New Orleans Hornets-Sacramento Kings: Preview

The Hornets host the Kings tonight in what promises to be a more enjoyable experience than game one for Hornets' fans. Sacremento finished last season a league worst 17-65 and really didn't make any big big splashes in the offseason aside from drafting point guard Tyreke Evans.

These guys are in major rebuilding mode and really shouldn't be too much trouble, even for a rusty Hornets machine.

Let's run through the big picture and make a prediction.

Looking at the starters, the Hornets have a big advantage winning four-out-of-five positions with relative ease (Kevin Martin>Mo-P). The one advantage that Sacremento has on New Orleans is three-point shooting. With the loss of Rasual Butler, New Orleans really only has one guy (Mo-P) in the starting lineup capable of knocking down catch-and-shoot threes.

Benchwise, it's hard not to give the Kings the advantage given the horrific performance New Orleans put on in its first game (95 minutes, 19 points on 7-21 shooting, nine rebounds, four assists, three TO). Those stats are pathetic, especially considering they are being paid over $30 million this year combined.

The Hornets win if:

Under 230 points are scored. If the Hornets get into a shootout with the likes of Andres Nocioni, John Salmons, Kevin Martin, and Fransisco Garcia it won't be the home opener everyone expected in New Orleans.

and

The Bench doesn't get outscored by thirty in the first half.

Prediction- Hornets 103, Kings 92