Gameday Pr0phile - Hornets

Los Angeles Lakers

(24-22, 3rd Pacific)

NO/OKC Hornets

(23-22, 4th Southwest)

Lakers Team Stats
Offense 98.7 ppg, 20.1 apg, 42.7 rpg
Defense 97.1 ppg, 20.6 apg, 40.9 rpg

Hornets Team Stats
Offense 91.6 ppg, 18.3 apg, 40.4 rpg
Defense 92.8 ppg, 18.2 apg, 40.9 rpg

Season Series
The teams have not met this season.
Last Meeting:

Lakers swept last season’s series, 3-0

image courtesy Reuters / Scott Padgett

Top 6 Lakers

PG Smush Parker 11.7 points, 3.0 assists, 3.1 rebounds
SG Kobe Bryant 35.7 points, 4.3 assists, 5.6 rebounds
SF Devean George 6.2 points, 1.0 assists, 3.8 rebounds
PF Kwame Brown 5.9 points, 0.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds
C Chris Mihm 10.6 points, 1.0 assists, 6.8 rebounds
6th Luke Walton 4.4 points, 2.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds

Top 6 Hornets
PG Chris Paul 16.5 points, 7.6 assist, 5.6 rebounds
SG Kirk Snyder 6.8 points, 1.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds
SF Desmond Mason 10.1 points, 0.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds
PF David West 17.0 points, 1.2 assists, 8.0 rebounds
C “MVP”J Brown 9.3 points, 1.3 assists, 7.7 rebounds
6th Speedy Claxton 12.4 points, 4.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds

Key Matchup: Smush vs. Paul and Claxton
Not to sound like a broken record, but there are two spots where the Lakers have clearly struggled defensively this season: PG and wherever Odom is playing. Witness the performances of Raymond Felton, a lowly rookie, against Smush: 16-8-7. Smush, meanwhile, has done a pretty good job offensively (shooting 45%, 39% on 2s and 3s). If he could improve his FT percentage, he might be able to mask his poor D. Given the way Chris Paul is playing, however, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him drop a triple double on Smush.

Personally, I’m not sure why Sasha isn’t playing even more than he is. He is a better rebounder, works harder on D, passes just as well, and hits his FTs. If he could get his shooting percentage up above 40, he would be my starting PG.

Featured Peformers
Kobe Bryant 30 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds
Chris Paul 19 points, 8 assists, 5 rebounds

Outlook
I’ve looked foolish several times this season (talking trash about Peja recently, for instance), so why not do it again? There’s little indication that LA will win this game. Even with Odom, it would be a tough game. Call it a hunch, but I think LA is going to snap out of it…provided Mihm plays. Mihm is questionable with a shoulder injury.

The Hornets have added depth with Williams and Hunter down low. They like the way Snyder is playing on D, and they were already a decent team. They may have just guaranteed themselves a playoff spot with the moves. Look for Paul and Kobe to both go off, but who will step up to ease the burden for each? The Hornets have David West and MVPJ Brown. LA has…Mihm, who’s injured…Devean? Cook?

Lakers 96
Hornets 94