Hornets Preview
Ron Hitley from Hornets 24/7 helps us preview the 2007 New Orleans Hornets.
The pre-season is underway and the regular season jumps off in less than a month (Oct. 31), so it’s probably time to start previewing the 2006-2007 NBA season. With the help of some of the most prominent hoop writers on the web (bloggers and newspaper columnists), we’ll be taking an in-depth look at each one of the 30 teams.
Today, Ron Hitley from Hornets 24/7 helps us preview his team, the New Orleans Hornets.
SLAM: The Hornets surprised a lot of people last year by almost making the playoffs. What does the team need to do to make the leap to the next level?
RH: I truly believe that if the Hornets stay healthy, they could win the whole damn thing. Think about it, Chris Paul is already one of the best point guards in the league and he’s only going to get better. Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic are on a mission to prove they’re better than they showed last season. David West is coming off the best season of his career where he showed the potential of a 20-10 guy. Bobby Jackson will fill the void left by Speedy Claxton. Desmond Mason has apparently been reworking the weakest part of his game — his jumper — all summer long and will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing season. Re-signing Rasual Butler was underrated, as he can provide a much-needed outside scoring punch off the bench. Add to that a pair of promising rookies and some wild cards (Jannero Pargo, Linton Johnson) and the Hornets can be as good as anyone in the League, IF they stay healthy.
Unfortunately, that’s a big if, given the past medical bills of Chandler, Stojakovic, Jackson and West. Keeping everyone in uniform is the key to taking the next step, and if that happens, that step will be a big one.
Speaking of surprises, David West made a name for himself last season. How long before he’s an All-Star?
Ain’t gonna happen. He was great last season, and if the Hornets had kept that team together, West may well have made a case for the ASG in Vegas. Given the reality, expect his scoring to dip slightly now that Stojakovic is in the mix. Without a doubt, West is a vital member of the team, and I’m sure he’ll be able to bust out for some big games this season when defenses focus too much on slowing Peja. But David West an All-Star? Nah.
You follow this team closely. Just how good is Chris Paul?
During the off-season, one so-called online expert ranked Chris Paul as the sixth-best point guard in the NBA. Another ranked him ninth. Stat heads compared his rookie season favorably with that of Magic Johnson. Simply put, Chris Paul is already one of the best point guards in the NBA, and he just turned 21. He’s got the right attitude, tools and opportunities to keep getting better. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody not named LeBron or Dwyane. It’s entirely likely he’ll become the best point guard the NBA has ever seen. And, most important of all, he has two eyebrows.
How well do you see Peja fitting into Lord Byron’s system?
The two have history from their days in Sacramento, so they know what to expect from each other. That said, Scott didn’t exactly warm to the last one-dimensional European sharp shooter the Hornets signed (see: Macijauskas, Arvydas). He also rode JR Smith hard last year for not contributing defensively. Scott has addressed these concerns during the offseason, saying the Hornets didn’t promise Stojakovic $64 million to take charges and block shots. If he keeps that in mind and gets Peja plenty of open looks within the Princeton offence, it should all work out just fine.
Alright, enough foreplay, how will the Hornets fare this season?
As a fan since the days of ‘Zo, LJ and Muggsy, I know the Hornets aren’t lucky enough to go a full 82 games without enduring some significant loss due to injury. This won’t be a storybook season. It won’t be the Saints on September 25th. But the team should be better than they were a year ago. A ten-win improvement is realistic, which gives the Hornets 48 wins and a playoff berth. Chris Paul’s first trip to the postseason will be something to Witness, and if it doesn’t extend beyond seven games, consider the entire season a failure.
15 Responses to “Hornets Preview”
Oct.17 at 9:27 am
Hype says:
Fine fine, I concede that Chris Paul is not Bert :p
Oct.17 at 11:01 am
Young C says:
I like Chris Paul and everything, but i think people are going a little too far saying he could be the best point gaurd the NBA has ever seen. Hes only been in the league 1 year. And he is barely 6 ft tall. Everyone knows most of the best point gaurds are the big durable ones like Magic(6′9′’), Kidd(6′5′’), and Payton(6′4′’). Even Steve Nash is 6′3′’.The smaller ones tend to be injury prone & have shorter careers. Yeah guys like Stockton(6′0′’) and Mark Jackson have had successful careers, but neither of them would be considered number 1 on the list of best point gaurds of all time.Also, would those guys be as successful now with the improved athleticism in the league? And in the future size will matter even more with all these bigger, stronger, and faster athletes.
Oct.17 at 11:43 am
TrippleX says:
My Top 5: Nash, Dirk, Gasol, AK47 and Kobe
Oct.17 at 12:05 pm
t dot j. says:
cp3 is a baller, dude can play. tdot………………..
Oct.17 at 12:10 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
^^ understatement of the hour
1
Oct.17 at 12:48 pm
Dj says:
i bet paul has BOAT (best of all time) potential. Isaiah, Tiny, Cousy, stock were all short points who still had great careers.
Oct.17 at 1:29 pm
MD Shuai says:
Stockton holds a ton of assist records, and dude played until he was about 50. That’s one of the things I would look for in greatest PG of all time. I’m not saying he is…but dude could play. That having been said, I never really liked him, nor Malone for that matter, and nothing made me happier than seeing him run to LA with the gleam of a ring in his eyes, and then not play in the last game of the Finals as the pistons steam-rolled them. One of the only times the team I’ve wanted to win has actually won - since Jordan and Pippen left Chicago, at least.
Oct.17 at 2:03 pm
kingstuffs says:
yal are forgettin about probably the best
guard we have had the last few years….
iverson…and hes wut 6′2″ on a good day
so gaurds aint gatta b tall 2b great
Oct.17 at 4:32 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
^No, but it helps
1
Oct.17 at 5:00 pm
H to the izzo says:
He’ll have to average 10asts per game this year and I think he will-he’s that good
Oct.17 at 7:05 pm
Noah Doucette says:
i dont think he has to avg 10. its not his assists that need a boost its his range. not that chris isnt good, he had a great rookie year and did better then expected. but he cant knock down the three consistantly. so i think if he increases his range he’ll really open up his game and have everything, points, steals, assists, range and ft/fg %’s. fantasy powa-house!
Oct.17 at 8:58 pm
Young C says:
Im not saying Chris wont be a great player and have a great career. Call me Phil Jackson, but I like my point gaurds bigger. All im saying is, I’d rather have Shaun Livingston(6′9′’), Kirk Hinrich(6′4′), or even Raymond Felton(6′3′’) as the point for my franchise the next 7 years than a barely 6ft little man. And dont even get me started on Iverson. Hes even worse because hes not a point gaurd, hes a barely 6 ft shooting gaurd. I love Allen but I wouldnt want to build my franchise around him, and Im a 76ers fan.
Oct.18 at 12:32 am
steve p says:
you would seriously rather have raymond felton than chris paul? feltons own mother would rather have chris paul on her favourite team then her son.
Oct.18 at 1:37 am
Young C says:
Peep Felton’s stats after the second half of the season. If he had those stats all year he would have had the same year as Chris. Chris just adjusted to the NBA a little sooner. If Felton’s or even Deron William’s stats are just as good or better than Paul’s this year, I think alot of people are gonna look stupid for jumping on Chris’s d!ck so soon. He was a great rookie, Ill give him that. But lets see how things play out…
Oct.18 at 8:49 am
A_B says:
Chris Paul and 10 assists? He likes to score to much he loves scoring I think he takes more pride in his scoring then in his passing I’m thinkin 20 3 and 7/8 this year for CP3 and best pg ever no way