Dang them Hornets. Surprise team this year?

[Gary]

Looks like this year might be a decent one for the Hornets.

They have BJax, Peja, Chandler, Paul, Butler, West, and Mason. They have had so many moves this off-season. Am I correct in saying they still have these players?

Give them two years to develop Simmons and waive Armstrong (hehe he will be a bust!) and they will be contenders.

They still have holes to fill at the PF/C position, but if I had to guess I think they would be the suprise team this year. Paul has a year under his belt, they definitely have shooting with BJax, Butler, Peja, Mason, and Paul is the need it. They have Chandler to block some shots, and rebound. West is an above average PF that can score, and rebound a bit. The only thing I am worried about is if they will gel (which I'm not that worried about with Paul running things)

C - Chandler/(Simmons/Armstrong)
PF - West/(Armstrong/Simmons)
SF - Mason/Butler
SG - Peja/Butler
PG - Paul/BJax

 

[Kings113]

Two of their core players are declining, and oft-injured. They have little to no inside offense, and a young starting front-court of Chandler/West that has size issues (mass for chandler, height for West). That could well hinder Simmons/Armstrong's development, which is where their inside offense should come from down the line. Their perimeter defense is average/decent.

No doubt they have a good young big man group, and have gotten outside shooting in Peja/B-Jax/Re-signing Butler, which they didn't have much of last year aside from Butler. And of course, a stud in Chris Paul.

They're definitely an improved team, and should make the playoffs as a lowish seed. I don't see them storming the league or western conference.

 

[Fillmoe]

they will make the playoffs...

 

[ImAKing]

C - Chandler/(Simmons/Armstrong)
PF - West/(Armstrong/Simmons)
SF - Mason/Butler
SG - Peja/Butler
PG - Paul/BJax

Peja at the 2?

 

[Kings113]

Yup:

After acquiring Peja Stojakovic to start at shooting guard, ........ Coach Byron Scott has said the 6-foot-10 Stojakovic, who agreed to a five-year, $64 million contract with the Hornets on Wednesday, will likely start at shooting guard.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2519566

 

[walker60]

I don't think they are even a lock to make the playoffs. Last year, their expected record was 31-51. For whatever reason they managed to get 38 wins. B-Jax is a downgrade from Claxton and Brown and Chandler might be a push. The two rookies might not produce much in year 1. Adding Peja helps, but altogether, I could see them making the lottery again. Playoffs are certainly possible, but by no means would I bet money on it.

 

[RaY Z]

with mason by his side i rekon peja can play the 2... but yeah they'll of course swith around on defense...

 

[BMiller52]

Two of their core players are declining, and oft-injured. They have little to no inside offense, and a young starting front-court of Chandler/West that has size issues (mass for chandler, height for West). That could well hinder Simmons/Armstrong's development, which is where their inside offense should come from down the line. Their perimeter defense is average/decent.

No doubt they have a good young big man group, and have gotten outside shooting in Peja/B-Jax/Re-signing Butler, which they didn't have much of last year aside from Butler. And of course, a stud in Chris Paul.

They're definitely an improved team, and should make the playoffs as a lowish seed. I don't see them storming the league or western conference.

Who cares, those guys are scrubs anyway. Armstrong will never be more than a good defender/shotblocker(like chandler i guess) and Simmons doesn't really impress me either. West/Tyson are better and they're not old either.

I think it's a good roster but I don't even know if they'll make the playoffs. The west is soooooooo good. TWolves improved by adding James and Foye, their offseason isn't over yet. Nuggets will be a good team because they're just full of talent IMO. Lakers are decent-good just because of Kobe and Odom but they made some additions too. Memphis got Gay and Swift but I don't think they improved too much-still should make the playoffs. Suns, Spurs, Mavs aren't missing it obviously. We should make the playoffs IMO. Rockets have a ton of talent and I think TMac will be back and healthy this year. They need a four but they're still a good team.

I just don't see room for the hornets.

 

[Mad D]

I don't think they are even a lock to make the playoffs. Last year, their expected record was 31-51.

Where'd you get that number from, was it predeicted before the season or during the AS break?
Just sounds random thats all.

For whatever reason they managed to get 38 wins.

The reason was a drive a dish pg who played with a broken thumb. (Who helped improve their previous season's record by 20).

Memphis got Gay and Swift but I don't think they improved too much-still should make the playoffs.

If Memphis makes the playoffs again it definitely won't be because of those 2.

with mason by his side i rekon peja can play the 2... but yeah they'll of course swith around on defense...

Yup. Thats how its going to be, acording to the media.

 

[KingKong]

That's a solid team right there. Personally, I see Mason as more of a offguard than a SF. I'd probably go with this starting lineup:

Point: Paul
2Guard:Mason
Small: Peja
Power:West
Bigman: Chandler

 

[Kings113]

That's what everyone thought ^. Till Byron Scott spoke.

 

[sloter]

peja is a sg ... whats next, sky is blue ?

 

[walker60]

Where'd you get that number from, was it predeicted before the season or during the AS break?
Just sounds random thats all.
The reason was a drive a dish pg who played with a broken thumb. (Who helped improve their previous season's record by 20).

Well when you take the PPG that the Hornets scored and their opponents PPG, they should have had a record much worse than they did last season. They only scored 92.8 ppg. The gave up 95.6. Usually that equates to 31 wins. Somehow they overachieved and got 38.

 

[captain bill]

Hornets aren't going to make it. They probably deserve to, but there are way too many good teams in the west.

Dallas Mavericks
Houston Rockets
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans/OklaCity Hornets
San Antonio Spurs
Denver Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves
Utah Jazz
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Lakers
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings

...are all teams that should make the playoffs, but 4 of them have to miss. My guess: Hornets (talented but still too much youth), TWolves (same thing actually- Foye/Garnett might make the playoffs, but not this year), Jazz, and Grizz. Or, Rockets might still not be healthy and miss out, the LA Kobes might break down, the Clippers might be old, the Nuggets might fall apart, and the Kings might fail under a new coach.

 

[Bricklayer]

Hornets will be good, and look for Peja to have a bit of a bounceback year with Paul setting him up -- perhaps that's finally the key, Peja gets to be a #1 option on a team where he doesn't have to be the leader, best player, or generally guy that other teams really worry about. Chandler sounded motivated coming out of Chicago as well -- we'll see, but if he steps it up they are flat out dangerous. In any case, actually one of the more compelte teams in the league -- almost no holes. Have shooters, athletes, creators, slashers, rebounders, shotblocking...you name it, they have it. Could maybe use one good post player, and would look even more dangerous if they had a starting OG to put in front of Mason and move him back to his normal 6th man role. Not going to storm the league, and a lot of youth, but should have a real solid shot at the playoffs.

 

[Kings113]

Also the Wolves got Mike James and Ricky Davis on the Wolves. Say what you want about them, but they're talented. Hassell as the solid two-way swingman is key as well.

 

[jacobdrj]

Things never go as they are supposed to. We will have to see how well the new players deal with Scott and CP3.

 

[Kings113]

Also, a good point ^.

 

[Uncle Ducker]

When Petrie picked up Peja, he originally said that he envisioned him replacing the aging Richmond. At the time people's eyebrows raised. I think moving him to the 2 would work out because Chandler is a shotblocker and would erase some of Peja's mistakes on defense. Also, finally Peja wouldn't get his layups blocked by the rest of the 3s in the league.

 

[VF21]

He'll still get his lay-ups blocked. He's not going to get tougher or more assertive by having a different starting position, IF that happens. Peja is NOT a guard. Doug Christie - guard. Kobe Bryant - guard. Bonzi Wells - guard. Peja Stojakovic - not guard.

 

[jacobdrj]

I was under the impression Bonzi was a C or a PF from what I remembered him on Portland, and against Ben Wallace...

Shocked me the 1st time someone mentioned he technically played SG...

Not a joke.

 

[SacTownKid]

When Petrie picked up Peja, he originally said that he envisioned him replacing the aging Richmond. At the time people's eyebrows raised. I think moving him to the 2 would work out because Chandler is a shotblocker and would erase some of Peja's mistakes on defense. Also, finally Peja wouldn't get his layups blocked by the rest of the 3s in the league.

Chandler had a hard time of doing that in Chicago though. He would pick up way too many cheap fouls.

 

[Kings113]

Indeed ^.

 

[chelle]

I think that the Hornets will be much better this year. At least I am actually looking forward to watching some of their games since they ar about all I get down here. CP is fun to watch and I am VERY excited to see Bobby again. I may actually go to the six games they play here. I will certainly go to some.

They have a chance to make it to the Playoffs. I will not be shocked either way.

 

[sloter]

He'll still get his lay-ups blocked. He's not going to get tougher or more assertive by having a different starting position, IF that happens. Peja is NOT a guard. Doug Christie - guard. Kobe Bryant - guard. Bonzi Wells - guard. Peja Stojakovic - not guard.

Pedja is more of a shooting guard than Bonzi Wells...

 

[Kings113]

Offensively, but not really defensively, though he can stay with certain twos. I think they'll switch Peja on defense.

Bonzi's a big two-guard that can play SF because of his size, just isn't a shooter really.

 

[Bricklayer]

Peja of course also struggles more against smaller defenders than larger ones, which argues for SF. The two positions are somewhat interchangeable, but Peja just doesn't have the ballhandling or footspeed fo a 2 as a rule. Thing is, if he and Mason are the starters, its all semantic anyway since Mason can swing to either spot and likely it will just be a macthup thing.

 

[Kings113]

Hassell, Wesley, and Baron Davis... iffy for the small guards, but they can effect him.

 

[KingKong]

They need some legit bigs in the frontcourt and some veteran leadership, but I see them going far with Paul at the helm, the aquisitions they have made this summer, and other reasons Brick has pointed out. I also agree that we will see a re-emergence of Peja in the upcoming season. I'm now officially a Hornets fan.