Well, the Hornets got Hilton Armstrong and his gimpy knee back on Monday, and it looks like David West could return Friday, so this excruciating stretch of No Big Men Whatsoever may be drawing to a close. It could have been a huge disaster. Yet the Hornets managed to go 3-1 with David West, Tyson Chandler, and (mostly) Hilton Armstrong out, and even the loss was against a team on a hot streak with a dominant big man (Minnesota) and was tied right up until the end.
In the last week and a half, we’ve gotten to see a little bit of what our Hornets are made of. And when the answer to that question is “Grit, heart, and hustle,” then maybe a dash of adversity is not a bad thing.
But there were two players who really stepped it up, making the Hornets a two-headed dragon: Chris Paul and Peja Stojakovic. But especially Peja, because let’s be honest. CP is always going to be CP– he was just CP to a mildly more intense degree this week. Check out their stats over the last four games:
Chris Paul
26.5 points per game (Season Avg: 21.3)
11 assists (11)
6.75 rebounds (5.5)
3 steals (2.7)
Peja Stojakovic
22.3 points (Season Avg: 13.7)
5 rebounds (3.9)
.500 from three (.415)
Bottom line: Peja played like a veteran leader and Chris Paul played like a star. (Bonus leader points to Pose, who apparently gives one hell of a locker room speech. Bonus hustle points to Ryan Bowen and JuJu, for making the most of the minutes they’ve been waiting for.) All right, two-headed dragon– now go forth and beastify thyself against the Denver Nuggets.
And you know, I was gonna check the box to categorize this post “CP3 Will Eat Your Soul,” like I always do, but something stopped me at the last second.
F that. CP3 for MVP.
Not backing down
Rather off topic, you guys see the jersey/merchandise sales they released? (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3866598)
Hornets number 8 in sales? I think just I heard the bandwagon…
And a 39% attendance increase, biggest in the league! The bandwagon is gonna flatten you.
CP3 is totally the MVP this year. It hat happens to be Lebron’s “year.”
Sheeeet, we had like a 39% increase in attendance last season from that All Star game. Totally awesome.
Cheers to Predrag for getting back into his groove; it’s what we signed him for! Free JuJuMo!
Mark– JuJu is starting again tonight!
Yaaay FINALLY. You can’t have a breakout second season (per ESPN) if you don’t give him time!
A couple more games and it’s (sadly) back to Free Mo Pete. Recognize, coach Scott. Recognize.
Mo Pete hurt his foot in a collision with Birdman though… he was having a pretty good game before it happened. Sucks.
I’ve said it aloud a lot and so I’ll say it here: haters can suck it; Peja is worth every dollar we’re paying him.
I’m giving my two tickets to Friday’s game away, but you have to pick them up from me in Long Beach, Mississippi. E-mail me at snavetrebor at gmail dot com. One of my friends is having a birthday party Friday night, so I can’t go.
Anyone know if West or Chandler will be back against the Spurs
West probably will sit out Golden State and play against the Spurs (fingers crossed), Chandler won’t. I think that seems to be what’s been implied.
EDIT: West says he’s ready to go, but it’s B Scott’s decision whether he’ll play tomorrow or not.