Given the way the New Orleans Hornets were playing during the last handful of games prior to the 2013 All-Star break, several players commented that they were not anxious for the midseason hiatus to arrive. In Tuesday’s home game against the Chicago Bulls, the Hornets will try to pick up from where they left off, after routing Detroit by 18 points and Portland by 36 prior to the All-Star break, on Feb. 11 and 13, respectively.
“Now I don't want to go into the (All-Star) break, because we're playing great basketball,” New Orleans starting point guard Greivis Vasquez said of the club’s momentum, following a dominating 99-63 victory against the Trail Blazers. “We’re making good progress.”
Indeed, after beginning the 2012-13 regular season with a 6-23 record, the Hornets have gone 13-11 since Dec. 29, a date that coincided with the team finally being at full strength health-wise. Early in the season, New Orleans was frequently shorthanded, playing without the likes of Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon and Jason Smith.
In the last five games prior to getting a few days off for All-Star festivities, New Orleans went 4-1, defeating Phoenix, Atlanta, Detroit and Portland. The Hornets will also try to extend their recent run of success at home in recent weeks – after opening the schedule 3-12 in their home venue, they’ve gone 6-3 here since. NOLA also defeated every other Southwest Division club in January, including a four-game winning streak that featured victories over Dallas, San Antonio and Houston.
Tuesday’s game against Chicago commences a second half of the season for New Orleans that is filled with home dates. The Hornets will play seven of their next nine games in the familiar environs of the New Orleans Arena. In the post-All-Star portion of the schedule, the Hornets also have 17 of 29 total games at home.
Intriguing matchup: Power forward, Anthony Davis vs. Carlos Boozer
A Chicago native, Davis gets his first crack at the Bulls, after missing the Nov. 3 game due to the concussion he sustained in a Nov. 2 game vs. Utah. Davis will have his hands full while trying to defend Boozer, a past All-Star. The Hornets did a commendable defensive job against Boozer on Nov. 3, holding him to just four points and 1-for-8 shooting.
