Hornets Updates, 2/9

Will show his value by the next game rather than last night. The Bulls are a terrible matchup for Hornets.

On Mike and Mike they discussed tanking a lot this year. Specifically tanking for a shot at Andrew Luck. However, I think their point applies to the Hornets well.

Golic was always against tanking. As the player in the arena that makes perfect sense. “You play to win the game,” it was once said. The coach also plays to win the game.

Greenberg would come back that as a fan, you hope for championships or the ability to compete for championships. And as a fan not directly involved in the arena we as fans can have a longer view.

Going .500 this year and being the 9th or 10th best team would be a negative for THIS team. At the same time for Minnesota (or going back to OKC three or so years ago) it was a positive. Tanking is never popular, but I hardly call what the Hornets have done tanking. They are not losing on purpose (despite what the fourth quarter turnovers make fans think at their lowest point). The Hornets are putting forth effort, they are trying and they are playing generally sound basketball within their capabilities.

I watched last night on ComcastSports Chicago. Their commentators mentioned that the Hornets play good basketball they lack elite talent. I agree with this assessment. Our four through ten players are above average compared to the rest of the NBA. The problem is our one through three players (with Gordon) have no business being one through three in the NBA. You only get elite talent through the draft (being terrible, correctly evaluating talent, good coaching) or free agency (being an “it” market, having an elite talent who attracts others).

The Hornets are in excellent shape going forward. The roster shows much more promise than the pre-CP3 Hornets. We need elite basketball players. Hopefully Gordon is healthy and he is one, hopefully we continue to be terrible and our lottery pick becomes another and maybe we can strike it rich with Minnesota’s or the Knicks’ pick.

Ettore Messina talked at Radio24, in Italy, on the three Italian players in the NBA: Andrea Bargnani, Danilo Gallinari and Marco Belinelli. The first two are actually out due to injuries.

“Amongst the three Italian NBAers, Marco Belinelli is the one I know less. But also the one I admire the most. He is stubborn and determined. It could be easy for him to go back to Europe and monetize his American experience with a rich contract. But it is just his grit and determination that make him an example for all those talented players that do not accept to put themselves at stake on an NBA court. Gallinari? Recently Denver defeated us and the following day, out technical meeting was just dedicated to the ‘damages’ provoked by Danilo Gallinari. Within the Nuggets he found space and confidence and coach Karl way of playing fits himself perfectly. He will grow even more. Bargnani? He is a top scorer in Toronto but he is also facing another scarcely ambitious season. Is that a limit? Maybe yes, but it is also the occasion to consolidate at a high level. The market, then, will do the rest: maybe Toronto will build a good team; or maybe Andrea, who has a rich contract, could aim to be traded to a better team” said Messina.

Sportando