Aminu, Smith, Mason catalysts in New Orleans surge
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com, @Jim_Eichenhofer
In the three weeks since Eric Gordon’s return to the court on Dec. 29, the New Orleans Hornets have won seven times – more victories than they accumulated in the previous two months. Gordon (team-best 16.9 points per game) has been an obvious catalyst in the rapid turnaround, but he’s far from the only reason the Hornets suddenly look like a much different team.
• After being removed from the starting lineup and playing a total of just 16 minutes over the final two weeks of December, Aminu returned to the first string Jan. 5 at Dallas. That move coincides with the Hornets’ current 6-1 stretch, which included a four-game winning streak, along with this week’s convincing road victories in Philadelphia and Boston. The athletic 6-foot-9, 215-pounder’s impact can’t be adequately gauged in statistics, because one of his primary strengths is one-on-one defense. However, Aminu has been a demon on the backboards, averaging 10.6 rebounds in the seven games, pulling down at least eight each time. Combined with the length and wingspan of 6-foot-10 Anthony Davis, the Hornets have excelled around the rim, outrebounding six of the last seven opponents.
• Like Smith, Mason has been on an absolute tear from the perimeter. Mason’s breakout game occurred the same night of Gordon’s return, with the 32-year-old going 4-for-5 from three-point range at Charlotte. The Virginia product is currently riding one of the hottest stretches of his decade-long NBA career. Over the past 10 games, Mason is shooting an eye-popping 71.4 percent from three-point range (15-for-21). Although Ryan Anderson (league leader in three-point makes, with 118) has cooled lately from beyond the arc by Anderson’s lofty standards, New Orleans ranks ninth among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage (36.7).