Hornets Week #1 RecapBy: JJ SmithIt’s a good feeling for every fan of basketball in the nation to have the NBA back on Rolling. For the New Orleans fans the week came with a promise of better games.

Chicago Bulls / New Orleans Hornets / StatsThe first game of the season for the Hornets was against Rose’s Chicago Bulls, who came from a defeat against the Mavs in Chicago. The sold out New Orleans Arena saw an inspired Derrick Rose, coming off a 33 point game in the night before. But, Monty Williams mounted a highly defensive scheme, blocking off the wing plays with Deng and Hamilton, but letting a lane in the middle of the defense, and Rose made the most of it.

Rose goes up, and finish strongThe first half of the game saw two defensive teams fighting and feeling each other, and ended with a 1 point advantage for the home team. But, the second half stated one thing. Defense alone doesn’t win games. Rose on fire took every chance the Hornets gave, and, in the other end of the court, the Hornets couldn’t convert their chances. Eric Gordon struggled from the field and from the arch with a poor 4-16 fg, and 1-5 from the three point line , the better player for the Hornets was the power forward Carl Landry with 14 points and 11 rebounds, other two players scored in double figures for the Hornets.

New Orleans Hornets / Sacramento Kings / StatsIn the Saturday, the Hornets went on the road to face off against the Sac-To Kings. The team from the promising shooting guard Tyreke Evans was coming off a road defeat, and looking for a win to pump off the start of the season, but they saw an inspired Hornets team on the court.
The game in the former Arco Arena, started slow. But as soon as the first basket feel, it turned into a see saw battle. The Hornets were sharing the bull beautifully, and the Kings kept forcing turnovers and filling the lane effectively, attacking with the power of Marcus Thornton and Jason Thompson. And this was really the game to get back in your former team.

Ariza catches the alley-op throw from Jarrett JackThe second quarter began slow, and kept slow for the remainder. Both teams buckled up in the defense, forcing turnovers, and effectively shutting down the lanes, the Hornets prevailed in the low post game outrebounding the Kings, and converting all the freebies. But the breakthrough was in the second half. Led by the flawless game from Carl Landry (11-13 from the field) and backed up by the play from the guys playing Center (Okafor double-double, with 12 rebounds and 11 points, and Kaman got 8 rebounds coming from the bench) and a little help from the point guard Jarrett Jack who end up with 19 points and 8 assists the Hornets got away with the victory. It’s worth mentioning the unselfish play from both teams, as five guys from each team scored in double figures.
The next week of holds some big games for the Hornets, as they will face off against Kobe, Lebron and Tim Duncan, see the list below:

Greg Oden inks with Washigton…Antawn Jamison announces retirement at the end of the season…Hornets rejects Kings offer of Evans…Rockets actively shopping guard Kyle Lowry…