1.30.06 v. Milwaukee

**Doug Loudenback** · 01-29-2006, 07:49 AM

Tomorrow, 1/30/06 at 7:00 p.m., our 21-22 Hornets host the 22-20 Milwaukee Bucks at the Ford Center. The game is on Cox.

The several days preceding tomorrow’s game have been an emotional roller coaster ride for the Hornets and their fans. After a magnificent win in New York in which CP3 dazzeled the New Yorkers, the Horents lost at Boston and then at home v. San Antonio, 2 of the worst losses of the season, Coach Scott’s remarks, published in major newspapers and wire services around the country, started leading a chorus about hoping Hornets would play in Oklahoma City again next year for the vast majority of their home games. For that, Coach Scott earned the vilification of many New Orleans fans and press and the cheers of Oklahoma Citians. But, then came bad news, very bad news. On Friday, Chris “Birdman” Anderson was booted from the NBA for testing positive for “drugs of abuse.” Whether there will be a review and/or appeal of that decision, I do not know.

But, the Birdman was on the minds of the Hornets when they traveled to Memphis last night, and, after being tied at the half after coming back from a 10 point deficit, the Hornets won convincingly in the 4th quarter. Final score 95-86 before 16,228 Grizzlies fans. Andrew Gilman reports ( http://newsok.com/article/1746358/?template=sports/main ) as follows:

"It just felt a little different tonight,'' said Butler. "We're used to seeing him (Andersen) around. He's like a brother to us, and we were thinking about him.'' Andersen, who was in his fifth year in the NBA, will not be able to apply for reinstatement for at least two seasons.

But he was on the feet of Paul and Desmond Mason drew bird pictures on their shoes and stretched on yellow headbands as a tribute to their former teammate.

"He was on our minds,'' said PJ Brown. "We were talking about him all day, and we came out and really played hard thinking about him.''

And won’t we all miss seeing that gangly long-haired guy from Blinn Jr. College, Brenham, Texas, give us his special “bird” sign in future games! Here’s one for you, Birdman! Don't you know that we love you, Birdman, no matter what!

After the game, Hornets’ owner George Shinn joined Coach Scott’s chorus about the team playing in Oklahoma City next year. See http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/9193997 for example. It also appears that the Times Picayune article at http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index...1646243320.xml which said (among other things) that the Hornets had committed to play in New Orleans after he 2006-2007 season may not have been accurate. See http://newsok.com/article/1746275/ and it has been reported at various places that no commitment has been made as yet. For example, see http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/13738057.htm in which Mr. Shinn is reported as saying,

Shinn added that the Hornets have “already agreed” to play six games in New Orleans next season, but as for the rest of the matter, nothing is settled. He said until he hears from his attorney or the NBA “that a deal’s done, there’s no deal.”

It is with this backdrop that the Hornets return to the Ford Center tomorrow night. My wife (who is fast becoming infatuated with these guys, too) says that we should make a sign or a banner to show our affection for the Birdman at tomorrow night’s game. This is coming from a person that I kinda had to plead with me to come to her 1st Hornets game, but that was then, and this is now. Wouldn't it be right for hordes of us to have home-made banners/posters showing our affection for the team, Coach Scott, and Birdman, tomorrow night? We'll be in the cheap seats for this game, but we'll have our poster-board or something to show our signs of endearment.

This is the roller-coaster history of the past few days ... and it is part of our psyche when the Hornets return home tomorrow night to face the very formidable Milwaukee Bucks.

On the eve of this game, the Hornets have recaptured the 8th place playoff standing, which could not have been done without the Hornets playing their bodies and hearts out at Memphis last night (did you notice that, after Chris Paul was on the floor, his injured hand got stepped on, presumably inadvertantly?). Here are the current stats:

The Bucks are a very solid team at 22-20. Tonight, they host Boston before traveling to Oklahoma City. Their last was against Toronto in Milwaukee, the Bucks winning 108-87. The game before that the Bucks gave all the league-leading Pistons could possibly want as the Pistons won in overtime at Detroit 106-102. In their tough Central division of the Eastern Conference, the Bucks are in 3rd place: Pistons (36-5); Cleveland (24-17); Milwaukee (22-20); Indiana (21-21); and Chicago (20-23). Milwaukee is presently #5 in playoff standings in the Eastern Conference (see http://www.nba.com/standings/team_re...w_Std_Div.html ). IN NO WAY should this game be seen as a “gimmie”.

The Bucks are 10-11 on the road. However, their January 06 record has been 6-9 altogether, 3-5 on the road (including losses to San Antonio, Dallas, and Detroit). Their January road wins were against Chicago (93-92), Charlotte (103-102), and Atlanta (118-102), while losing at Cleveland (88-96), Indiana (88-112), Dallas (95-114), San Antonio (92-95), and Detroit in overtime (102-106). The Hornets “home” record is 11-7 in Oklahoma City, 12-8 if the Baton Rogue and Norman games are counted. See http://www.dougloudenback.com/HornetsSchedule.htm for more detail.

In their last game (against Toronto), Milwaukee’s starters were: Michael Redd (who ranks 10th in the NBA in scoring) (#22, 6-6, Ohio State; 25.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.1 apg); Bobby Simmons (#21, 6-6, DePaul; 12.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.1 apg); T.J. Ford (#11, 6-0, Texas; 12.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6.4 apg); Jamaal Maglorie (#20, 6-11, Kentucky; 10.1 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 0.7 apg - former Hornet traded for Desmond Mason just before this season started and who by some reports didn’t care to be in Oklahoma City); and Andrew Bogut (#6, 7-0, Utah; 9.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.1 apg). Strong bench support came from Maurice Williams (#25, 14.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 4.2 apg) who scored 15 points; and from Dan Gadzuric (#50, 6-11, UCLA; 5.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.3 apg and who scored 11 points).

In our last game, 6 players scored 10 or more points: Speedy Claxton (20); David West (19); PJ Brown (18); Chris Paul (13); and Kirk Snyder and Desmond Mason (10). JR Smith had no game time, once again. For pics, see http://www.dougloudenback.com/hornets/Hornets.htm/

When playing in Milwaukee, the Bucks play in the Bradley Center which seats 18,717. The average so far is 16,684, 26th in the NBA.

Tomorrow night will be the 1st home game since Coach Scott made his statements about wanting to remain in OKC next year. I'm thinking there could be no better time, when the team members, and lastly Coach Scott, runs throught the fire at game opening to let him know if you appreciate him here in Oklahoma City (several NOLA "fans" are already prepared to boo and heckle him for his remarks at the 1st NOLA game in March). This is the time to show your support. It may also be a time for you to remember Birdman with some home-made signs, banners, etc. Maybe he will be watching, I hope so.

I know that this is a Monday game, but, if you can, I'm hoping that all the OKC faithful will be there and let the Hornets know how they feel after this roller-coaster week.

**ibda12u** · 01-29-2006, 08:08 AM

Thanks for the update Doug, Great Job!

**Karried** · 01-29-2006, 08:23 AM

Doug - I don't have tickets for Monday but I do for Wednesday and Saturday - I agree with you - we need to support Birdman - I'm so sad about that!

Are you going to the other games, I'll make a poster for the Lakers but I'm sitting in nosebleed too so I'm not sure if they will even catch it.. season tix next year baby - I can't go through this again! Trying to get tickets is killing me!

Patrick · 01-29-2006, 03:03 PM

Minnesota, Utah, and Golden State are the teams we need to root against right now.
Wouldn't it be awesome if we could make the playoffs this year? Heck, it's pretty awesome that we're even discussing this.

Strangely, the folks over on HornetsReport are trying to find every loophole to try to get the playoff games played in NOLA, if there are any. Those people crack me up.

Anyhow, the win against Memphis, a team in our division, definetely set us on the right track.

I think it's obvious we can win on any given night. It's just a matter of putting Scott's plan to work. It's also obvious this is a young team. Seems like we're maturing as the season wears on.

It will be interesting to see what impact Birdman's loss will have on the team.

**Doug Loudenback** · 01-29-2006, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by Karried

Doug - I don't have tickets for Monday but I do for Wednesday and Saturday - I agree with you - we need to support Birdman - I'm so sad about that!

Are you going to the other games, I'll make a poster for the Lakers but I'm sitting in nosebleed too so I'm not sure if they will even catch it.. season tix next year baby - I can't go through this again! Trying to get tickets is killing me!

I've got cheap seats for Monday (Section 328) but good ones for Wednesday (Section 118). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get tickets for Saturday.

Patrick · 01-29-2006, 03:27 PM

Hey Doug, for my two upcoming games, I have seats in 322, but I've been looking at some corner seats and end seats for other games. What are your thoughts on the upper level corners and ends? Is the view pretty bad?

Looks like you have upper level corner seats (328). Ever sat there before?

Also, what are your thoughts on the lower level ends? 110, 111, 120, 101?

**Doug Loudenback** · 01-31-2006, 12:46 AM

Here are my thoughts about where I sat tonight, Section 328: DON'T take them, if you have better options.

My earlier cheap seats game was not bad at all, even though behind the goal opposite the Hornets bench ... Section 315 or 316. I had no problems with those seats. I'm guessing that Section 322 will be good just because of their position relative to the court.

But, trust me, AVOID Section 328 if you can possibly do so.

While the view of the court and the Hornets bench was good, the sound was HORRIBLE. I don't know if it was reverberation, badly placed speakers, or what, but it was impossible to understand what was being said by the announcers almost ALL of the time. Not good. Not good at all.

As to 110, 111, 120, 101, you cannot miss with any of these choices. Section 111 and 101 are near the off-court locations where segments of the Honeybees sit. That ain't bad in my book. But, they are all good, as is ANYTHING in Section 1xx, wherever that "xx" may be. Look at the seating chart:

**fromdust** · 02-01-2006, 01:05 PM

this was the first game i have been to, and i'm glad it was a good one. i was 4 rows from the court, but the best part was that i was about 11 ft from the honey bees!

**Doug Loudenback** · 02-01-2006, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by fromdust

this was the first game i have been to, and i'm glad it was a good one. i was 4 rows from the court, but the best part was that i was about 11 ft from the honey bees!

Well, that said, are you hooked yet, or just thinking about it? When you are, you'll know! Of course, it does no harm about your proximity to the Honey Bees! Love 'em!