Two Home Debacles

Boxed Out: A weekly look at statistical oddities around the NBA

The New Orleans Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers humiliated themselves in front of their fan bases this week.  They earned the anti-hero roles for this week's Boxed Out.

Zaza Pachulia, Monday at Miami: 12 points, 18 rebounds, plus-20

High on the list of players who annoy me for no real reason.  Doesn't change the fact that this was a fine performance off the bench.

James Jones, Monday versus Atlanta: 4-for-5 from the field, 3-for-4 on threes, 8-for-9 foul shooting, 19 points

That includes two four-point plays in a span of 11 seconds.

New Orleans Hornets, Monday versus Denver: 17 made field goals, 23 personal fouls, 27 turnovers

This team came as close as possible to not doing a single thing right in an epic 58-point home loss.  Way to quit on your coach, your fans and yourselves.  Ty Chandler led the Hornets with a minus-16, and Rasual Butler's minus-18 was the only other plus-minus rating better than minus-20 on the squad.

Lamar Odom, Monday versus Utah: 10-for-15 from the field, 26 points, 15 rebounds

He dominated that series.

Dwight Howard, Tuesday versus Philadelphia: 24 points, 24 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 elbow

Great performance, and the elbow earned him a chance to rest a game in which his team evidently would not need him.

Aaron Brooks, Tuesday at Portland: 6-for-20 from the field, 1-for-8 on threes, 13 points, 5 assists, 2 turnovers

That type of shooting disaster makes it difficult for his team to win.  And it didn't on this night.

Philadelphia 76ers, Thursday versus Orlando: minus-25

Please, please spare me the bit about how the Magic's ball movement improves without Dwight Howard on the floor.  Orlando played without its dominant post presence at both ends and without its starting shooting guard, and you lost by 25 points on your home floor in an elimination game.  That's a disgrace.

Rafer Alston, Thursday at Philadelphia: 21 points, 10 assists

A big part of the reason the Sixers lost that game by 25 points.

Ray Allen, Thursday at Chicago: 59 minutes, 18-for-32 from the field, 9-for-18 on threes, 6-for-7 foul shooting, 51 points

That trade seems to have worked out well enough.

Ron Artest, Thursday versus Portland: 11-for-21 from the field, 3-for-11 on threes, 27 points, plus-14

And a win to advance his team to the second round.  Tracy who?

Dwyane Wade, Friday versus Atlanta: 11-for-23 from the field, 16-for-17 foul shooting, 41 points, 0 turnovers

It turned out to be his last hurrah for the season, but that didn't make it any less excellent a performance.

Michael Beasley, Friday versus Atlanta: 11-for-25 from the field, 22 points, 15 rebounds

Label me shocked if he comes off the bench next season.

Eddie House, Saturday versus Chicago: 5-for-5 from the field, 4-for-4 on threes, 2-for-2 foul shooting, 16 points, 3 steals, plus-11

Mansion.

Boston Celtics, Saturday versus Chicago: win, 109-99

And so ends the greatest first round series of all time.  With the good guys on top.

That does it for this week's edition of Boxed Out.  Feel free to shout out any noteworthy numbers we missed.  The Daily Babble comes your way this afternoon.  Catch ya on the flip side of the meridian.