March 1, 2007
For the second straight year, the Hornets compiled a 9-4 record during the month of February. A repeat of their March performance from 2006, however, would spell disaster for the team’s playoff hopes.
New Orleans/Oklahoma City entered last March in the thick of the playoff race, but went 3-11 during the month, severely hampering its chances of reaching the postseason. This season’s 15-game March slate includes eight road games and 10 opponents with a .500 or better record.
“To me, this month is make or break,” Byron Scott said after Wednesday’s win over Atlanta. “If we do what we did last (season), going 3-11 (in March), we’re done, as far as the playoffs are concerned. If we end up .500 or over, we’ll have a good shot… I think if we’re (at .500 entering) the eight games in April, I like our chances.”
The Hornets’ triumph over the Hawks allowed them to keep pace with Denver and the Clippers, as all three teams prevailed Wednesday. The seventh-place Nuggets (28-28) are one game ahead of the Hornets, while the eighth-place Clips (28-29) have a half-game edge.
New Orleans/Oklahoma City went 2-1 over the past seven days, clipping Seattle by a point in New Orleans on Friday, then losing at Cleveland on Tuesday.
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Check out Eichenhofer’s analysis of the Hornets in articles that appeared in the last week on SuperSonics.com and Hawks.com.
HORNETS REWIND
Game 56: Friday, Feb. 23, vs. Seattle, W 98-97 (27-29)
Hornets escape after Ray Allen’s potential game-winner rims out in New Orleans.
Hornets MVP
David West notches team-best 23 points, grabs 11 rebounds.
Hornets Sixth Man of the Game
Bobby Jackson drops in 12 second-half points, totals 17.
Key statistic
Hornets outrebound SuperSonics by 56-42 margin.
Game 57: Tuesday, Feb. 27, at Cleveland, L 89-97 (27-30)
Clutch shots by LeBron and rookie Daniel Gibson foil Hornets in final minutes.
Hornets MVP
David West nets 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Hornets Sixth Man of the Game
Linton Johnson squeezes nine points and four rebounds into 20 minutes of playing time.
Key statistic
Cleveland goes 8-for-16 from three-point range.
Game 58: Wednesday, Feb. 28, vs. Atlanta, W 107-100 (28-30)
Hornets take control in fourth quarter with 10-0 run.
Hornets MVP
Tyson Chandler establishes season-high with 18 points, adds 13 rebounds.
Hornets Sixth Man of the Game
Rasual Butler’s four points and four rebounds top quiet reserve unit.
Key statistic
Hornets limit Hawks to just three offensive rebounds – and none in the first half.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS
Statistically,
David West authored perhaps his most productive seven-day period of the season this week, averaging 21.7 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists over the three games. Despite sustaining an elbow injury that kept him out of action for two months, along with a sprained ankle that slowed him in January, the Xavier (Ohio) product has increased his scoring average (17.5) from last season (17.1). He’s also pulling down 8.8 rebounds a game after averaging 7.4 during his breakout 2005-06 campaign, when West finished as the runner-up to Phoenix’s Boris Diaw in the Most Improved Player award voting.
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Linton Johnson has done a creditable job recently of providing the Hornets with a nice spark off the bench while rarely playing as much as 20 minutes. The fourth-year pro totaled 17 points and 11 rebounds vs. Cleveland and Seattle, in a combined 36 minutes. Earlier this month, the small forward had 12 points in 19 minutes vs. Sacramento, and 10 points in 20 minutes against Milwaukee.
Interestingly, after vowing to limit his attempts from the perimeter – one reason why he fell out of Byron Scott’s rotation earlier in December – Johnson fired three three-pointers each in the SuperSonics and Cavaliers games, making one. In the previous 21 games, he had only taken three three-point shots.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
A look at where the Hornets rank in national media power polls (out of the 30 NBA teams):
CBS Sportsline (12th, up 3 spots from 15th the previous week): “Tyson Chandler has been playing like Marcus Camby of late, doing all the little things the Bulls envisioned he would one day offer. His emergence has been just as important to the Hornets’ resurgence as the return of Chris Paul and David West.”
Hornets.com says: Chandler is a similar player to Denver center Camby in several respects. Both are in the neighborhood of 7 feet tall, have slender frames, are difficult to keep off the backboards and adept shot-blockers. Chandler’s month of February (averages of 13.2 points, 16.1 rebounds, 1.77 blocks) has made him a story around the league and put him in the discussion for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Chandler has made noticeable improvements in scoring average (8.6 and rising, up from 5.3 last season) and rebounding average (12.4, from 9.0).
Dime Magazine (13th, up 2 spots): “The Big Four (sans Peja) have stepped up big to lead NOK to an 8-3 February record. Chris Paul is putting up 16 ppg, 8.5 apg and 2.3 spg over the month; David West has been good for 18 ppg and 8 rpg; Tyson Chandler is pulling down 17 rpg; and Desmond Mason is dropping in 15 ppg.”
Hornets.com says: The collective consistency of the starting lineup has been a big factor in the club’s 7-3 record in the last 10 games. The Hornets seem to be relying less on their bench, as every starter other than Devin Brown is averaging at least 34.5 minutes. As Hornets TV analyst Gil McGregor discussed earlier this week, the bench needs to establish an identity and contribute more over the final six weeks of the regular season, especially in difficult road games when the team will need everyone to play well in order to win.
ESPN.com’s Marc Stein (12th, up 3 spots): “If the West is so great, how come only six teams have winning records? I’ll tell you who doesn’t care: Byron Scott’s Hornets, who suddenly find themselves at No. 7.”
Hornets.com says: The West has been surprisingly top-heavy this season, with Dallas and Phoenix playing at an extremely high level and San Antonio a bit below its usual standard but still an excellent team. Utah, Houston and the Lakers make up the next tier in the conference, but after those three squads, no one in the conference has been impressive throughout the entire regular season. Without question, the Hornets have been fortunate that several West foes have experienced disappointing seasons to date, allowing everyone within striking distance of .500 to remain in the hunt.
NBA.com (12th, up 3 spots): “A quick start benefits the Hornets, who are 22-4 when leading at the half compared to 4-22 when trailing.”
Hornets.com says: Definitely an interesting statistic. You wouldn’t think a team’s records would be that drastic either good or bad, but the Hornets haven’t won a game after trailing at halftime – or lost a game when leading at intermission – since the Feb. 7 victory in Denver (and beating the Nuggets required overtime).
We still don’t advocate leaving the arena early or switching off Cox Sports Television after the first 24 minutes of a Hornets game have been played.
SI.com (13th, up 1 spot): “Don’t look now, but at week’s end they had climbed to the No. 7 spot in the West, a shade ahead of the Nuggets. Considering all the injuries they have endured, it’s an accomplishment for Byron Scott & Co.”
Hornets.com says: Scott was adamant after the win over Seattle that his team hasn’t accomplished anything yet, that all the Hornets have done is give themselves a chance to make the playoffs. Still, after an offseason when the Hornets made as many roster changes as any team – then suffered more key injuries than anyone – it’s a great sign that this club still has a legitimate chance to still be playing in late-April. After talking to people from several other teams, I think the consensus is that of the group of West clubs fighting for their playoff lives, the Hornets have the best shot chances of staying in the top eight.
QUOTABLE
“Just like great players do, they take over the game.”
Hornets head coach Byron Scott on Chris Paul’s 13-point fourth quarter vs. Atlanta, which keyed a final-period push and 107-100 victory.
