New Orleans Hornets Tied Atop Southwest After Split Series With Dallas Mavericks

After a two-game split with the Dallas Mavericks, the New Orleans Hornets sit with the San Antonio Spurs atop the Southwest Division.  The Hornets (9-1) appeared on the fast track to 9-0 on Monday night in Dallas, but softened perimeter defense late in the game gave the Mavericks (7-3) a 98-95 victory.

The loss was New Orleans’s first of the season, ending the streak of perfection as hoops cynics undoubtedly hoped it would.  An 8-0 start under a new general manager and head coach still doesn’t mean a whole lot in this league, and while this historic beginning has probably boosted the perception of New Orleans to playoff contender, it hasn’t solidified it as championship-caliber. 

The first loss of the 2010-2011 season temporarily killed the Bees buzz, which followed them back to the Hive on Wednesday.  The Hornets came out flatter than pita bread in game two,  scoring just five points on 2-of-10 shooting in the first six minutes.  Meanwhile Dallas sank its first five three-pointers, set a fast tempo and carried the momentum through the first 30 minutes for a 52-42 halftime lead.

Facing their first double-digit deficit of the season after an offensively sluggish first half, the Hornets opened the second half the way they’ve opened most games, with fire.  Forcing early turnovers and fast-break points while shooting a sizzling 72 percent from the floor, the Hornets displayed a complete transformation on both ends, while Dallas, with Dirk Nowitzki in foul trouble, went stone cold.

The 33-point third quarter started with heightened defensive intensity and temporarily reversed the double-digit lead in New Orleans’ favor.  Like game one, the Hornets controlled the offensive glass and created good second-chance opportunities, but unlike game one, they completely dominated the Mavs in the paint on both ends.

The numbers speak for themselves: 6-to-2 in offensive rebounding and 34-to-14 in points in the paint through three quarters.  These are two evenly matched teams who both exhibit exceptional bench play, outside shooting and defense.  But if Dallas had one major advantage, it was size, and on Wednesday, New Orleans completely neutralized that threat on both ends.

Granted, Nowitzki was hitting shots from all over, but neither he nor Tyson Chandler was able to establish consistent low-post scoring.  It reflected a big improvement from game one and illustrated the Hornets’ ability to overcome the glaring size disadvantage against a talented team, something they’ll have to continue to stay on top.

New Orleans usually fights size with speed by running the floor and capitalizing on the inherent slowness of seven-footers, something they weren’t able to do against Dallas.  But it didn’t matter, since the whole team is clearly buying into head coach Monty Williams’s insistence on defensive intensity, size factors notwithstanding.

So where do the Hornets stand in the division and conference?  It’s still too early to tell, but the journey to 9-1 was unquestionably easier for San Antonio, whose sole loss came to New Orleans at home. 

And the Bees’ schedule is finally turning down easy street for matchups with the Cleveland Cavaliers (5-5), Sacramento Kings (4-7) and Los Angeles Clippers (1-11), while the Spurs battle the surging Utah Jazz (8-4) and Orlando Magic (7-3) for two of their next three.  It’s an ideal time for New Orleans to widen the gap and take control through the first sixth of the season.