Game details

  • Tip Off: 7:30 p.m. (PT)
  • Television: CSN-BA

New Orleans Hornets Team Profile

  • Offensive Efficiency: 101.0 (tied for 15th in NBA)
  • Defensive Efficiency: 107.2 (29th in NBA)

Leaders

  • Points: Ryan Anderson, 18.6 PPG
  • Rebounds: Ryan Anderson, 7.6 RPG
  • Assists: Greivis Vasquez, 8.7 APG
  • Steals: Al-Farouq Aminu, 1.3 SPG
  • Blocks: Anthony Davis, 2.1 BPG
  • Field Goal Percentage: Robin Lopez, 52.8% FG
  • 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: Ryan Anderson, 43.5% 3PT FG

Scope the Opposition: Hornets247.

Preview: The New Orleans Hornets just recently lost a close game at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night and will be looking to rebound when they take on the Golden State Warriors tonight at Oracle Arena.

Although Eric Gordon hasn’t had a chance to play and display his skills for Monty Williams this season, the Hornets will be bringing in one of the NBA’s best kept secrets tonight in Ryan Anderson.

Let’s get this out of the way: he isn’t anywhere close to being the next Dirk Nowitzki.

His size at 6’10’’ coupled with his shooting ability make it the obvious comparison, but it’s an inaccurate one given that Dirk is a superior shot creator.

Anderson relies much more on his teammates to find him when open so that he can simply catch and shoot. Then again, some might feel that sounds a little like Steve Novak, but again the comparison is close but yet at the same time far from on point.

Anderson is leading the Hornets in scoring this season thanks in large part to his 43.5 percent shooting from 3-point range; he’s attempted and converted more treys than anybody else in the league this year. But the former Magic player isn’t allergic to the midrange jumper or the paint for that matter. He will occasionally mix it up with the big boys down low and snatch a couple of offensive rebounds for easy scores or simply cut to the hoop and finish at the basket. Consequently, the long-range sniper is making 47.3 percent of his shots from the field this season.

He may be one of the most unique players in NBA history given his size, shooting ability and rebounding prowess. He is the prototypical stretch power forward, but sadly he is not as of yet the perfect player to pair alongside Anthony Davis given that the Kentucky product needs to add some weight to hold his own and be a menacing defensive player for the Hornets.

Nonetheless, expect the Golden State Warriors to devote their full attention to Anderson tonight.

I’m curious to see if Mark Jackson gives Draymond Green a heavy dose of minutes simply to stick him onto the Hornets forward just to make sure he doesn’t shake loose, if not the task will fall to David Lee.

Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them in the comments section or you can contact me by email at [email protected].