Hooped Up

New Orleans Hornets blow 21-point lead to lose to the Golden State Warriors 131-121
Despite holding a 21-point lead in the third quarter, the New Orleans Hornets lost 131-121 to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night at Oracle Arena. The Warriors tied a franchise record with nine 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

The Warriors closed out the game shooting at 54 percent shooting from the field. They shoot 48.1 percent from behind the 3-point line. Anthony Tolliver led the Warriors with a career-high 30 points. The Warriors outscored the Hornets 43-25 in the fourth quarter…
The Times-Picayune
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Not only does Chris Paul have the ability to hit an ant in the eye with a microscopic basketball. He also possesses the ability to sleep through an incredible amount of noise like, balloons bursting, folk music and pillow fights.

However, even in sleep his basketball reflects still remain sharp like a point-guard ninja.

Featuring nine members of the gold medalist 2008 U.S. Olympic Team and a total of 11 Olympians who have captured a combined 15 Olympic medals (nine gold medals and six bronze medals), USA Basketball revealed today 27 players who have been named to the 2010-2012 USA Men’s National Team program. The selections were announced by USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo.

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You should never get credit for something you’re supposed to do, so really the news that Chauncey Billups was named an all-star should really be old news at this point. That’s right, I said it!

Sentimentality had nothing to do with his (David Stern) decision Wednesday to add Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups to the Western Conference All-Star team. It was more about logic and common sense.

“Chauncey Billups should feel like Obama in the presidential election. This, to me, is a fairly lopsided vote,” Denver coach George Karl said before the decision became official. “There’s some great guards out there. But we have the second-best record (in the West) and the man, in the last six weeks, has played better than the guys on the All-Star team. I think it’s somewhat of a no-brainer.”

Mr. Big Shot is having another stellar campaign as a floor general, averaging a healthy career-high 19.2 points and 6.1 assists with the 33-16 Denver Nuggets. The addition of Billups to the western conference all-star squad, fills the void left by an injured Chris Paul.

H/N Aaron J. Lopez

Much like every single album that has come out in the last 10 years, the 2010 all-star reserves list has been leaked and Yahoo! Sports has obtained the list to be reveled Thursday night in their NBA logo sports mug.

The Eastern Conference reserves include Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtics, Toronto’s Chris Bosh, Charlotte’s Gerald Wallace, Chicago’s Derrick Rose and Atlanta’s Joe Johnson and Al Horford.

The Western Conference reserves include Utah’s Deron Williams, New Orleans’ Chris Paul, Los Angeles Pau Gasol, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki , Zach Randolph from Memphis and Brandon Roy from the Portland Trail Blazers.

David Lee, Carlos Boozer, Marc Gasol, Josh Smith, Chris Kaman, Monta Ellis and Chauncey Bilups will all have to wait for next season.

H/N Yahoo! Sports

Christmas is coming early for 100 kids in the New Orleans area, and they can call Hornets Chis Paul and David West Santa Claus, because today the two All-Stars are taking them on a shopping spree at Toys“R”Us in Metairie, LA on Monday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. (Central)

The children who are taking part in the spree are from local organizations such as the Catholic Charities, Awesome Ladies of Distinction and The Salvation Army. Each child will receive a $100 gift card to buy gifts for others or to purchase toys for themselves. Paul and West will be on hand to help the kids shop and make their purchases.

Awesome work gentlemen!

via Hornets 24/7

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. In the first game post Byron Scott era in New Orleans, Chris Paul severely sprained his left ankle and could be out of the Hornets line up for two weeks.

With 40.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter,  Paul stepped on the back of Portland’s center Joel Przybilla’s foot after soaring to make a pass to Hilton Armstrong in the lane. As Paul landed awkwardly,  his left ankle turned and he landed hard on the floor,  grimacing in pain as he tossed his mouthpiece and grabbed his ankle.

Injuries suck and nobody wants to see a franchise player or any player miss time due to injury, but this might be the best shock therapy for Jeff Bower to realize the Hornets need more dudes if they plan on winning anything and that firing Byron Scott did absolutely nothing to improve this ball club. There, I said it.

via The Times-Picayune

Last night in a 111-117 loss to the Knicks, Chris Paul got his under the rim game poppin’ to the tune of 32 points and 13 dimes. Is there anything this guy can’t do? Sit back and watch a wizard at work!

Another van glorious season of NBA basketball is about to begin and Hooped Up does a quick and dirty preview of all 30 clubs.

A few years ago the Hornets seemed ready to shake up the west coast establishment, but now they’re hoping to catch lighting in a bottle by riding Chris Paul and his playmaking ability to the promise land.  Read More »

A new season is fast approaching and you need you know, nay — you demand to know! Who’s the best at each position in the league on a nightly basis in the ‘09-10 NBA season. So with your mind and excel sheet ablaze trying to figure out that riddle to no end. I’ve decided to take one for the team, by putting together a  list of the Top 5 players in the league by position heading into the ‘09-10 NBA season.

Up next and last , the point guard spot. Read More »