New Orleans Hornets
2008-09 Record: 49-39
Anticipated Starting Five
PG- Chris Paul
SG- Morris Peterson
SF- Peja Stojakovic
PF- David West
C- Emeka Okafor
Key Reserves: Hilton Armstrong, Darren Collison, James Posey, Julian Wright, Marcus Thornton
Biggest Strength: Chris Paul
Below Pete is going to show you the level of production this kid has put up thus far. Right now it’s been tragically understated. He has been just as dominant as LBJ if not more so. He impacts every facet of the game consistently. He makes a marginally talented Hornets roster achieve 49 wins last season and that was probably below expectations. Those expectations are because of what this guy can do.
Biggest Weakness: Overall talent
This team has an elite, elite player. I nice second tier player in West and now a 3rd or 4th tier guy in Okafor. After that, meh. They have two completely washed up players in Peterson and Stojakovic. They let Rasual Butler walk which was a mistake. I really have no quality shooting guards on the roster unless rookie Marcus Thornton turns into a real player. They are hoping Julian Wright comes into his own at the three – key word hoping. The one thing I liked was drafting Collison. He can play right away and won’t do much to hurt you. Defensively he is tough and he can manage a game and make some open jumpers.
But do they have enough quality supporting players to really compete with the best in the West?
Key Player: Emeka Okafor
Who is the third guy that helps out Paul and West? It could never be Tyson Chandler he just wasn’t that type of player. He did his job for the most part but it was limited. Okafor has the potential to play just as well defensively and rebound well. Where he can really help out is offensively. Okafor should provide more points aside from the pick and roll lobs from Paul. It just adds a guy in the post you can give the ball when West is out and also adds a great high low option between those two.
If Okafor stays healthy the Hornets should be a stronger team.
Biggest Question: Will Chris Paul be one of the all-time greats?
I’m not quite sure Chris Paul is getting the publicity and notoriety he should for what he’s done in his first couple years in the NBA. Let’s start simple. Only 2 other players had as many total points, total assists and total steals in their first 4 years in the NBA: Oscar Robertson (presumably on the steals) and Isaiah Thomas. Only Thomas was as young as Paul (20-23) during that span. Being the same height and age as Paul, let’s look at a full Isaiah/CP3 comparison through their first 4 seasons…
While they are even on Points and Assists, Paul dominated in every other category, particularly turnovers and shooting %. It’s also important to note that Isaiah’s 3rd and 4th year in the league were his best and 3rd best years of his entire career. So – I think it’s fair to say that Chris Paul is off to the best first 4 years of any PG in NBA History except maybe Oscar Robertson.
But wait – I’m not done. Below you will find the top-11 single season PER totals for an NBA player in their first 4 seasons.
1. Wilt Chamberlain, 1962-63, 31.8
2. Wilt Chamberlain, 1961-62, 31.8
3. Michael Jordan, 1987-88, 31.7
4. Chris Paul, 2008-2009, 30.0
5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1971-72, 29.9
6. Michael Jordan, 1986-87, 29.8
7. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1970-71, 29.0
8. Shaquille O’Neal, 1994-95, 28.6
9. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1972-73, 28.5
10. Shaquille O’Neal, 1993-94, 28.5
11. Chris Paul, 2007-08, 28.3
The only 2 players on that list not aided by freakish size? Michael Jordan and Chris Paul. Average titles among the non-Chris Paul names in this group? 4.5.
Best Individual Season of All-Time: Chris Paul, 2008-09
22.8 ppg, 11.0 apg, 5.5 rpg, 2.8 spg, 50% FG%
I think I explained it just fine above – but I still have some extra. This season was highest PER and most Win Shares in NBA history for a PG. Arguably the best season by a PG in NBA history. The only player to have 22 points, 11 assists, 5 boards and a 50%+ shooting percentage was Magic. And Paul had significantly less turnovers and more steals.
Pete’s 2010 Outlook: 3rd place, Southwest division / 5th place, Western conference / 8th place, NBA
Well, after I just practically proposed marriage to Chris Paul, I have to pick these guys kind of high, don’t I? I have them at 5th and I think if David West returns to 2007 form, Okafor stays healthy and is integrated into the offense, and Julian Wright steps up and takes some minutes from Peja, they are a dark horse title contender.
Dannie’s 2010 Outlook: 3rd place, Southwest division / 6th place, Western conference / 10th place, NBA
This team is a playoff team no doubt. Contender? I can’t say that they are. I just don’t think they have enough total talent on this roster even if everything work in their favor. With that said, this is a team that is close. Close enough to try to make a move in-season that would make them a legit contender out West.
See all 2010 NBA team previews
Okafor: I think, even though a lot of people gave the edge to the Hornets in the Chandler-Okafor trade…people aren’t realizing what Okafor is going to be capable of playing with a PG of Chris Paul’s caliber. I think, if healthy, Okafor will have the best year of his career offensively. Chandler’s offense relied solely on putbacks and energy plays…Okafor, while not a force offensively, is very capable and I think will shine. He’s been working with Dream the past two years in the offseason…I think with Chris Paul at the helm and shooters around him, Okafor will finally be able to prove he’s a capable low post scorer with less double teams coming at him. Also, David West in the mid-high post and Okafor on the low block and mid post makes an excellent frontcourt combination on the offensive end…something lacking big time last year.
Chris Paul: I have had the hugest man-crush on this guy since his Wake Forest years. I cannot overstate my love for him. He is the perfect NBA PG. When people have “who would you start a team with” conversations, they tend to say “Kobe, LeBron, or Dwight”. I always answer with Chris Paul, and people look at me like I’m nuts. Well…flat out, he has MASTERED the ability of decision making, when to shoot vs. score, makes EVERYONE around him better, is deceptive off the dribble, improved his defense every year, can run the break and half court sets. Protects the ball well, not sloppy, confuses the f___ out of the defense whenever he drives, can thread the needle, finishes incredibly well with both hands…ridiculous handle. His one only weakness is 3 point shooting…aside from that, he is a near flawless NBA PG that is still improving. Should be rated in everyone’s list of top 3 NBA players, and will be an all time great. Just imagine if he had a guy like Bosh or D-Wade to play with, christ.
*pass vs. score, not shoot vs. score.
Greatest strength(s):
-Chris Paul (enough said)
-New Orleans Arena
Greatest weakness(es):
-Too stingy to improve roster (Financial problems)
-Road woes
-Frontcourt
-Lack of support for Chris Paul
The Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor deal is just as similar and blah as the Mets trading Ryan Church to the Braves for Jeff Francoeur.
I think the Hornets will be 3rd in the Southwest and 8th in the West.
(On a side note, the Sixers will split the series with the Hornets with each team winnning on their respective home floors. Sure, the Hornets have been 4-0 against the Sixers the last two seasons, but the Hornets talent is not as great as the last two seasons. Chris Paul will have big games though, but the Sixers will win one at home.)
Greatest strength(s):
-Chris Paul (enough said)
-New Orleans Arena
Greatest weakness(es):
-Too stingy to improve roster (Financial problems)
-Road woes
-Frontcourt
-Lack of support for Chris Paul
The Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor deal is just as similar and blah as the Mets trading Ryan Church to the Braves for Jeff Francoeur.
I think the Hornets will be 3rd in the Southwest and 6th in the West.
(On a side note, the Sixers will split the series with the Hornets with each team winnning on their respective home floors. Sure, the Hornets have been 4-0 against the Sixers the last two seasons, but the Hornets talent is not as great as the last two seasons. Chris Paul will have big games though, but the Sixers will win one at home.)