New Orleans Hornets vs. Milwaukee Bucks: NBA Season Opener Analysis
The New Orleans Hornets started the season on a good note when they faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks winning by a score of 95-91. It marked both the Hornets' home and NBA regular season opening game.
On paper, the Bucks look like a good team but then so do the Hornets especially when their two stars, Chris Paul and David West are in the starting lineup like they were last night. Both stars played well in front of an enthusiastic Hornets crowd that were happy to get a win from their team.
Paul pulled assist after assist out of thin air as if it were a magic trick and ended up with 17 points and 16 assists. His co-captain West shot the lights out, scoring a game high 22 points on 9-for-12 shooting.
The chemistry of this team that consists of so many new faces is humming along, picking up from where the Hornets left off in the preseason.
In the end, it will be the ability of this team to play well together as a unit that will spell success for the Hornets this season. With that important component, this team will go as far as their leaders Chris Paul and David West take them.
Chris Paul who underwent offseason knee surgery was wearing a brace.
After the game, CP3 gave the game ball to Monty Williams and had words of praise for his rookie coach, ''He's not just a head coach. He's more than that because he really wants us to succeed and he puts a lot of time in, so we were happy to get him his first win and his first game ball.''
New Orleans’ sports fans were batting 0-for-2 as both their Saints, and LSU football teams lost in the most surprising fashion imaginable this past weekend. The Hornets came through, giving their 15,000 plus fans in attendance reason to celebrate.
If Chris Paul is committed to the Hornets as he’s been saying he is, that commitment showed in the home opener, and then some.
This was a game that The New Orleans Hornets can take to the bank.
New Orleans Hornets Quarter Breakdown
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First Quarter: Bucks 30, Hornets 29
David West and Marco Belinelli provided most of the offense for the Hornets, putting them up 24-15 with less than three minutes remaining in the quarter.
The Bucks came from behind on the back of Corey Maggette who scored 10 points, effectively erasing the Hornets lead and ending the first trailing 30-29.
Emeka Okafor who has not made a single shot attempt, picked up a couple of fouls early and was subbed with D.J. Mbenga.
Second Quarter: Bucks 17, Hornets 18
Belinelli cooled off from his sizzling effort in the first as did the Hornets as a whole by making way too many three-point attempts that were converted into nothing more than bricks. It was very stressful to watch.
The game was tied at 47 apiece at halftime…lucky for the Hornets, because the score could have been worse.
Third Quarter: Bucks 25, Hornets 31
West led the Hornets into the quarter by scoring their first 10 points keeping his team neck-and-neck with the Bucks but sat out more than he played because of foul trouble.
The Hornets became hot as Chris Paul, Marco Belinelli and Jason Smith contributed significantly to secure a breakout lead of 79-72.
Fourth Quarter: Bucks 19, Hornets 17
The Hornets used all three of their point guards in the game, and Jerryd Bayless left the court after taking a block. West was in foul trouble and sat out most of the fourth as the Bucks mounted a comeback, but the Hornets were able to hang on for the 95-91 win.
Final Analysis: New Orleans Starters and Bench
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The Starters
Paul, West and Belinelli get high marks for both their hustle and efficient production on the floor.
Ariza is a gritty player who can hustle too, but his overall production for the amount of time he’s on the floor in not efficient at all, and this was as much the case today as it was throughout the preseason. He produced only 11 points on 41 minutes on the floor. The Hornets need more production from him—period.
Center, Emeka Okafor is worrisome and the obvious weak link in the starting five, leaving the Hornets with very little inside game. Something needs to give here, whether it's Okafor making more of an effort or GM Dell Demps getting more help.
The Bench
Jason Smith has been a bright spot coming off the bench last night just like he was during the preseason. He is consistent as well as efficient—defensively and offensively.
Marcus Thornton, who was a huge disappointment during the preseason, played well for the short time he was on the floor contributing eight points in only 11 minutes.
Jerryd Bayless did not play long enough to make any kind of judgment, but he should prove reliable going forward.
Center, DJ Mbenga does not have the talent to contribute in a backup role. Dell Demps has to bolster this spot as well.
New Orleans Hornets Box Score
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| Player | Game | ||||||||||||
| Min | FGM-A | FTM-A | 3PM-A | Off Reb | Def Reb | Tot Reb | Asst | Stl | Blk | TO | PF | Pts | |
| Trevor Ariza, F | 41 | 4-13 | 2-2 | 1-6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
| David West, F | 26 | 9-14 | 4-4 | 0-0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 22 |
| Emeka Okafor, C | 25 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Chris Paul, G | 37 | 6-11 | 4-6 | 1-2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| Marco Belinelli, G | 35 | 6-15 | 5-5 | 1-5 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 |
| Jason Smith | 24 | 3-10 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Willie Green | 12 | 1-4 | 2-4 | 0-1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Marcus Thornton | 11 | 3-6 | 2-3 | 0-1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Jerryd Bayless | 8 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Peja Stojakovic | 7 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| DJ Mbenga | 6 | 0-1 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Pops Mensah-Bonsu | 2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Aaron Gray | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Alexander | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quincy Pondexter | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 240 | 34-79 (.430) | 23-29 (.793) | 4-17 (.235) | 6 | 38 | 44 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 26 | |
Box Score Source: Fox Sports.com
