Sixers @ Hornets Game Preview

by Michael Levin on Jan 4, 2012 8:20 AM PST in Philadelphia 76ers Previews

The Sixers will finally end their five game west coast roadie to start the season tonight against the slightly less west New Orleans Hornets. They'll be looking to finish 3-2 on the road trip, which is quite likely because Chris Paul will not be playing. Nor will David West. I think David Wesley and P.J. Brown are questionably at best. On that note, let's bring in Hornets expert, rocket scientist (you think I'm joking), minority and Demi Lovato enthusiast, Rohan Cruyff from At The Hive to tell me things. I'll be going over to Rohan's house tonight to watch this game (on delay). Anticipate violence and nachos. Take it away, Rohan!

The Hornets suck this year because of basketball reasons that make basketball sense (ha ha, synergy). [ed. note: !!!]

If Chris Paul was playing for the (Donny-adjusted) just as evil half of Los Angeles right now, the Hornets would be sending out a starting lineup of Jarrett Jack - Kevin Martin - Lamar Odom - Luis Scola - Emeka Okafor tonight. That's a group that probably challenges for the playoffs, Odom's current offensive rating of 69 notwithstanding.

Instead, we have a much... different group of guys. A couple games ago, the Hornets shot a franchise record low 29% from the floor (missing, if I remember this correctly and I probably don't because of the slamming my head against a brick wall section of the evening, 87 threes in a row). Then, the very next game, Jarrett Jack had eight turnovers, the majority of which occurred in the half court as he was calling out plays. Eric Gordon has been out and New Orleans still plays very solid defense under Monty Williams, which makes this all marginally less disturbing, but still. If you don't win this game, you're doing it wrong.

For New Orleans, this season is all about finding out if Monty's defense and Eric Gordon are legit and, due to the rest of the roster, less so about winning. It's also about hopefully "having an owner," but, haha, let's not get THAT CRAZY.

So the Nawlins Hawnets are pretty much the must turmoilistic team in the league. Without a ton of high upside talent (I'm not a huge Al-Farouq Aminu believer), the team is banking on two high lottery picks to become relevant within the next four years. Could be fun and/or terrible to watch. For tonight at least, I'm hoping for an overdue monster game from Jrue Holiday.

Jason Smith! Trey Johnson! Greivis Vasquez! SUPERSTAR TREVOR ARIZA!

Discuss.

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My fantasy team could use a monster performance from Jrue as well.

formerly jdcvr6

"When I'm dead and buried, and my time here has passed. I want them to bury me upside down, so my critics can kiss my ass." - Bob Knight

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by James_C on Jan 4, 2012 8:49 AM PST reply actions

RIP Speights top 10 naps

2 2nd round picks seems about as good as they were going to get for Speights…solid job by management in that regard.

by SKtheGhost on Jan 4, 2012 8:50 AM PST reply actions

Done. And done. I would totally take that.

I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, there will be no trade for Monta!

by dweebowitz on Jan 4, 2012 8:53 AM PST up reply actions

I'm hoping they pawn those two 2nd rounders off packaged with someone else...

…ideally for a better 1st round pick this year or for a better 1st round pick in 2013, etc. I really don’t want 2 d-leaguers who might not amount to anything or another Lavoy Allen, no offense to either. Like everyone else has said, I’m perfectly fine dumping Speights to the curb and getting anything in return. What a waste of a 1st round draft pick.

by Vince1129 on Jan 4, 2012 9:10 AM PST up reply actions

Odom's current offensive rating is 69

What a bro.

@MacNaismith on twitter

by Naismithball on Jan 4, 2012 9:56 AM PST reply actions

IS JAMAL MASHBURN IN THE STARTING LINEUP?

JODIE CHEEKS

by appleciderr on Jan 4, 2012 12:15 PM PST reply actions

If the sixers package their 2012 1st rounder with these two mid-second rounders, how many picks can they move up in the 2012 1st round? Figure on the sixers picking in the middle of the 1st round Does 7 slots sound about right? Those 7 slots would almost definitely move them into the lottery, right? So depending on how the balls fall (a little to the left?), the Speights trade may well move us up 7-10 slots in the 1st round. I’m happy with that. And the salary exception for Speights is icing on the cake. If they think Speights and Cunningham can fill in for Z without much of a decline, Memphis has no idea what they’re in for.

by Blunt Philly Guy on Jan 4, 2012 12:21 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions