Caught the hornets on real trainning camp NBATV last night. Man, they have built a solid team with Peja, Bobby, Chandler. Yesterday they were practicing offensive sets such as Chris Paul penetrating and kicking out to Peja, setting screen to free up David West for elbow jumpers, swinging the ball around quickly for open shots. Looks to me they have a balanced team and Byron Scott can have them play good D too. They are the dark horse in the West this year.
i dont know how much of a dark horse they can be after their offseason aquisitions. But you are right, they will be a dangerous team.
I'll take the under. A lot of people think they are "dangerous" but I don't like their team or coach that much. Peja is a wimpy choker and Tyson Chandler will never get much better than he is now.
I agree. They don't have a legit starting 2-guard (Bobby Jackson?) and they do not have any scoring in the paint or block. David West just shoots jumpers. If they play defense like Chicago does (another team that has no inside scoring), then maybe they can do some things but that is a real stretch. Their bench has it's issues as well. I think they'll fight for a 7 or 8 seed but I think they come up just short.
What about Desmond Mason. I think he played the 3 the past few seasons but he can also play the 2, i believe.
not every single team can get better during the offseason. there is always the same number of wins and losses to go around. tyson chandler and peja are good but they wont get you better then average in the west this year.
Peja and Tyson are two of the biggest wimps in basketball. I know Chris Paul and David West are nice players, but all of this "darkhorse" talk makes me want to point out that this team still doesn't have a post player worth a crap and won't play defense.
Yea he can but I don't think he fits that team at all. He's most effective if they are going to constantly run and that will be the biggest source of their scoring like Phoenix. But, I don't think they have that in mind bringing in Chandler and Peja. I think they are trying to model themselves after what the Bulls have put together. That means he has to shoot worth a lick, which he doesn't and they do not have enough around him to compensate for it.
I do not think they will make the play-offs, i actually think they will nt even be close. But we will see.
the Hornets will be an intriguing ream to follow the progress of. I'm also not sold on Stojakovic and Chandler, but you never know, it will be fun either way. David West is a solid performer. Should be even better this season. Paul is for real too.
the whole nba took them lightly last season, so they had a good year. they were much better than people thought. well, this season most teams will come prepared for them. i'll take the under on them too. playoff team? yes. second rounder? no.
They can probably make the playoffs but will be a low seed. They need to post a better record than.. Dallas Phoenix San Antonio Houston LA Clippers LA Lakers Sacramento So I predict 7th or 8th seed for them, with another dismal playoff performance by Peja.
I think the NBA should just make a special rule this year and let 10 west teams into the playoffs and only six east teams...
Wouldnt work right in the west how is the second round go with 5 teams? I would prefer just a larger 1-16 playoff seeding with both conferences that way you have for sure the best two teams playing in the finals regardless of conference. They should make it so all division winners get a seed, but overall seeding is done by record. that way a team from the atlantic isnt seeded higher than a team from the west just because they won their division.
I do not think they will go further than 2nd round either, but this is an interesting team, and can not be taken lightly. My guess is that they probably wont put much offense focus inside, and will use Chandler mainly as a rebounder/brusier/screen guy, which he probably will do a adequate job. They practiced a lot screen and shoot, penetrate and kick out. It seems they know what their strength is. Kinda reminds me of the Suns. I caught Wizards yesterday too. I was not impressed at all. They are hyped as a legit challenger to the heat this yeat, I dont see that is happening.
Paul looks like type to make players around him better, ie West last year.... Peja will benefit big time from Paul, and Chandler just needs to board and block... i could see them winning 40 games at most
They'll be a very streaky team. Every game will be decided by their shooting %. I can see them hitting 60% of shots one night and 35% the next. They can't shut teams down with their defense or win a game by severly out rebounding the other team.
hes on my fantasy squad......so whenever the rockets play the NOK ill have to abandon my fantasy team and hope that david west gets shut out. oh wait, i just remembered i have CP3 too.....oh darn, i guess on those night when we(rockets) play them and win, my fantasy team is going to have to suffer. anways go rockets!
