2007 NBA New Orleans Hornets
Big Easy pro basketball team looks for goodbye playoff gift for OKC
Advice is given on how to improve the 30 NBA teams prior to the 2007 trade deadline. This installment: New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
It’s been a turbulent two years for the New Orleans Hornets due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Oklahoma City became a great substitute home for the NBA team and though last year was fairly much a wasted season, they have inserted themselves into the playoff conversation this year with much improved play. The major change has been fourfold: 4 additions that have each contributed to the team’s better results this time around.
Tyson Chandler has brought Ben Wallace-like presence to the middle that this franchise hasn’t had since Zo Mourning guarded the paint in Charlotte. He’s second in the league with over 12 boards a contest, and he averages almost 14 per in home games, a major reason why NO/OKC is a nice 17-11 at their respective home courts. Peja Stojakovic was lighting as their leading scorer until he was sidelined with back problems. Bobby Jackson has brought fire and a bit of production in his familiar role as a valuable sixth man. And the pickup of the year has to be Devin Brown, cut by Golden State late in ’06, who has taken up much of Peja’s minutes while giving them 12 points and 5 rebounds per.
Chris Paul has not made a quantum leap from his rookie season, but 17 points and 8.6 assists show no backpedaling. His assist/turnover ratio is better at 3.5/1, and he’s improved as a three ball shooter. He shows maturity far beyond his years of experience, and he is one of the best defenders NBA-wide from the point position. There isn’t much more you could ask from a second-year floor leader, unless it was to morph into Magic Johnson.
Desmond Mason is having a quiet solid year, and Jannero Pargo has developed as a backup point. The remainder of the bench is anonymous, but the top 8 – 9 with Peja’s return – are as solid as any other 5-8 current seed in the West, and I would argue the equal of any team in the East save Washington. Byron Scott, who received so much heat when the roster was turned over after the move from Charlotte, is now looking like a genius. He appears to have matured as a coach, which doesn’t happen often with ex-players – they usually have it (see Avery Johnson) or they don’t (see Quinn Buckner).
This team is stable for now, management should stay pat during the trading frenzy that may erupt the next few days. The key to their playoff dreams this year is of course the quality of play Stojakovic shows as he returns soon from the back surgery of eight weeks ago. If he can shake off the rust quickly, this is a better team than Minnesota and Golden State without question, and so it will then be a horse race between them and the Clippers for the right to be served up to Dallas. Not so fast though – if there is a team with a chance to pull off a first-round shocker, I would argue it is these Hornets, who want to give the city of Oklahoma City a gift of gratitude for the tremendous support given them while their New Orleans home base recovered.
Next: Clippers Need to Cut Ties
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