HORNETS: In The Lane With Licht

In The Lane With Licht

Bob Licht

The Hornets won their regular season series against Philadelphia, but as they prepare for Game 1 at the First Union Center on Sunday it’s obvious how closely matched the fourth and fifth Eastern conference seeds are.

Game 1 at the New Orleans Arena in November turned out to be one of five best games witnessed by Hornets fans this season. New Orleans won that first meeting 99-98 on David Wesley’s follow shot at the end of regulation (one of just three field goals he made the entire game).

Allen Iverson and Jamal Mashburn had a classic battle. “The Answer” made 16 field goals and scored a game-high 38 points, while “Monster Mash” had 15 field goals for 37 points.

The Hornets blew a 22-point lead in the opening game only to win it on Wesley’s miracle shot.

Game 2 in Philadelphia saw the Sixers run out to a 22 point lead later that same month, only the Hornets were unable to make a serious comeback and lost 108-87.

Iverson was nearly unstoppable with 11 for 20 shooting and 7 of 9 made free throws, while Mashburn was off his game, shooting just 8 for 19 and 18 points. He failed to visit the free throw line.

Game 3, also in Philadelphia, but played just days before the regular season ended featured just one lead change the entire night. The Hornets grabbed the lead with five minutes remaining as Stacey Augmon came off the bench and outscored Iverson 8-4 in the fourth quarter while Jamal Mashburn poured in 27 points to help the Hornets clinch the series 94-89.

Some critical stats to remember as these teams battle for a berth into the second round.

#1 – The team that has won the rebounding battle has won each game.
#2 – When Mashburn shot 50% or better from the field, New Orleans won.
#3 – When Iverson shot 50% from the field, Philadelphia won.
#4 – Jamaal Magliore averaged a double double against Philadelphia, falling one rebound short of three straight double doubles against the Sixers.
#5 - Brian Skinner shot 12 for 20 from the field versus N.O. and scored 29 points in three games (four more points than David Wesley scored versus the 76ers). He was the only Philly reserve to score double figures in a game against the Hornets this season.

Keys to advancing against Philadelphia:

Rebounding. The Hornets out rebounded 33 of their final 35 opponents during the regular season and won both games against the Sixers when grabbing more boards.

Limit Iverson’s free throws. “The Answer” is going to average in the neighborhood of 30 ppg; it is HOW and WHEN he scores that will go a long way toward determining the series winner. Allowing him to attempt 10+ free throws per game means two things: He’s scoring without making jump shots and getting defenders in foul trouble.

Handle the Sixers pressure. Philly will trap, press and zone the Hornets. Larry Brown’s constantly changing defenses will attempt to disrupt Baron and the Bees. Look for Kenny Anderson to join Davis on the floor at times and Mashburn to handle the ball more when the trapping schemes are employed.

E-MAIL PLAYERS AND COACHES
You can email players, coaches and broadcasters questions about the Hornets first season in New Orleans at: radiobuzz@hornets.com . We’ll use the best questions in this column and on the radio network pre-game show during some segments of Hornets Courtside.

BOB LICHT BIO

Bob Licht, the radio voice of the New Orleans Hornets, offers his insights on the Hornets and the NBA in a regular column on Hornets.com.

Along with his play-by-play duties for the Hornets, Licht served as the radio voice of the WNBA Charlotte Sting for five seasons. Last year, he also filled in on five Fox Sports telecasts of Hornets basketball and co-hosted, along with Steve Martin, Hornets and Sting Update, a monthly TV magazine show.

In 1996 and 1997, he was the radio voice of the Triple-A Charlotte Knights of the International League. From 1990-95, Licht was the director of broadcasting of the Double-A Carolina Mudcats of the Southern League, where he was named the league's broadcaster of the year in 1995.

Licht is a native of Detroit, Mich. He graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in broadcast journalism in 1981. During his time at Syracuse, he was involved in radio broadcasts of football and basketball. As a junior, he worked as a reporter at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y., and did play-by-play for the International League's Syracuse Chiefs.

Licht called football, basketball and baseball games for Marietta (Ohio) College following his graduation. From there, he moved back to North Carolina where he worked with the Wake Forest University football and basketball network as an engineer, color commentator and play-by-play announcer.

Licht and his wife, Monica, reside in Mandeville with their three daughters, Rachel (12), Sara (7) and Alexandra (5).