a ridiculous 38 points on 25 shots, had 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks and 2 steals. He was truly unstoppable.

Aside from the individual performances this was when I, like many others, believed the Hornets could actually win the NBA title. They demolished the Spurs. Their chemistry was undeniable and pretty darn scary.

New Orleans unfortunately went on to lose the series, but this was the starting point of our aspirations for the team. We had a foundation and an identify. It was the peak of something special.

2. Hornets win the NBA Lottery in 2012

VIDEO

The lead up to the NBA lottery was kind of a casual one for me. I didn’t expect the Hornets to win the lottery, I thought it was one of those things that would go to a team seeded 7^th or 8^th and somehow they’d scooch into the top spot.

When Cleveland was announced as the 4^th pick in the 2012 NBA draft I was estatic. Not because I thought we’d won the draft lottery, but because a top-3 pick was awesome enough. So when we actually won the thing I jumped around the room with glee and gave jubilant high fives to my Hornets compatriot “Carpo.”

This is a twitter timeline of the days events for me personally:

Top 3 pick baby

— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

Jsuisisjsksosnsjsj

— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

Shjsjksksjdjfj

— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

We fuckig did it!!!!!!!!!

— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

Jon Barry predicted this!!! My man

— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

For those Hornets fans still up, we should all thank @marcobelinelli for making that layup against the Warriors.

— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) May 31, 2012

Watching the draft lottery over and over.

— James Grayson (@jsgrayson) June 1, 2012

I know it seems like a lost my marbles that day, but who didn’t? The future seemed bright then and seems brighter now. It was so awesome.

1. Tom Benson Buys the Hornets

The top spot belongs to Tom Benson. For years the Hornets went through uncertainty as to whether they’d remain in New Orleans. I wanted the team to remain in the city for obvious reasons (probably the best city in the country).

When Benson stepped up it was now certain that the organisation would remain in New Orleans.

While it’s not a uniquely “Hornets” moment, it’s one that everyone is probably fond of. It also is a memory that will transition into the future. Something that meant something then and still does now.

The organisation still has a long way to go but stable ownership is a must in securing future success.

—

Now this may not be your list, but it certainly sums up my thoughts of the Hornets. While I only ever attended one Hornets game in my life I watched and loved from afar like many other fans. The history of this brand is extensive and not without its ups and downs. But like every NBA team it was fun and memorable.

What are your top-5 memories of the Hornets? Tell in the comments below. You can follow James on Twitter on @jsgrayson

Al-Farouq opened with energy and finished the game with a fantastic 20 rebounds and 16 points.   Considering he’d been averaging 7 and 6 for the month of April, it was a surprising result.  I doubt it will have any impact on whether Dell Demps will try to re-sign him or not, but it was a nice effort that underlined just how inconsistent he can be – and what his potential still is.

I’m not sure there’s  a lot else in this game to talk about that we haven’t seen multiple time this season.

Instead, let’s talk lottery!  Odds:

• The Pelicans now possess an 8.8% chance of winning the top pick of the lottery.
• The Pelicans have a 9.7% chance of snagging the second pick of the draft.
• The Pelicans have a 10.7% chance of getting the third pick.
• There is no way for the Pelicans to own the fourth pick, barring trade.
• There is a 26.1% chance the Pelicans remain in the 5th spot.
• There is a 36% chance the Pelicans get the 6th pick in the draft.
• There is an 8.4% chance the Pelicans fall to 7th.
• There is a 0.4% chance the Pelicans fall to 8th.

In essence, the Hornets have about a 30% chance to advance and a 45% chance to fall.  With Marcus Smart not coming to the NBA, it appears the draft is now 4-deep.  Start warming your lucky talismans.

I’m pretty excited.  My Pelicans will eat your ducklings.  While you watch.

Next year is primed for massive improvement. This summer the Hornets can easily plug two gaping holes in their starting line-up by using their extensive cap space and draft pick. Combine that with Anthony Davis’ inevitable (inevitable, damnit!) development on already strong play, potential improvement to Eric Gordon’s health, and it is not hard to see the Hornets vaulting into the playoff discussion.

And, of course, the Hornets will still have players for us to love and hate. Austin Rivers isn’t going anywhere. Lightning Rod! Eric Gordon probably isn’t going anywhere. Whipping Boy!

You can’t get much better than that, right? Even if we have a non-playoff season, at least will have villains to fume and grizzle over!

It’ll be a long summer without basketball, but the draft and free agency are going to be exciting.  And we’ll cover it all.  Keep coming back!

Oh, and there’s a game tonight.  Honestly, watch it or not, it matters little – but look forward to next year.

Lottery Implications of the game

With news that Marcus Smart is staying in college rather than going into the draft and being a top 3-pick (bad decision, by the way. Take the money as a high pick and go, especially with next year’s crazy set of freshmen) the Hornets need to hold on to the 5th slot more than ever. The pool of solid players at the top just got smaller. If the Hornets lose tonight, they hold that spot no matter what. If they win, then Sacramento has to beat the Clippers (who are fighting for seeding) for the Hornets to take slot 5 – otherwise, they share slot five and it may come down to a coin flip to see who lands where.

And really, why let a coin decide the issue, Monty?  I want to see 35 minutes of a Terrel Harris-Xavier Henry backcourt.  I want to see plays called with Ryan Anderson as the pick and roll ball-handler and Robin Lopez as the pop-shooter.  I want Grievis Vasquez guarding Dirk Nowitzki all game long.

Part 3 rolls out Thursday!

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Part two rolls out Tuesday, but today’s podcast is special. Because it’s yours.

Give us a call to sound off! 504-322-3333.

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While I admitted in tonight’s game preview that I was not exactly rooting for a Hornets victory, I was certainly hoping for a better showing than the one I saw tonight. The New Orleans defense was a mess all night long, letting a Dallas team that ranks in the bottom half of the league in points in the paint per game convert nearly every time they got the ball inside. Dallas totaled 52 points in the paint tonight, more than every team in the league averages per game except for the Nuggets. What’s worse is that it only took them 36 shots to get those points; conversely, the Hornets scored 42 points in the paint, but it took them an abysmal 51 shots to do it, shooting a horrendous 41.1% from that area. Shawn Marion and Brandan Wright combined to make 14 out of 18 attempts from the paint to lead the way for the Mavs, while only two Hornets players – Aminu and Roberts – made over half of their shots. Just a brutal game on both ends for New Orleans, who will wrap up their season against this same Mavericks team in Dallas on Wednesday night.

Other Notes

• While the Hornets could have looked a lot better, part of the lopsided score could be due to the fact that Monty used some lineups that he hasn’t used much this season. He quickly went to a 3-guard lineup in the first quarter, subbing Roberts in for Aminu around the 6 minute mark, and Aminu saw some minutes as a small ball power forward, something I’ve been wanting to see. The results weren’t great for Aminu, but Dirk Nowitzki isn’t exactly an easy match-up. Regardless, it’s nice to see Monty start to look at these things; I just wish he had done more experimenting before the final two games of the season.
• As Jake and I talked about during the game, Lopez’s overall numbers (10 points, 13 rebounds) may not look too bad, most of them came in the second half when the Hornets were already in a huge hole. He totaled just 2 points and 1 rebound in almost 14 first half minutes, providing practically nothing while he was on the court.
• Crazy stat of the game – Xavier Henry attempted more free throws (10) than the entire Mavericks team (8). Almost as impressive is the fact that he actually made 8 of those 10! However, his 0-6 shooting night from the field brings down his overall performance a decent amount. X has always been good at getting to the line; unfortunately, no other parts of his game have ever really come around. He’s still only an end of the bench type of player.
• Roberts once again played very well on offense – 13 points on 8 shots, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and no turnovers. However, not being able to stop Mike James from getting past you is worrisome.
• A few of the Mavericks players made a pact not to shave until the team’s record got back to .500. With tonight’s win over the Hornets, that goal was accomplished, and those players didn’t waste any time shaving them off.
• I’m a big fan of Brandan Wright, and happy to see him getting more minutes with Dallas. There’s a reason I took him in the 8th round of our Hornets247 mock draft last summer – the kid can play. Hopefully he earns himself an even bigger role next year; unfortunately, there’s just no room for him within the Hornets’ current front court rotation.

Season finale on Wednesday night in Dallas!