The Matchup
New Orleans hosts Dallas in a Southwest Division showdown at 8:30 p.m.
Starters - New Orleans (1-3)
C Emeka Okafor, G Chris Paul, G Morris Peterson, F Julian Wright, F David West
Starters – Dallas(3-1)
C Erick Dampier, G Jason Kidd, F Shawn Marion, F Dirk Nowitzki, G/F Quinton Ross
Officials
Derrick Stafford, Brian Forte and Gary Zielinksi.
The (Almost) Always Quotable Byron Scott
“We’ve got to play better defense than we have the past four games, that’s for sure,” Scott said when asked how to stop Dallas.
“I’m not worried about the offensive end. If we keep giving up 105 points per game, the offense ain’t going to matter anyway. We’ve got to do a much better job on the defensive end. That’s the No. 1 goal for the team right now,” Scott said when asked about about what comes first in regards to chemistry - offense or defense
“Right now we’re 15 basketball players. We’re not a team. We’re a collection of individual basketball players right now,” Scott said when asked about the team trusting each other on defense.
“I just did all the talking. Nobody said anything. It was a question I wanted answered but nobody wanted to answer it, I guess,” Scott said about a harsh lecture he gave his team during Wednesday morning’s shoot around.
Interesting and Enticing Nuggets of Goodness
- New Orleans has scored 102 points or more in four of the past six games against the Mavericks and 95 in the other two games.
- The Hornets won the season series 3-1 in 2008-09 and a win Wednesday night would be the second straight against Dallas.
- When the Hornets score fewer than 100 points, they are 2-27 against the Mavericks.
- Dallas is currently No. 3 in the West while New Orleans is tied for 9th.
- Despite being 1-3, the Hornets are 2nd in the league in fewest turnovers per game at 12.25. Denver leads the NBA with 11tpg.
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