Written by Ken Trahan, President--NewOrleans.Com/Sports
| Wednesday, 07 October 2009 07:39
|
Mobile SPORTS Homepage News
As the New Orleans Hornets open their preseason at Atlanta (6 p.m. Wednesday night), they will do so without the full sting of their revamped roster.
Newly acquired starting center Emeka Okafor will miss the game with a sprained toe and soreness below his knee. Reserve center Hilton Armstrong is likely to miss the game as well with a strained left thigh.
Another prominent new acquisition, Ike Diogu, has been bothered by a sore knee which he injured this past summer. The injuries will forge Sean Marks into the forefront on the front line.
The Hornets will start Marks at center. Chris Paul and David West retain their familiar spots at point guard and power forward.
Third-year player Julian Wright gets a shot as a starter at small forward with Peja Stojakovic coming off the bench. That is the ideal scenario for coach Byron Scott entering the season, if Wright can handle the task. With a reduced log of minutes, Stojakovic could provide instant offense while remaining healthy due to the lesser minutes. Peja is entering his 12th season in the league.
At the other guard, 10-year veteran Morris Peterson returns from the basketball version of Siberia, the end of the Hornets bench, to claim a starting spot opposite Paul.
Peterson, who started 76 games in the 2007-2008 season, played in just 43 games, starting nine in the 2008-2009 season and largely disappeared from the Hornets rotation. While injuries contributed, Peterson fell out of favor with Scott but has come back with renewed energy this year and will have a shot to re-establish himself as a key contributor for New Orleans.
Newly acquired Darius Songaila, Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison will get a long look in the eight preseason games for New Orleans. Songaila will get time in West's spot while Thornton will spell Peterson. Collison will pick up Chris Paul and will see time opposite Paul in a smaller, quicker lineup as the Hornets make a concerted effort to pick up the pace offensively from last year's plodding style. Bobby Brown provides depth at the point. Veteran Devin Brown remains a defensive stopper. Of course, 11-year veteran James Posey remains the top option off the bench.
Tonight's game will not be televised. It can be heard on KMEZ, 106.7 FM and WXOK, 1460 AM. The regular season opens at San Antonio on October 28.
