Suns at Hornets 6:00 MY45

[FArting]

Suns-Hornets Preview
By NICOLINO DI BENEDETTO, STATS Writer
The New Orleans Hornets and Phoenix Suns expected recent trades to bolster their chances at a championship run.
It hasn't yet gone according to plan for the Hornets, and the Suns are still figuring things out.
The Hornets will try to sweep the four-game season series from the Suns on Wednesday night at New Orleans Arena.
The Hornets (37-18) acquired guards Bonzi Wells and Mike James from Houston for Bobby Jackson and rookie Adam Haluska before the NBA trade deadline on Thursday. The deal, made to strengthen New Orleans' bench, came after it beat Dallas 104-93 on Wednesday to extend its winning streak to five games and claim the top spot in the Western Conference.
Since then, New Orleans has dropped a season high-tying three games in a row, including Tuesday's 95-92 loss to Washington on DeShawn Stevenson's buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Wells, who may not play on Wednesday due to a sore Achilles' tendon, had five points, while James added seven and New Orleans fell to fifth in the West.
Still, Hornets coach Byron Scott isn't ready to blame the trade for his team's current slide.
"Everybody understands it's going to take a little while for those two guys to adjust, but it doesn't change the way we play," Scott said. "The main thing is coming out with much more effort and intensity. ... I haven't seen it the last three games to be honest with you. I've seen us kind of going through the motions."
The Suns (39-18) are also struggling after making a blockbuster deal to get Shaquille O'Neal from Miami for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks on Feb. 6, hours before a 132-130 double-overtime loss to New Orleans.
They have alternated wins and losses in four games with O'Neal, but are coming off a 127-113 victory at Memphis on Tuesday. O'Neal didn't play in the fourth quarter, but had his best game in a Suns uniform with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
"I wasn't going to put Shaq out there to go against 3-point shooters," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Against big guys, Shaq will be able to keep us (away) from double-teaming down, but at the same time we need to run."
Steve Nash, who is averaging 17.6 points and a league-leading 11.5 assists, appears to have rebounded from a pair of subpar performances. The All-Star guard had 25 points and 13 assists against the Grizzles after totaling 29 and 11, respectively, over the previous two games.
Nash, though, is aware that it could take even longer to assimilate O'Neal into the team.
"We've still got a lot of things to work out and finding that cohesion," Nash said. "It's possible that it could take us the rest of the season."
Nash will try to help Phoenix to consecutive wins for the first time since the deal. He scored 32 points and handed out 12 assists in the last meeting with the Hornets, and is averaging 22.3 points and 10.0 assists in three season matchups - all losses after winning 11 of the previous 12 contests.
New Orleans will look to Chris Paul to help complete the season series-sweep after he posted 22 points and eight assists Monday. The Hornets' leading scorer with 20.7 points per game, Paul is trying to look at the bright side of New Orleans' recent slump.
"We lost three games in a row and we're still 37-18," said Paul, who is second in the league with 10.7 assists per game. "It's still been a great year and I think that's why guys around here can't get too down."
Paul had 42 points and nine assists earlier this month against Phoenix, giving him averages of 30.3 points and 9.7 assists in the three meetings.

http://www.nba.com/games/20080227/PHXNOH/preview.html?nav=scoreboardhome

Suns 104 Amare
Hornets 108 West

 

[carey]

I'll be at the game! Look for a bearded guy w/ tattoos on his arms sitting behind the Suns bench. And my wife will be with me, she's pregnant so easy to spot!

 

[jagu]

Suns 112 Hornets 103

 

[Black Jesus]

is tyson chandler playing this game?

 

[Hat]

Hornets 120 Paul
Suns 115 Barbosa

 

[greensborohill]

These are the best games b/c one of you has to lose!!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

its about the best time of the year to play the Hornets, after they have lost 3 straight....

 

[Covert Rain]

These are the best games b/c one of you has to lose!!

Dude, please kill your sig. I might have to put you on ignore just so it doesn't annoy me.

 

[phxrising]

It takes 15, but who's 15th?

Here is your number 15

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[sLapzsHaQ]

amazing mavs fans

anyway,

120 suns
112 hornets

t-chandler fouling out

 

[BeeBeard]

Here is your number 15

You must be registered for see images attach

"Germans love him."


I don't know why, but something tells me it will be a grindfest this time around:

Suns 92 Amare (pretty much leads in scoring always these days)
Hornets 87 Peja (banking on the Suns terrible perimeter defense)

 

[mjb21aztd]

I have a hard time seeing us win this one after our starters got no rest vs memphis last night in a hard fought game, I think we lose a close game here and chris paul goes off as usual prove me wrong suns

Hornets 113

Suns 105

Leading Scorer Amare 25 pts 7 rebounds

 

[sLapzsHaQ]

This won't be a problem, the Hornets would take the Suns differently now that Shaq's on the lineup..

 

[Kody Rumin]

Should be a fun game. The Hornets are my second favorite team, and I don't like to see them struggle, but the Suns need every win they can get in the crowded West.

 

[Hat]

Why isn't this on League Pass?? Now I can't see the game

 

[WuRaider]

Why isn't this on League Pass?? Now I can't see the game

? It is on League Pass.

 

[jlove]

The only problem with this game and the fact that the Hornets have lost their last 3 games, is the fact that the last time they played (when Peja hit that turn around jumper on Amare for the win) was that the Hornets had lost 3 straight prior to that game as well. I think we definitely match a little better with them now though with Shaq.

Nash vs Paul: Advantage Paul do to his speed and shooting
Bell vs Peterson: Advantage Peterson (only because Raja's defense has sucked of late)
Hill vs Peja: If Hill plays like he did last night, advantage Hill
Amare vs West: Advantage Amare (as long as he stays out of foul trouble)
Shaq vs Chandler: Advantage Shaq (except on defensive side, Chandler has the speed to get by him)

I think it will be another drag out dog fight either way. Wells and James are HUGE benefits over what they had in Bobby Jackson though which could be beneficial for them over us.

 

[Covert Rain]

The only problem with this game and the fact that the Hornets have lost their last 3 games, is the fact that the last time they played (when Peja hit that turn around jumper on Amare for the win) was that the Hornets had lost 3 straight prior to that game as well. I think we definitely match a little better with them now though with Shaq.

Nash vs Paul: Advantage Paul do to his speed and shooting
Bell vs Peterson: Advantage Peterson (only because Raja's defense has sucked of late)
Hill vs Peja: If Hill plays like he did last night, advantage Hill
Amare vs West: Advantage Amare (as long as he stays out of foul trouble)
Shaq vs Chandler: Advantage Shaq (except on defensive side, Chandler has the speed to get by him)

I think it will be another drag out dog fight either way. Wells and James are HUGE benefits over what they had in Bobby Jackson though which could be beneficial for them over us.

Would agree but if Nash scores 10 to 12 and gets 10 assists then no matter what Paul does it's a push.

 

[BeeBeard]

Would agree but if Nash scores 10 to 12 and gets 10 assists then no matter what Paul does it's a push.

For what it's worth, Nash did an excellent job of keeping Paul in front of him off screens last time these teams met. There were still some moments when Nash looked like Yesterday's Model, but it's not like he was badly overmatched or anything. We'll see great games from both point guards, I'm sure.

 

[sLapzsHaQ]

Yeah, it's on League Pass..

 

[fordronken]

Nash vs Paul: Advantage Paul do to his speed and shooting

I'm pretty sure Nash can outshoot Chris Paul.

 

[sLapzsHaQ]

Suns can do this, just start the game on the inside, then go outside, then inside again. That would make the defense thinking twice.

 

[jlove]

For what it's worth, Nash did an excellent job of keeping Paul in front of him off screens last time these teams met. There were still some moments when Nash looked like Yesterday's Model, but it's not like he was badly overmatched or anything. We'll see great games from both point guards, I'm sure.

I'm pretty sure Nash can outshoot Chris Paul.

I just don't see it. Especially last game.

Nash: 32 pts 12 ast 4 rbd 1 st 10 to 57%
Paul: 42 pts 9 ast 5 rbd 8 st 1 to 55%

Paul has been virtually unstoppable this year. The last few games, specifically, Nash has looked old and hurting (back) and has been turning the ball over more this year than ANY year in his career. An honest basketball fan would agree that Paul has the advantage over Nash this year.

 

[French Fries]

6 pm arizona time is what time in pacific?

 

[jlove]

6 pm arizona time is what time in pacific?

It should be 5pm Pacific right now.