Comments on: Game Preview & Chat: The New Orleans Hornets

By: Carter

Carter — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:46:29 +0000

I have a few comments about this team:

1. Luke Walton needs to play better to stay in the starting rotation. His shooting is off, and his defense isn’t the greatest either. I think 6th man is the appropriate role for him.

2. Turiaf should be a starter for the season. He has proven that he can play thus far. He has been efficient, hasn’t gotten into foul trouble, and he has a great chemistry with Kobe cutting into the lane.

3. I’ve never liked Cook or Vujacic as Lakers. That hasn’t changed. On or off players, mostly off.

4. I love the way Kobe has been playing this year since the second game. Plays well within the offense, shoots efficiently, tnacious on defense, and a leader on the court.

5. Farmar is an animal, and I would love to see more Java Critt.

That’s all I’ve got right now.

By: kwame a.

kwame a. — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:27:40 +0000

78- I thought we went ‘three happy’ too early as well.

77- There isn’t much to do when Peja is hot like that, however, having someone face guard him, or putting Kobe on him are just 2 of several things Phil could’ve done. Just saying, he doesn’t like to make in-game adjustments, but this team needs that type of direction. plenty of talent, just needs to be coached.

By: Brett F.

Brett F. — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:18:53 +0000

I’ll be short and to the point:

Crap game for the Lakers however a nice call on the over. Won me some money.

By: Gatinho

Gatinho — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:12:22 +0000

The positive I took out the game last night was that the Lakers kept it closer than they would have last season. That would have been a blow out, but for the 2nd unit to once again fight their way back into the game to have the starters feed off some of that energy to begin the third is a positive trend.

Perimeter D was bad, but they took themselves out of the offense and started shooting threes way too early, something like 5:45 left. After outscoring the Hornets in the paint in the first quarter, they should have continued to pound it inside.

Lakers didn’t do a good enough job of making Peja work on the defensive end which, other than playing him physical, is the best way to take him out of his offensive rythym…

By: exhelodrvr

exhelodrvr — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:21:41 +0000

No Evans, no Odom available to Phil last night. He didn’t have a lot of options for covering Peja.

By: The Dude Abides

The Dude Abides — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:11:31 +0000

I’ll repeat and echo the same comments about Peja: there is a difference between occasionally leaving Phoenix’s 3-pt shooters wide open and leaving Peja, Ray Allen, Michael Redd, and Mike Miller open for uncontested threes. Stay at home on these guys, but cheat more in the lane when you’re playing Phoenix. And if you do stay at home on Peja, don’t let him fake you and step to the left to shoot the three. He’ll make that almost as often as an uncontested three.

By: JoeM

JoeM — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:15:43 +0000

I want to echo the comments of many who criticize Phil for the
ridiculous non-defense on Peja. How difficult is it for a coach to
insist that a defender stay at home on him? You only have to tell
a player once, then you take him out if he can’t do it. I’m really
old and feeble, but even I can stand next to Peja on the 3 point
line. Even Cook, theoretically, should be able to do it. Somebody
on the bench should be able to stand next to him. Maybe Rambus.

By: chris

chris — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:47:49 +0000

I stopped by Charter this morning, (for Glendale area) they claim they are now in HD for both KCAL and FSN, so I’m going to check out the higher numbers, (maybe it’s just not listed in the ‘guide’ yet) and I’ll let ya’ll know if I find it there.
as a back up, I have an appointment for this friday in case I don’t find it…at least they claim they do have it…we’ll see.

re: the game last night-
while we lost, I am not dissapointed because I didn’t see any “QUIT” in this team. they kept clawing back, or trying to, and as one poster said above, we were just a few bad bounces away… let’s face it, luck does have an affect on the game, but you get more “luck” if you’re playing hard and agreesive. it seemed like in the end we were aiming and not shooting in rhythm.
lessons can be learned during the season, it’s the “QUIT” that would discourage me to no end last year. (main culprits were Smush and Cook, always more concerned about looking “cool”)
I think we are going to have a good season, Ronnie will continue to improve, maybe get the “most improved” this year, wouldn’t that be a nice surprise?
what if we got “most improved” and “best 6th man” awards?(Luke) we certainly could, and if we did, that would mean we had a great season, eh?
it’s a long season, we have great coaches, and a deep team for them to work with, so let’s keep on keeping on.

By: Mike in the Mountain West

Mike in the Mountain West — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:47:07 +0000

52. I was dogging on Cook’s offense not his defense of Peja. I watched the game on ESPN gamecast and when VladRad’s animated threeball in answer to Peja’s three pointer went into the virtual air i got excited because I thought there was a good chance it was going in, and when it did I let out a “Yeahhhhh” that scared my roommates but my heart sank when that ball appeared next to Cook’s mugshot and whenn it missed I was disappointed but none too surprised. Point being you can’t rely on Cook.

You are right however that our defense of Peja was horrible all around

By: kwame a.

kwame a. — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:36:20 +0000

59- Craig, I completley agree with you about ‘bad habits’ on D. That’s why I put the onus on Phi, he has to break those bad habits, and Walton and Kobe are two of the biggest offenders of losing their man when they help.

2nd Unit looks to be the real deal, will only improve when Walton assumes his role on the bench. Sure woulda been nice to have Lamar’s long arms in Peja’s face last night.