Live Blog: Hornets vs. Celtics

(03/22/2008)

6:51

Well, it's been too long since we've done one of these. Of course I had a good excuse, having caught some variation of the plague, but I'll tough it out for this one ... and who wouldn't? Celtics-Hornets: are you kidding me? It's going to take more than some bubonic to keep me away from this game.

Saturday March 22, 2008 6:51

6:54

The Celtics' Tony Allen is out with a bruised lower back, but other that that, it's all systems go for both teams tonight, which is great news. We don't want anything taking away from this great matchup.

Saturday March 22, 2008 6:54

7:10

No changes in the lineup tonight:
West, Stojakovic, Chandler, Peterson, Paul

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:10

7:12

No changes in the lineup tonight:
West, Stojakovic, Chandler, Peterson, Paul

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:12

7:14

SUPER crowd tonight, even though it was expected. Glad to see the fans here and fired up for this marquee matchup.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:14

7:16

David West with back-to-back baseline jumpers to start the scoring for New Orleans. Good to see his jumper working, as that is not always necessarily the case.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:16

7:18

Celtics are clearly an efficient team,in case you haven't been paying attention. They create good shots early on in their possessions, and they usually hit them.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:18

7:25

5:50 left in the 1st -- 17-14 Celtics

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:25

7:34

Crowd has been waiting to explode -- their best opportunity so far has been Peja's 3 that briefly cut into the Celtics early ead. This game is being played Boston's way. New Orleans will have to buckle down on defense to come back in this one.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:34

7:35

And speak of the devil, Peja comes up with a steal - gotta love him getting involved on the defensive end.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:35

7:37

[Comment From ChrisChris: ]

LETS GO NO!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:37 Chris

7:37

[Comment From EneidaEneida: ]

Any Celtic fans out in the crowd?

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:37 Eneida

7:38

You can see a fair amount of green throughout the arena. I don't think they're St. Patty's Day rejects either.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:38

7:40

End of the 1st: Celtics 36, Hornets 23.

It's going to take a better defensive effort and some fancy legwork by Chris Paul to get this thing back ... too bad the reserves are trickling in now. They'll have a hard time making the comeback happen.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:40

7:40

[Comment From stevesteve: ]

Go celtics

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:40 steve

7:40

[Comment From horn_doghorn_dog: ]

who do you think has the beter starting lineup

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:40 horn_dog

7:41

It's hard to argue against the results we've seen so far (and the fact the Celtics have three All-Stars in their lineup). Until further notice, the Celtics have the best starting 5 in the league.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:41

7:42

[Comment From EHBEHB: ]

Rondo eating CP3's lunch. Celts shoot 75% in the first quarter. So far an embarrassing performance.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:42 EHB

7:43

Again, hard to argue with that. Rondo has 11 ... Paul has 4.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:43

7:43

[Comment From RCRC: ]

Mopete is the weak link in the Hornets starting five.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:43 RC

7:49

Yep. The Hornets have All-Star caliber players at center, power forward and point guard, and Peja is such a threat from 3-point range. The weak link is shooting guard.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:49

7:51

[Comment From EHBEHB: ]

Like the way Bonzi has been playing. If he can stay healthy that was a good trade for the Hornets.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:51 EHB

7:52

He's up to 10 ... and don't look now, but the Hornets are only down 7 (43-36 with 7:12 to play). They are slowly chipping.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:52

7:53

5:57 to play: Celtics 43, Hornets 38

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:53

7:53

[Comment From MooseMoose: ]

I have relatives in Texas. can they geta broadcast of tonight's game on computer?

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:53 Moose

7:56

[Comment From DLDL: ]

nba.com has live broadcast if you register (free)

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:56 DL

7:56

Legally, well ... you don't have many other options. Of course the next best thing is our live blog here as well as our live stats: http://stats.nola.com/nba/boxscore.asp?gamecode=2008032203&home=3&vis=2

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:56

7:57

Good options, all.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:57

7:57

This is the loudest I've ever heard the arena. Paul and Pargo buckets back-to-back to get it down to 2.

Saturday March 22, 2008 7:57

8:01

[Comment From anthonyanthony: ]

is it a sellout

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:01 anthony

8:02

Yep, we've got a sellout tonight, but the Celtics have managed to push the lead back up to 10, thanks to some sloppy Hornets play on defense.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:02

8:02

[Comment From EHBEHB: ]

Paul picks up his 3rd foul and the lead is back up to 10. Can't let stiffs like Powe and House score points.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:02 EHB

8:02

[Comment From tutttutt: ]

why and how did paul get the name cp3

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:02 tutt

8:03

Chris
Paul
No. 3

I think that's it, really. I guess one could try to find a Star Wars tie-in, but it's really just a straightforward nickname.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:03

8:04

[Comment From anthonyanthony: ]

is bonzi playing

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:04 anthony

8:05

Yep, and he has 10 points. He's really been effective on the offensive end tonight. On the defensive end well, no one has been good there.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:05

8:06

63-52 with under a min. to play.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:06

8:10

Pierce with 16 -- he is destroying the Hornets tonight.

At halftime, the Hornets trail it 65-55 thanks to a late Julian Wright 3-pointer and a rough call on West that gave the Celts two free throws.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:10

8:13

[Comment From EHBEHB: ]

Can't give up 65 points in a half. That is swiss cheese defense.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:13 EHB

8:15

Celtics are led by Pierce with 16 and Allen and Rondo with 13 apiece.

Hornets are led by West and Wells with 10 apiece.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:15

8:18

The thing that stands out to me is the lack of rebounds ... Boston is just not missing ... at all. They're shooting 60 percent from the field and 100 percent fom the line. Not many teams will beat Boston when they shoot like that, but the Hornets have to make those shots a little more difficult, methinks.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:18

8:27

[Comment From RCRC: ]

Time for CP3 to step up in the second half, Hornets are very fortunate to be only down by 10.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:27 RC

8:27	Will the Hornets come back and win? Yes. ( 44% ) No. ( 44% ) Only if SuperHugo plays. ( 11% ) Saturday March 22, 2008 8:27

8:31

Four of Boston's starting five are in double figures. This is something we're used to seeing from the Hornets ...

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:31

8:31

[Comment From RCRC: ]

Why is MOPete still in the game?

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:31 RC

8:32

Because he hits 3s? Just sayin'.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:32

8:32

Not all that often, but still. :)

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:32

8:33

[Comment From EHBEHB: ]

This is pathetic. The Celtics score every possesion.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:33 EHB

8:33

[Comment From RayRay: ]

Celtics shooting over 60%

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:33 Ray

8:33

Yep. Better defense is needed ... now.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:33

8:34

77-64 with 7:04 left in the third.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:34

8:37

How long before we start seeing a slew of "East owns the West" articles? I figure they'll start appearing around 9 a.m. tomorrow morning, with heavy rotation throughout most of next week.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:37

8:38

[Comment From SIDSID: ]

BEEFENCE

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:38 SID

8:38

[Comment From EHBEHB: ]

Paul picks up his 4th foul and the Celtics take a 14 point lead. Game Over!

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:38 EHB

8:39

Paul Pierce just complained about that foul call, but he did grab David West's junk. I don't care what sport you're playing, that is most likely a foul.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:39

8:43

This is as close to a full house as I've seen in this Arena, and folks were actually here for tipoff and pregame. It's too bad they're not getting a better show...

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:43

8:50

Okay, color me impressed. Someone in gameday promotions managed to convince Rick Flair to make an appearance ... shiny wrestling getup and all ... for a "Whoooo!" video clip for a made CP3 shot. The effect is nothing short of brilliant.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:50

8:52	Which wrestler got the rawest deal back in the day? Rick Flair ( 33% ) Macho Man Randy Savage ( 0% ) Rowdy Roddy Piper ( 33% ) Andre the Giant ( 33% ) Saturday March 22, 2008 8:52

8:52	Which wrestler got the rawest deal back in the day? Rick Flair ( 25% ) Macho Man Randy Savage ( 0% ) Rowdy Roddy Piper ( 25% ) Andre the Giant ( 50% ) Saturday March 22, 2008 8:52

8:53

[Comment From terryterry: ]

just home from work. what's the score

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:53 terry

8:53

Hornets just nailed one to cut it to 86-79 with 1:12 left in the third..

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:53

8:54

[Comment From SIDSID: ]

Whats the actual attendance?

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:54 SID

8:55

Probably 100 or so short of capacity. There aren't a whole lot of empties.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:55

8:56

Man, they were soooooo close.

Saturday March 22, 2008 8:56

9:01

A charge call wiped out a Peja 3, a piss-poor effort on a rebound allowed the Celtics a second chance, and naturally they hit the shot at the end of the quarter.

End of quarter: Celtics 89, Hornets 81.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:01

9:24

How crazy has this game been? It's crashed our live blog, that's how crazy!!!

Unbelievably, the Hornets have rallied from a seemingly insurmountable hole to take the lead with four minutes left in the game. New Orleans now leads 98-93.

Pargo was huge in the comeback effort, hitting jumpers, driving the lane, and causing general mayhem. On a night when Paul has struggled, it's such a luxury having a Pargo to lean on.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:24

9:25

[Comment From RayRay: ]

1 point game

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:25 Ray

9:25

[Comment From je2je2: ]

Gut check time for the Hornets

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:25 je2

9:26

Now 107-101 with 1:13 to play. Hornets have been on fire in the fourth. David West now has 35, Pargo has been huge, and CP3 has rallied from his poor start.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:26

9:27

Most importantly, the defense has been amazing after three quarters of meh. The Celtics have started settling for poor shots, but give the defense credit for some of that at least.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:27

9:28

107-103 with 34 seconds left.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:28

9:29

Five fouls for Paul early ... 19 points and an "MVP" chant for him late.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:29

9:29

Hornets up 109-103 with 24.9 to go.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:29

9:29

[Comment From MaxMax: ]

Let's go Hornets. We can do this

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:29 Max

9:30

The person next to me just tried to tell me something and I couldn't hear a word.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:30

9:30

[Comment From BarbBarb: ]

One word WOW

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:30 Barb

9:32

This place is electric. I am so happy for this team. They've been this good all year and I'm just so happy they're finally getting the support. And they're beating the best team in the league! Unbelievable.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:32

9:32

My ears are popping.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:32

9:33

[Comment From MaxMax: ]

What's the final score? CP3 rules

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:33 Max

9:33

Final score: 113-106

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:33

9:33

Hornets win!

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:33

9:35

[Comment From EHBEHB: ]

Great win. New Orleans deserves it.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:35 EHB

9:35

CP3 got it done when it mattered, West owned this game from start to finish, Peja did his thing, and Pargo and Bonzi added a huge lift off the bench.

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:35

9:36

[Comment From MaxMax: ]

I've bet 100 euros ON HORNETS I'VE WON 400 EUROS!

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:36 Max

9:37

[Comment From MaxMax: ]

YEEEEAAAAAAAHH

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:37 Max

9:38

That's a great note to end on, I think. :)

What a fantastic win for the Hornets! This dispelled any notion that New Orleans can't compete for a title I think, and it sets this team up for a nice run down the stretch against the best of the West.

Until next time, everyone take care and enjoy!

Saturday March 22, 2008 9:38

9:39

This Live Blog has now ended.

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