Game 57: Hornets at Blazers

Hornets Talk
1
2

I guarantee a win

3

Still getting no respect. Portland has one more win than us and they are full of injuries to key players yet we are 3.5 point underdogs. Pure BS!

4

Three games in four days on a west coast road trip is brutal.

5

Add Curry to the list of hurt new players. Let the injuries begin.

6
Originally sent in Game 57: Hornets at Blazers
dnbman

Actually looking forward to Nick for Ayton. Fingers crossed it works out.

powellrmp

Dang man no scoot tonight !

dnbman

Yeah, I haven't seen Sharpe play either. Was hoping to see him.

powellrmp

same man!

dnbman

Hate a violation on first possession.

powellrmp

well that was fugly.

dnbman

Mann though!

powellrmp

mann defense !

he’s a better defender than I thought he was going to be

dnbman

same. Better player period.

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dnbman

Blows my mind we got him in that trade.
Eastley

What's funny is how much people here (and on the socials) were completely convinced that we could get absolutely nothing from trading Gordon Hayward's contract.

Ooh, I like this threading feature

dnbman

Must be nice to be OKC and he can be a castaway.

Cody block was fantastic.

spectre

Been saying Mann was the steal in those trades

powellrmp

what a block

I was very hopeful for mann. Thought he could be good, but was pleasantly surprised with the defense! It’s been solid

dnbman

Love the energy so far.

spectre

Amazing that the last Charlotte coach who won in Portland was FHB

Eastley

Tre has been the Mann

dnbman

yeah… 2008. crazy

Nick feels like he's picking things up. Don't love his choices when he gets stuck deep i the paint, but like a lot of his decisions without the ball.

powellrmp

I really do appreciate Cody Martin, but I’m ready for Melo to be healthy so Cody can play a little less. I think less is more for Cody

+1 1
dnbman

Miller like it was nothing.

Yeah, offense slows down considerably through Cody. Like him a lot as a player, but ready for Melo to be back for sure.

powellrmp

20 minutes or so for Cody is perfect

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dnbman

Thybule blocking 20 3pters is ridiculous
Eastley

Interesting that the skill does not lend itself to guys that are offensively valuable. IIRC, James Johnson was an NBA leader in 3pt blocks about 7-9 years ago.

powellrmp

wow

spectre

24 being a little too unselfish

powellrmp

Was just about to post that

spectre

great minds!

powellrmp

MIIIICIC

dnbman

Little careless with the ball

powellrmp

Challenge that cliff lol

grANT man

dnbman

love the no look to Miller. Bam.

powellrmp

MIIIICIC

dnbman

God I love when Micic is wheeling and dealing like that.

powellrmp

Miles and Micic are on the same page

I’ve noticed that developing over the last few games.

Mich_Mercer

I love Micic. Such a good passer.

dnbman

I like that Miles is getting to a lot of those short 3s but we dont' have him camping there.

powellrmp

I’m pretty sure I saw miles motion to grant(?) in the corner to rotate so he could slide down to the corner three since he knew Micic was about to drive

+1 1
dnbman

I will be satisfied if Miller turns out to be a prime McGrady.

that is acceptable.

100 2
spectre

Ooo Powell hear that Chauncey comp for 24?

Tracy MCcGrady

dnbman

Good first quarter. Nice response after Friday.

Eastley

I still think Miller, w/ 20lbs of muscle after a few years in the league, with some thick wristbands on, will be the 2nd coming of Glen Rice.

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dnbman

I'd be happy with that, but think he could be better than that.
Eastley

Do you remember how tremendous he was?

dnbman

I do, but I'm thinking more of a well rounded player like Paul Pierce.

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dnbman
Eastley

Interesting to put Reggie Miller v Glen Rice in the comparator there

+1 1
spectre

I’m just happy with any of those results lol

100 1
dnbman

for sure.

powellrmp

tmac was a personal favorite

I can absolutely see that

meeeeech

Mich_Mercer

Micic is a baller

powellrmp

meech to mann!

dnbman

Somewhat related, loved Cliff's comments about how our ball movement is so much better for Miller's game. Defense's can't focus on him as much and he can be more selective on forcing the issue.

powellrmp

OUR DEFENSIVE ROTATIONS ARE SO MUCH BETTER

I would’ve liked to have seen mann take the pull up three there instead of drive

+1 2
dnbman

Micic and Williams +9 each

powellrmp

thats awesome

ohh man Portland is missing short shots

man I miss having mark Williams and Melo

dnbman

What's the verdict on Ayton? Good not great? Underwhelming based on expectations?

powellrmp

hard to tell. I wish he was a better defender but he’s not

dnbman

Feels like we're playing down to Portland's sloppiness now.

+1 1
spectre

They’re shooting like we did pre deadline

100 2
powellrmp

That’s a clean post move there by miles. Love that

Mich_Mercer

He’s getting really good.

dnbman

Uhh… not sure about the "nice bulge" comment.

Miles with 8 rebounds. Great to see.

Grant Williams with the ambitious 3 attempt.

laughing 1
Mich_Mercer

I love that we can play defense now.

100 1
dnbman

Cody with the Birdman voice: "Put some respect on my name!"

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spectre

Cody played a good 1st half I’ve no complaints. Didn’t over dribble any
Mich_Mercer

He did. I didn’t notice him dribbling a lot and ball stopping so that’s a very good thing.

dnbman

I like Brandon as a rep for us too. Dude gives good answers.

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powellrmp

Yeah guys I see real, high quality defensive rotations , switches, interrupting passing lanes, making it harder to get to the rim. Guys used to just blow by our perimeter defenders en route to the rim
spectre

And it’s wonderful to see. This is great entertainment

powellrmp

That’s a high percentage shot by nick

Not to take anything away from our defense but it doesn’t hurt that Portland can’t hit anything tonight

heart 2
Eastley

Strange to see how few assists we have w/ a relatively unselfish team out there.

TheDorkLord

good defensive half, but not the best on the offensive side. We should be up a lot more. some bad decisions and passes kept our numbers down. But… how much more fun is this crew to watch?

spectre

Bad D in general just puts me in a bad mood. What we see here is fun

dnbman

Mann is such a pest on D.

Eastley

so, curious on that first defensive possession, that slow rotation by Tre coming off the high trap, was that a mistake on Tre's part to not release sooner? Or is that just a bad design that leaves us exposed to a player willing/able to drive to the cup?

dnbman

Nice pass by cody and great finish by Nick.

spectre

That was nice Cody/nick

Mich_Mercer

Nick Richards is a really good backup center to have. He’s really getting better every day.

100 1
dnbman

Agreed. Really like what he's doing the last month, especially given he was a second round pick.

How was that not a travel? Maybe that call it Euro because you have to have a passport to make the move.

spectre

It was lol

dnbman

Portland with some truly awful shooting.

7
Originally sent in Game 57: Hornets at Blazers
Eastley

I'm nervous that we're playing with our food too much; this should be a blow out.

dnbman

Cody and Nick with the connection tonight.

We now live in a time when we're disappointed we're not blowing out another team. Let that set in.

joy 1
Eastley

not disappointed, just nervous. It's not like we haven't been given good reason to be nervous

100 1
spectre

Heck we haven’t had a lead we could blow all season so no idea how these guys will hold up

The D gives one hope tho

dnbman

Yeah, I get the nervousness. Would be great momentum to get this win. Then hopefully split with Bucks.

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Eastley

Think we need to let EC know that pinnipeds only have elastin in their skin and whiskers so the likelihood they have substantial gristle is rather low.
Eastley

"tougher than walrus skin" would be more appropriate. Not sure he cares though as it's not as flowing a statement.

Eastley

love that aggressiveness by Bryce on that drive

what a freaking dime

+1 1
dnbman

Not sure about the animal stuff, but sounds legit.

spectre

Damn O boards

Eastley

damn!

spectre

Needed that

Eastley

nerves in full effect

+1 1
dnbman

:grimacing:

Eastley

how much offense just got checked out of the game by Cliff. That's more worrisome if he's going to leave this 5 out there.

Mich_Mercer

Too much dribbling… not enough passing.

Eastley

our best defense is their inability to make layups and threes

+1 1
laughing 2
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dnbman

I like the play where nobody is back and we just pass to an open Miller. And then he chills for a few seconds and makes the layup. Run that one more.
Eastley

It did cut down on the dribbling :slight_smile:

100 2
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Mich_Mercer

On offense… we’ve been looking like the team who kept losing games. No ball movement. Guys just tracking turns one on one.
Eastley

For sure. It was made worse by pulling #22 and #23.

At least leave one of them in the game Cliff

100 1
tnhornetsfan

They've been able to practice and instill that Clifford offense

laughing 1
rofl 1
dnbman

Hornets looking to close it out!

spectre

Man 24 looked long on that catch

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Eastley

The Blazers are channeling their inner Michael Carter Williams' finishing and outside shooting skills.
Eastley

OMFG - missing an alley oop is too much

spectre

EC talks about Cliff like he’s a master strategist lol

joy 2
rofl 1
dnbman

That Nick dunk. Wow!!!

100 2
Eastley

Was Dell riffing on a "Simon Says" there?

spectre

Nick has to have like 6-8 dunks this game

Eastley

There's no way this team we're playing against wins against DET in a 7 game series

spectre

I think DET is way better than their record

100 2
Eastley

No way this team is as good as theirs

dnbman

Nick with 19, 10 and 3 blocks.

solid

+1 2
spectre

Definitely is

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tnhornetsfan

Who's out for Portland
Eastley

Brogdon, Sharpe, Willliams are the headliners.

Not sure Henderson has really been a net plus

spectre

Our 5 million dollar C!

Eastley

Cody w/ 10 assists in 28m, Vasa w/ 7 in 21m

dnbman

Cody probably the player of the game.

100 1
spectre

Sharpe &henderson

brogdan

Mich_Mercer

Micic out next game.

Eastley

damn, hope that's just a knee knock, and not the Cody Zeller water knee type

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spectre

I wanted to see scoot. Little i have seen wasn’t impressive but the dude is fast
Eastley

been watching their box scores after most of their games and he's been a wreck with a precious few couple of gems. He's more likely to shoot more times than he has points in most games.

Mich_Mercer

I wanted to see Scoot vs Miller too

spectre

God how many o boards they gonna get

Eastley

man, they finish with another MCW special at the end

8

How much nicer must the experience be for Bryce, when he comes in to the rotation for Seth, sharing the court with 4 rotation level, NBA ready players?

Also, I love watching Micic: https://youtu.be/UMPmX6arnio?si=fszXwJ-ZNJFuiz9d.

9

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality
Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see

10

Like a few people said during the chat, I was disappointed to not get a chance to see Scoot. I hadn’t really paid much attention to Portland this year, but man they look bad. We honestly didn’t look great either, at least offensively. The second unit offense was noticeably more sluggish with Bertans and Seth out. Not that this is a news flash at this point, but Micic and Mann definitely look like long term key pieces. We won both the Dallas and OKC trades in a landslide. Also, Cody and Nick were giving flashes of Penny and Shaq. They were fun to watch. Still not fully embracing Cody as a PG, but he was dropping some nice dimes last night.

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11

I’m okay with Cody being the third/emergency point guard. I’m still ready for Cody to drop down to 20-24 minutes per game. I think that’s his sweet spot.