http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets CST Bee Hive Blog en jim@coxsportstv.com Copyright 2010 2010-01-12T15:43:21+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 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/okafor-excited-about-coming-to-playoff-caliber-team/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/okafor-excited-about-coming-to-playoff-caliber-team/#When:16:07:22Z Emeka Okafor was recently asked to name the most memorable moment he’s experienced in his five-year NBA career. After a puzzled look came across the 6-foot-10, 255-pound center’s face, Okafor said, “You know what? It hasn’t happened yet. I think that’s still to come for me.”The 26-year-old, who is currently limited by a sprained toe on his right foot, hopes to see something memorable happen for him next spring, in the form of a playoff debut. Despite putting up solid individual statistics – he’s one of three players to average a double-double in each of the past five seasons – Okafor has become a somewhat forgotten man among casual NBA fans. With Charlotte yet to reach the postseason over its five years of existence, Bobcats players have tended to toil in relative obscurity.Due to Charlotte’s lack of team success, 2009-10 will mark the first time in… 2009-10-05T16:07:22+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/athlon-predicts-third-in-southwest/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/athlon-predicts-third-in-southwest/#When:19:47:05Z When the calendar flips to the month of September, many sports fans are focused on the opening weeks of college football and the NFL, as well as the pennant races in Major League Baseball. For avid NBA fans, one of the best aspects of this month comes when numerous national media entities begin publishing their season preview magazines.As part of Hornets.com’s look ahead to the 2009-10 season, I’ll be taking a closer look at what several of the major publications are writing about the team. The first preview magazine I’ve seen so far this fall, Athlon Sports, just hit newsstands ($6.99). Like virtually every NBA prognosticator who has weighed in so far, Athlon projects the Southwest Division race in this order: San Antonio, Dallas, New Orleans, Houston and Memphis. Let’s discuss the major topics Athlon addressed in its Hornets preview: BREAKTHROUGH FOR WRIGHT?Athlon chose to write… 2009-09-09T19:47:05+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/marks-earns-return-to-hornets-in-2009-10-re-signs/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/marks-earns-return-to-hornets-in-2009-10-re-signs/#When:13:46:17Z During a 2008-09 season described by virtually everyone from the Hornets front office to the players as disappointing, one of the bright spots was the emergence of Sean Marks. Seldom used prior to his arrival in New Orleans last summer, the 6-foot-10 backup center enjoyed what was easily the best and most productive season of his nine-year NBA career. He set career-bests in virtually every statistical category, but perhaps most tellingly, after never appearing in more than 25 games of any single NBA season, he made 60 appearances for the Hornets. He also made five starts and scored the game-winning basket vs. Minnesota on Feb. 8.Marks was rewarded for his much-needed contributions today, re-signing with the Hornets to a contract. He will compete for minutes among the frontcourt reserves, potentially spelling starting center Emeka Okafor and power forward David West.In hindsight, given how difficult it is… 2009-08-31T13:46:17+00:00 http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/hornets-open-preseason-oct.-7-in-atlanta/ http://www.coxsportstv.com/blogs/hornets/hornets-open-preseason-oct.-7-in-atlanta/#When:15:22:25Z The Hornets announced this morning that New Orleans’ eight-game preseason slate will commence Wednesday, Oct. 7, against the Atlanta Hawks in Philips Arena. A few other notes on the preseason schedule: Emeka Okafor won’t have to wait long to get reacquainted with his former Bobcats teammates. New Orleans and Charlotte meet in the Hornets’ second preseason game, on Oct. 8. That game will be played in Greensboro, N.C. Once again this October, the Hornets will play two preseason home games in the New Orleans Arena. Both games at the Hive are Saturday dates, including Oct. 10 vs. Oklahoma City and Oct. 17 vs. Indiana. The Hornets will play a pair of neutral-site games over a span of three days in the Midwest. On Oct. 13, they’ll face the Orlando Magic in Wichita, Kans. Two days later, the Hornets meet the Miami Heat in Kansas City. New Orleans wraps up… 2009-08-10T15:22:25+00:00