[Reduno]

Anyone still think this is a 50 win team this year?

I still don't. They may not win 40. PITIFUL display of fecal matter tonite.

[Steve]

I admit my confidence is wavering a bit, but it's too early to say. This team hasn't played hard for Scott for two years now -- and it's SO frustrating to hear Gerry V calling motivation/energy an "uncoachable" trait over and over again. You can't have an intelligent discussion with someone arguing from such a laughably silly premise, but he controls the mic and sports talk radio callers, particularly New Orleanian sports talk radio callers, aren't exactly the brightest guys. Motivation is pretty much EVERYTHING where NBA coaching is concerned. Everyone has Xs and Os down pat in the NBA. It's almost entirely about motivation. I can't even believe I have to say this. Water is wet.

And yet, all that said, we won 49 games last year slogging through a season where we took MANY nights off. On paper, this team should be slightly better than last year's team if healthy. I'm going to wait a little longer than 6 games to write them off (though it would be a great idea to pick off at least one on this tough road trip coming up). Too many things to be determined. Is Posey officially a corpse or is he just recovering slowly from an injury? Can Diogu help? He hasn't even suited up yet. Is West a corpse now or is he just starting slowly? These things could make a difference between the lottery team we see right now and a 6th-8th slot in the West.

[Steve]

Oh, forgot to mention the best part of the night though, which was that during the fan dance contest on the arena Jumbotron, there was a guy sporting the old school UNO FOOTBALL -- GET SOME! shirt, front and center on the big screen. Awesome!

[Reduno]

I think after 6 games I see the VERY SAME THINGS I saw last year, with my OLD eyes. Things like, no offense and no defense. Simple enough. Sure, as long as Paul is here, there's a chance but this team doesn't EVER seem to play with any emotion or care factor other than him. They just don't seem to give a crap. They can't defend anyone at anytime. Their coach doesn't seem to have any fire. The leave guys wide open for 3 (and that killed them tonite).

I guess what I'm saying is, if they look and play like last year, why should I expect anything different? I sure hope I'm wrong.

And, I don't see one win out of the next 3. Maybe they'll give Phoenix a run like they did at Boston.

[Reduno]

For those of you who follow them.........how bad is this team really? And without Paul for a bit (ankle injury) can they even get to 30 wins for the season? I thought after the first 2-3 games they'd be lucky to win 40 or so but now, seeing them a few times, I see NOTHING that makes me think they'll get near 40.

Then I'd guess Paul is pissed for having to find out about Scott from the media and he'll probably go all mutiny in a few weeks. I'm wondering with Bower's bedside manner how long paul will want to be here if they keep losing. After all, these are HIS picks mostly. They play no defense and seem to have no real drive or desire.

Now I've seen posts and some media reports and I get phone calls from friends outside LA asking me how long the Hornets will be in Nawlins. Find it odd all this is coming up all at one time. But I don't discount anything anymore.

[Steve]

This was easily shaping up to be the worst sports week of my life... with all the UNO stuff and then what looked like a sure season-ending injury to Paul. Maybe he's just a drama queen with the injuries but it looked like a bad one. The old rolling around the floor looking anguished routine, like he knew it was really bad. Then of course he was carried off the floor, no pressure on the leg. It's still a pretty horrific sports week, but at least it appears it's not a season-ender after all, even though with our medical staff there could always be a drastic misdiagnosis.

For the record, though, I would never say Chris Paul tanked a game, but while he was playing, his mind was CLEARLY somewhere else. That was as sluggish and poor as I've ever seen him look. The way the rest of the guys were shooting, this was the kind of game he would normally take the offensive initiative, but he never seemed remotely interested. He looked like he was playing with clinical depression. I don't think it was a coincidence that this happened in his first game after Scott was fired.

It is really weird to see Tim Floyd as an assistant coach. He looks like he doesn't know what to do with himself during timeouts.

[Reduno]

I won't lie....I wondered if paul would just play out the string the rest of the year because he was so disturbed, upset, whatever because he had to find out from the media. Maybe he's taking it out on bower, hoping my stinking up the joint, it would get him gone too......but then again, I"m attributing this to someone who I REALLY don't believe would do that.

Strange week indeed.

[Privateer6]

Originally Posted by Steve

Oh, forgot to mention the best part of the night though, which was that during the fan dance contest on the arena Jumbotron, there was a guy sporting the old school UNO FOOTBALL -- GET SOME! shirt, front and center on the big screen. Awesome!

Didn't y'all see someone in the same shirt at one of the earlier games? Same guy?

Or is this the "marketing help" we're getting from the Hornets?

[Steve]

Well, that was an earlier game... that post was from the Raptors game. But yeah, that's probably going to have to suffice as our assist from the Hornets...

[Tpstr]

Originally Posted by Steve

This was easily shaping up to be the worst sports week of my life... with all the UNO stuff and then what looked like a sure season-ending injury to Paul.

I told my wife if Breesus goes down tomorrow, it's all my fault. Trouble comes in 3s.