Baton Rouge got its first dose of NBA basketball in more than two decades Wednesday in the PMAC, and the game did not disappoint.
In a back and forth contest highlighted by good shooting and numerous runs, the New Orleans Hornets were able to strike last in defeating the Orlando Magic 105-98.
Even though both teams were without their stars, the Hornets and Magic played an offense filled game with plenty of exciting moments before the 4,543 fans in attendance. The Magic’s Tracy McGrady and the Hornets’ Jamal Mashburn sat out due to injuries.
Hornets first year coach Tim Floyd said the Hornets executed well on offense and left something to be desired on defense, both largely what he expected.
“What we have emphasized, we tried to do,” Floyd said. “We have not emphasized defense at all. So anybody that’s known me knows that’s ridiculous. We just never have. This offense is complex, but it’s not complicated. But we had to put a lot of time and reps in it.”
It looked like the practice payed off.
The Hornets shot 39-of-74 from the field for a 52.7 percent mark from the field.
The guards were especially effective, combining for 21 baskets on 39 shot attempts.
Guard Baron Davis shot 8-of-12 from the field for 18 points and former Magic player Darrell Armstrong, who the Hornets signed in the offseason, went 5-for-7 from the field, including 4-of-5 from behind the 3-point line for 19 points.
“I thought our guards did a nice job of getting us into the offense,” Floyd said. “I thought we emphasized transition offense in a big way and I thought that was there tonight. So the things we tried to emphasize we did. We hadn’t talked defense and we didn’t guard anybody.”
Armstrong played with the Magic for nine years and was one of the franchise’s most popular players. He scored 13 points in a 2:49 second stretch in the fourth quarter that gave the Hornets a lead they never relinquished except for a 98-98 tie with 2:31 remaining.
“Darrell is just a winner,” Floyd said. “He’s always been a winner. You saw the reason tonight why he was the most popular player in Orlando Magic history, I guess other than Shaq. But the people down there loved him. And he just plays with that kind of effort every single second of practice. When we’re down, he picked it up defensively and got a couple of picks. You saw him dive on the floor twice. He’s a pro.”
Armstrong admitted he wanted to defeat his old mates.
“I did a lot of good things and I did a lot of bad things,” Armstrong said. “I definitely wanted to beat my old squad. Fourth quarters, I always feel like that’s my quarter. That’s the second unit’s quarter. That’s when you start off the fourth, make things happen, get the crowd involved, and when you’re on the road, make a run. That’s when I really look to step up my game.”
Hornets rookie David West put forth a good debut, posting nine points and eleven boards. Those stats excited Hornets guard David Wesley.
“I liked him in camp,” Wesley said of West. “He’s really done a great job around the basket and does a lot of good things for a big young fella. He passes the ball well, has good touch around the basket, he shoots the ball well and very, very aggressive. He rebounds the ball very aggressive and is going to be big for us this year.”
Floyd said good things can be
accomplished, even in the preseason.
“I think that the fact that we can get
organized and take things out of a time out in terms of running offense and take things off the chalkboard before the game and go out and do what we’re trying to do gives experience,” Floyd said. “Our big guys down the stretch picked it up defensively and rebounded the defensive board like Hornets teams of the past have.” The Magic’s Drew Gooden turned in a big effort, going 11-for-17 from the field for 29 points.