http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets CST Bee Hive Blog en jim@coxsportstv.com Copyright 2010 2010-09-03T13:14:09+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/the-hornets-and-katrina-a-personal-perspective/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/the-hornets-and-katrina-a-personal-perspective/#When:13:14:09Z Everything I write about Aug. 29, 2005 and Katrina is admittedly from an outsider’s perspective. That’s because like millions of other Americans, I watched the events unfold on television and the Internet, stunned by many of the horrifying scenes coming from New Orleans. I was working as a newspaper sportswriter in my native New York prior to being hired in November 2005 by the Hornets, replacing one of the team’s employees who chose not to relocate to Oklahoma from Louisiana.Between mid-September 2005 and the start of the 2005-06 regular season, the Hornets organization scrambled to fill positions that were essential to running the operations of an NBA franchise, starting with ticket sales, ticket operations and sponsorship, then eventually jobs such as mine.People I meet often ask me: “How exactly did you end up working for the Hornets? How did you get to New Orleans?” The most… 2010-09-03T13:14:09+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/collison-and-thorton-to-miss-summer-league/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/collison-and-thorton-to-miss-summer-league/#When:02:58:31Z The New Orleans Hornets announced today that guards Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton will miss the remaining three games for the Hornets in the NBA Summer League.Collison, who sat out last night due to a slight right knee bruise, was excused from the team last night following the Hornets game to return to Los Angeles to enroll in summer school at UCLA. The All-Rookie point guard is one class shy of his bachelor's degree which he will obtain at the conclusion of summer school. In one game, Collison had nine points and seven assists.Thornton suffered a bruised left shin during the game last night and as a precautionary will sit out the remining games. In two games, the LSU product averaged 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. The Hornets arrived in Las Vegas on Sunday, July 4th and started practice the evening of July 5th.… 2010-07-14T02:58:31+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/jeff-bower-post-draft-comments/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/jeff-bower-post-draft-comments/#When:15:20:00Z Comments from Jeff Bower during the six-minutes press conference held at the Alario Center this evening:“We are in the process of negotiation a trade with the draft rights for our number 11 selection Cole Aldrich and Morris Peterson to another team. I am not permitted under the rules of the draft to say anything further at this point. The negotiations will probably be concluded on July 8, when moratorium is lifted this summer. I am restricted by the rules of the draft and the transaction.”“The concept that we liked was the idea of being able to add two players. We thought that multiple picks was something that we wanted to pursue, particularly, with the opportunity to add two different types of players. We felt it does present us with those options, should the deal be finalized.”“Again, when things are concluded, it does create more flexibility… 2010-06-28T15:20:00+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/luke-babbitt-workout/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/luke-babbitt-workout/#When:14:29:08Z Monday’s workout consisted of Nevada forward Luke Babbitt, who addressed New Orleans reporters following the session.LUKE BABBITT, NevadaQ: How many workouts has it been for you?A: This is my ninth. This is about the last one I think, so the process is almost over.Q: Where do you see yourself being projected to go in the draft?A: Projections are a pretty big range. Somewhere from about 8, to hopefully 18 or 20. I’m hearing good things. I’m just trying to do my best in every workout, and hopefully end up in a good situation.Q: How difficult was it to be the only guy today to go through this workout?A: Well, I’m dripping sweat. It’s tough. Coach (Monty) Williams is a great coach who played in the league. He put me through a tough workout.Q: Do you foresee yourself as… 2010-06-22T14:29:08+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/draft-lottery-preview/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/draft-lottery-preview/#When:15:54:30Z Lottery slot: 11Team needs: Adding athleticism and size to the roster would greatly benefit the Hornets on both ends of the floor. New Orleans dropped from ninth to 21st in defensive efficiency in 2009-10, partly due to injuries, but also a result of an inability to contain penetration. The Hornets also ranked last in the NBA in blocked shots, another factor that helped clear the path to the rim for opponents. On offense, New Orleans was 30th in free-throw attempts, signifying a need for players who can create their own shot. Several of the Hornets’ contributing wing players are spot-up shooters who do not get to the basket frequently. If the team can acquire another slasher in the mold of Marcus Thornton who can score off driving layups and dunks, it would noticeably increase the diversity of NOLA’s offense.If the Hornets finish in the top three… 2010-05-18T15:54:30+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/hornets-season-in-review/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/hornets-season-in-review/#When:13:20:50Z Now that the 2009-10 New Orleans Hornets season is in the books, it’s time to take my annual look back at what transpired, as well as examine what to look for in the coming months. We’re beginning this year’s extensive player-by-player package with the team’s 2010 All-Star representative, point guard Chris Paul. Over the next several weeks, all 12 Hornets players who suited up and finished the 2009-10 season on the roster will be featured.There will also be periodic blogs within Big Easy Buzz that address and detail specific team categories (defense, rebounding, perimeter shooting, etc.) in which the Hornets may or may not need to show improvement next season in order to reclaim playoff status in 2011.As I mentioned though, we start the player portion with the three-time All-Star Paul. As the five-year veteran was holding one of his season-ending discussions with the NOLA media… 2010-04-19T13:20:50+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/hornets-winning-streak-ends/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/hornets-winning-streak-ends/#When:15:43:21Z The Hornets have played numerous games recently in which they didn’t play their best basketball, but still managed to pull out a victory. It finally caught up to them tonight in Philadelphia, where a game-long uphill battle ultimately spelled the end of New Orleans' six-game winning streak. In losing for the first time since Dec. 29, the Hornets (19-17) fell behind by 16 points in the first half against the struggling Sixers (12-25). New Orleans managed to come all the way back and trailed by just one point entering the fourth quarter. Philadelphia regained a double-digit advantage, but the visitors tied the game in the final minute. After a scramble for a loose ball, Sixers center Samuel Dalembert made the biggest basket of the game, a hook shot to give Philly a two-point lead with 25 seconds left. Peja Stojakovic missed a corner three-pointer, prior to Andre Iguodala… 2010-01-12T15:43:21+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/hornets-postgame-vs.-boston/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/hornets-postgame-vs.-boston/#When:17:30:05Z Brilliant shooting performances by Peja Stojakovic (26 points, 6-for-10 on treys) and Chris Paul (22 points, 9-for-13 on FGs) enabled the Hornets to stay within striking distance of a huge early-season road win. Ultimately, it wasn’t quite enough, as New Orleans’ upset bid was thwarted late by unbeaten Boston (4-0). Although the Hornets dropped to 1-2, this was a better performance in defeat than what they produced in winning vs. Sacramento on Friday. New Orleans trailed by just three points entering the fourth quarter and remained in contention until Paul Pierce drained a dagger three-pointer to put the Boston up by nine points with 1:17 to play. Hornets coach Byron Scott said before the game that his team’s initial progress will depend partly on how quickly they develop chemistry and integrate six new players. “We’re a bunch of players right now. We’re not a team,” Scott described. “(Improvement… 2009-11-02T17:30:05+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/hornets-pick-up-weekend-preseason-win/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/hornets-pick-up-weekend-preseason-win/#When:15:31:49Z Chris Paul said recently that although he’s not overly concerned about the Hornets’ subpar preseason play, he’d feel better if they put together a few wins prior to tip-off of the regular campaign. For the second straight Saturday, Paul helped end a mini-losing streak for New Orleans. Like he did against Oklahoma City on Oct. 10, the 6-foot point guard drained key buckets in the fourth quarter to spark the Hornets (2-4) in the final few minutes.A few topics being discussed after Saturday’s game:• Marcus Thornton’s aggressive offensive approach was on full display again. The LSU rookie went 7-for-17 from the field, scored 19 points, grabbed seven rebounds (including 4 on offense) and got his hands on several other caroms off the rim.“He doesn’t care,” Scott said of Thornton’s knack for taking the ball to the basket regardless of whether a 7-footer is under the rim… 2009-10-20T15:31:49+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/okafor-diogu-armstrong-to-sit-preseason-opener/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/okafor-diogu-armstrong-to-sit-preseason-opener/#When:14:56:13Z New Orleans will be shorthanded in its preseason opener Wednesday (6 p.m., Hornets Radio Network) in Atlanta, missing frontcourt players Emeka Okafor (toe), Ike Diogu (knee) and Hilton Armstrong (thigh) to injury. As a result of those absences, Byron Scott said after practice today that Sean Marks will start at center against the Hawks. Earl Barron will be Marks’ backup.Scott added that New Orleans All-Stars Chris Paul and David West will play “20 minutes at the most” in the Atlanta game. The sixth-year coach expects to alternate playing time at a few positions during preseason, including sitting some players for entire games in order to get others necessary minutes.The Hornets expect to take a long look at several players who are vying for reserve roles in the rotation. Scott said one focus of preseason will be to evaluate the team’s potential substitutes.“That’s been one of… 2009-10-07T14:56:13+00:00