Vegas NBA Basketball Picks and Tips: Phoenix Suns vs New Orleans Hornets
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Frank Martin
The New Orleans Hornets figured rocky roads lay ahead when they traded franchise cornerstone Chris Paul prior to the season. January was an example of just how tough times can be. The Hornets went 2-16 in the month to plummet into the cellar of the Western Conference.
In what has morphed into a full-blown rebuilding job, coach Monty Williams plans on evaluating his current roster to see which players he intends to keep around. “(We) are getting a read for who is going to be here in the future,” Williams said.
“Because these are the times that you have to stand up and be counted.” The Hornets will try to get February started off on the right foot when they welcome a Phoenix Suns team to town Wednesday that may again be without star point guard Steve Nash.
- Phoenix Suns @ New Orleans Hornets
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Where: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Cox Sports
The Hornets have opened as 2-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NBA Basketball Odds.
Phoenix Suns (7-13): Nash is questionable to return after sitting out Monday’s 122-99 blowout loss to Dallas with a bruised left thigh. Nash, who leads the NBA with 9.9 assists per game, is the key cog for the Suns, who are just 1-9 without him since last season. Sebastian Telfair started in his place against the Mavericks and had 13 points and six assists in 23 minutes. Phoenix has dropped four of five overall.
New Orleans Hornets (4-17): New Orleans’ futility hasn’t been helped by the fact that Eric Gordon, the centerpiece of the Paul trade, has missed all but two games because of a knee injury. Jarrett Jack is doing his best to pick up the slack, averaging a team-best 16.1 points. The Hornets blew a double-digit lead to Miami that resulted in a 109-95 loss Monday, managing just 25 rebounds in the process – the lowest mark in the league this season.
1. Nash is seven assists shy of passing Kevin Johnson as the Suns’ all-time leader.
2. Hornets center Chris Kaman has not played the past four games as the team aggressively tries to trade him for younger pieces.
NBA BASKETBALL PREDICTION: Suns 96, Hornets 88
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chris kaman - chris paul - eric gordon - kevin johnson - monty williams - new orleans arena - new orleans hornets - phoenix suns - sebastian telfair - steve nash
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