The Hornets Are Embarrassing the Wizards In Europe
CP3 (photo. Mannion)This could hurt Gilbert Arenas‘ global image, even if he’s not on the court. Anyone inside the O2 World Arena in Berlin for the Hornets/Wizards NBA Europe Live game currently airing on NBA TV who isn’t intimately familiar with the Washington franchise, probably thinks that they are the laughing stock of the NBA right now. After the first quarter, they were trailing the Hornets 36-9, and at half it isn’t much closer – 61-24.
While the Wizards – shooting 23% from the floor, and led by Etan Thomas‘ 6 points – can’t look much better than a mediocre European team right now, the Hornets must seem like everyone they’re made out to be, and more. In just 24 minutes of action, Chris Paul tallied 4 points and 8 assists, spreading the floor to perhaps the League’s most potent ratchets – James Posey (15 points, 3-4 3FG), Peja Stojakovic (8 points, 2-5 3FG), and Rasual Butler (12 points, 2-2 3FG).
Though Byron Scott really can’t be mad at his squad right now, New Orleans fans might still be concerned about the play of Julian Wright. He’s been pegged by Scott as a key member to this team’s championship hopes, but right now, he’s only seen 8 minutes in this game. Isn’t this supposed to be the time when he’s on the court getting ready for the season?
While that might leave a question mark at the three, the play of Mike James might help to further cement New Orleans’ strength at the point. With CP3 logging as many minutes as any superstar during the regular season, he’ll need a break to save his legs for the playoffs. “The Amityville Horror” (James) has looked like his nickname in this one, bowling his way into the lane and looking to get his.
We’ll keep you posted if this thing gets any uglier.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
David Brandon says:
weezy,
did i saw the wizards yesterday?? let me clarify that…hahaha!
October 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Big Sia says:
deadly..
October 14th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Dave says:
Great start by the Hornets in the first quarter.
The Wizards were shorthanded without 3 or 4 of their starters – No Arenas, Jamison, Haywood, Daniels. Still they very poor in the first half. Wizards played better in the second but not well enough to save face.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Mike says:
raymond felton
October 14th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Celts Fan says:
Julian’s been w/ the Hornets though, Posey’s still getting used to playing w/ them (and taking Julian’s PT.) That’s probably why he’s not getting a ton of burn…
October 14th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
rlf says:
the wizards weren’t embarrassed by only that, check this out
The NBA is popular throughout the world, and Arenas has a large following because of his spectacular play, his blog and his knack for self-promotion. But the Wizards are not particularly well known overseas as a franchise — or at least that appeared to be the case Sunday.
After players filed on to buses to take them back to the hotel following Sunday’s practice, an English-speaking Berliner who happened to be walking by tried to figure out what she was seeing.
“Who are the Wizards?” she asked.
When told that the team is from the United States and plays basketball in the NBA, the woman smiled.
“Oh, like the Lakers,” she said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/12/AR2008101201825.html
October 14th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
weezy f says:
@brandon
dang you jinxed them haha
October 14th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Mo says:
Julian hurt his ankle which is why he didn’t play many minutes today. Scott has been playing Julian and Posey together and they’ve been looking good on the court together. Posey isn’t taking Julian’s minutes. The only starter in danger of losing his minutes might be Mo.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Mark says:
I’m proud of my Hornets, but seriously. This is the preseason. It’s rather presumptuous to base any real expectations from these games (other than injuries… thanks JuJu).
I don’t expect there to be any real fan base for the Wizards in Europe anyway (or Hornets, for that matter). If anything, Gilbert fans, but even that’s stretching it. As a whole, global fans are probably more into Kobe and Bron, cause Nike markets the shit outta ‘em.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Micha says:
Chris Paul was impressive…
http://www.squidoo.com/ChrisPaulDunk
October 15th, 2008 at 6:14 am
boris says:
Well, seeing as Arenas doesn’t have a reputation for winning, I don’t think it will affect him that badly.
BTW dimecats, I think filtering any squidoo fishing links would be good.