Do the Hornets Really Need Peja to Score?
As the New Orleans Times-Picayune’s Teddy Kider writes, it’s not all about the stats for Peja Stojakovic. Even though everyone in the Big Easy was hoping Byron Scott would devise a plan for Peja to shake loose from Bruce Bowen’s mortal grip during games three and four, Peja was effective in game five by simply keeping Bowen occupied.
“You may look at the box score or something and say his production is limited, but with Peja out there on the floor, if they’re staying glued to him, that’s how David West gets 38 points,” Chris Paul said. “It’s all about winning right now, so Peja’s out there on the court. Whether he takes a lot of shots or misses or whatever, as long as he’s out there, it creates mismatches.”
“We know how to win even when he’s not scoring big points, but also he had 11 rebounds,” Byron Scott said. “He did a pretty good job on Ginobili as well.”
Assuming David West doesn’t repeat with the game of his life, can the Hornets win without getting more than a 9 point (3-8 FG, 1-2 3FG) night from Peja?
May 15th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Kobe says:
maybe
May 15th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Kobe says:
KB24 > CP3
May 15th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Kobe says:
third!
May 15th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Damon says:
yes, maybe.they need to defend well, first and foremost.
its relly hard for them with peja not scoring that much, so paul and west have to have big games too. but the key is not allowing duncan to dominate,because he creates so much for them. hard to predict the outcome, leaning toward game 7
May 15th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
GEE...mute says:
No. If Peja’s scoring total is that low, then West would have to have the game of his life again.
Homecourt is going to let them take this one away though.
L.A. and N.O. coming up.
Can’t wait for those match ups. Who is going to guard Kobe for N.O……? LOL
May 15th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Prof. TX says:
Scott might end up putting Bonzi Wells on Kobe. Bonzi has a good post game but Kobe will be faster on the perimeter. Kobe will outplay whoever his defender is, but Paul will be blowing right past Fisher too.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Bobby stew says:
Yes. If Bruce Bowen is not going to double down on West or help on CP3 penetration then that’s fine. The Hornets will just get huge double-double nights from West and CP3 and continue to get rebounds and transition buckets from Peja.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
rangerjohn says:
well all i can say is WAIT TILL THE SPURS ARE ELIMINATED BEFORE COUNTING THEM OUT!
now that being said, BONZI ON KOBE? you have to be kidding, bonzi can guard ANYBODY! he is a terrible shooter, he is slow, he is over weight for his size (which slows him down) and he is a FOUL MACHINE! kobe would destroy bonzi!
now back to the mater at hand, while the hornets dont need peja to score, if he doesnt they need paul and west to play perfect games, and they need duncan to miss layups again, and they need chandler to stay out of foul trouble, and they need west’s back in good shape, and did i mention they would need west and paul to have perfect games?
spurs in 7
May 15th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
GEE...mute says:
Prof. you know from watching Bonzi in Houston that he will get WORKED!
Bonzi (what a name) does have the post game but that will be limited against Kobe. I mean it ain’t like he putting up big numbers anyway. ‘
Paul will be blowing past Fisher but Fisher is still going to harass and do probably the best job anyone can do on him aside from Kobe.
N.O. (No One) has nothing. Mo Pete? Bonzi? Pargo? nawww. Plus them long arms of Pau and Odom are going to harass West (jumper wise) just like they do Boozer. Only difference is West will work and get his anyway.
Their only real chance will be CP. Don’t look good.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
alex says:
CP3 has a good point that Peja opens up things by just being a threat. But also remember that MoPete / Pargo hit some big shots in the 3rdQ for NO last game.
IF EVER (hopefully not), NO would have a very hard time dealing with LA’s 2nd unit.
My prediction would still be Spurs - Pistons. It may be boring, but that’s basketball.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Sam I Am says:
Truth be told…Peja is always gonna get a shot or two off, and if Bowen’s cheating butt is somewhere off in the boonies of the game then they just need to shut down Ginobili and pound the hell out of Parker…
N.O. takes this if they can punch them in their mouth coming out that 3rd quarter and finish on a 6-0 run to end the 3rd Quarter….. SCREW the Spurs, they done, finito
EL FIN
May 15th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Damon says:
I hope for lakers- nawlins too, but i’m still scared of the spurs and utah. spurs because you can’t count them out in important games. and utah because they were in all games in LA until 3-4 min to go. they could have won yesterday, so it could come down to the wire.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
alex says:
@Sam I Am - you say a lot of things for someone who absolutely has no point or contribution to the discussion
May 15th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Sam I Am says:
To: Alex - FINE JERK
According to well televised statistics from the NBA and your local broadcasting of TNT, IF the New Orleans Hornets can outscore their opponent (in this case The San Antonio Spurs) then there probability of winning are 100%.
YOU CAME OUT AND GAVE AN UNEDUCATED COMMENT about how you want a Spurs team who can barely hold their own to playoff virgins like the hornets and beating a LA Lakers team who has the MVP playing for them
SIT DOWN JERK
May 15th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Sam I Am says:
lol and NO the hornets will not win unless D.West scores big tonight
May 15th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
rangerjohn says:
@sam i am
wow “IF the New Orleans Hornets can outscore their opponent (in this case The San Antonio Spurs) then there probability of winning are 100%.”
this might be the worst thing i have read here yet (and there have been many bad things)
my prediction for tonight, THE TEAM WITH THE MOST POINTS WILL WIN!
come on lmao huh?
May 15th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
rangerjohn says:
sam please tell me that was sarcasm!
May 15th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
alex says:
@I am Sam - yeah, I can see that you’re really smart. I guess you’re at the forefront of the CP3 bandwagon. Just like how people were on the GS ride last year. It’s my fault though, I shouldn’t have commented on your dumbas* post in the first place.
The Lakers are good, but they play terrible defense and commit too much turnovers. Having the regular season MVP means sh*t in the playoffs. They’re having a hard time disposing of a very underpowered Utah squad.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
alex says:
@ranger - my prediction for tonight, THE TEAM WITH THE MOST POINTS WILL WIN!
why not make that prediction EVERY NIGHT for the next 1,259,657 seasons of the NBA! lmao!
May 15th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Sam I Am says:
Alex you simple hick
learn sports and shout your mouth queer
for real…
I’m a T-Wolves fan, loved KG and am rooting for the Celts to showcase what they got.
You however probably are overweight, pimplefaced, or poor and can only watch tv while sucking quarters out your jukebox in a Texas bar.
lol retard
May 15th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Sam I Am says:
lol yeah Ranger John it was sarcasm… Alex is annoying
May 15th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
srb says:
This one time I was reading Dime posts and I saw all these people arguing but I couldn’t really figure out what they were arguing about.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Sam I Am says:
lol @ srb…
yeah I guess you right
May 15th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
alex says:
Insults are mostly a reflection of one’s own insecurities. Don’t cry now buddy.
This is a basketball site, so talk basketball dimwit.
I used to like KG too, when he was in ‘SOTA just working hard, playing ball every night. I was definitely rooting for them to beat the Lakers back in ‘03 I think. Now he still works hard, and plays great but with all the shouting, the jersey-poppin’, trash-talking, and all the staring. Some people call it intensity, but i think its way past that. A little dose of winning does change people.
I hope the Celtics lose this year, learn from it, and win the championship next year.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Kobeef says:
Wow…there, are some anger issues on the board.
The point here is that Peja contribues because of his shooting but does not have to shoot to contribute. Get it?
You just can’t leave him open/double team West which is why West can score 40 pts and still not be double teamed in the next game. .
When Peja gets open and on a roll he can hit 5-6 3’s easily…and that is a game changer.
This is a great series. You really can’t tell who is going to take it.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Sam I Am says:
I strongly believe the Hornets can and will take this series tonight.
It’s unfortunate that Peja cannot score at will like he did with the Dallas series,
However Wright, Peterson and Chandler need to fill those misc. points that West would contribute IF he doesn’t have a huge game.
Go KG!
May 15th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
alex says:
@kobeef - we all know who’s going to take it - THE TEAM WITH THE MOST POINTS!! LMAO!
May 15th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
djkianoosh says:
they’re absolutely right… as long as peja is getting that much attention (getting the bowen treatment is attention enough) then that most definitely opens things up for West and Paul. it’s that simple.
if the hornets’ role players show up and step up tonight on the road it’s over for the spurs unless all three of the big three are on the money. but the way they’ve been going only 1 or 2 of the big three have been gettin off in this series. NO’s defense has been really good.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
rangerjohn says:
here we go, got a conspiracy theory for you,
“POP WANTED the hornets to win and has been letting the hornets win so as to push it to a game 7 to show the league tey can win no mater what the odds” evidenced by the YELLOW TIE pop was wearing during game 7
May 16th, 2008 at 5:34 am
Dave says:
The only way the Hornets can survive Peja not scoring is if
(1) West/Paul have one of the best games of the season
(2) If San Antonio play below par
(3) Another third scorer steps up to the plate. Be it Bonzi, Pargo … or the less likely Chandler, Mo Pete, Wright.
The Hornets usually need a third scorer to beat top teams when they’re playing well. It needs to be someone around 15 points.
Peja is still doing a lot of good things on the floor for New Orleans (like Paul said) but someone else needs to fill that scoring vacuum.