That's ridiculous. That's what great teams do. How often do great teams break the momentum of other good teams and send them spiraling off? It happens all the time. We did that to Denver last year when they were hot. Denver didn't recover well after that loss. You don't think that 2 losses to contenders broke the spirit of New Orleans and caused them to choke tonight? They missed free throws, they had bad fouls. When you have a young talented team like the Hornets, it's about confidence more than anything. When they are confident, they play like champs, when not they lose to the Wizards. Peja was shooting 60% from 3 points land the past few games and after being defended by Shane and Bruce Bowen he went to his old choking self. 4-16 tonight Being shallacked by the Rockets and Spurs broke their confidence and momentum
...indeed... I like to think it's because BOBBY JACKSON was key for them! CLEARLY the Hornets are terrible without their Bobby J.
Watched the last 6 minutes and the Wizards were like a race car with 3 flat tires. No Gilbert, no Butler and Jamison was way off his game. They went to Stevenson every time down the floor. He did the best he could but it wasn't that great. The Hornets just blew the lead because their offense was stale like 2 week-old bread. Their chemistry is really messed up. The only play that looked good was when Peja came off a pick and tossed up a lucky 26 footer that went in. It also seemed like the refs wanted the Hornets to win. That last play was great! The Hornets are crumbling and searching for answers.
That's questionable logic. I think quite the opposite is true. The Hornets had won five in a row when the Rockets met them and they actually went into their house and broke their momentum which is difficult to do when a team is on a roll First, they were 37-19, now they are 37-20 still a great record Second, each contender has had 2 bad losses this year. Bad losses happen and have happened to everyone. Third, I believe the Rockets and San Antonio broke the Hornets' spirit. Fourth, if they spiral out of control, it's because a wilful team like the Rockets and Spurs put them in that position to doubt themselves.
Hornets shot 55% from the FT line and gave up 11 steals to the Wiz - that's where they lost the game right there. Looks like NO, GS, and Denver are going to be competing for the last 2 spots in the playoff race.
I agree... the Rockets win there was sound and thorough. ... which means they're not as good as people thought -- taking some of the shine off the win. No big deal. It's just an observation ... you may be right. You won't see me going crazy to defend it.
The next step of becoming an elite team is to blow out a team that has played the night before and does not have its main players healthy.
i think the NO were definately overachieving. they aren't a bad team, but no way are they #1 in the west as their record was before their recent slide.
No it doesn't. The Hornets had won five in a row coming into that game. You put a 20 point whipping on the team with the best record in the conference there is nothing to take away from that.
The downside of this inspiring Wizard victory over Hornets is that Yao may have to suit up and play with a sprained ankle tomorrow.
