By NOBaller08
Yes, the Hornets ended the season in a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the reigning champion San Antonio Spurs, but what they had done for the seven months prior negated the pain felt by many Hornets fans as the game clock struck 0:00 around 12 PM CST last night. Its been a wild and record-setting season for the Bees, a team that was on nobody’s list of contenders in late October. I, myself had serious doubts that this team could make the playoffs in the extremely competitive West. I felt that its youth and return to a city that had one of the smallest basketball fan bases in the NBA would render them helpless as far as making the playoffs, and I was sure that we would continue to have significant injuries. I, like many other watchers and speculators of the National Basketball Association, seriously and gravely underestimated the talents and abilities of one Chris Paul. We watched as Paul led this uncertain team to the top of the West, breaking Hornets records along the way and wowing the league with his playground-style moves and tempo. We all watched not only him ascend to stardom, but also the likes David West, who, just a few seasons ago, was fighting to make the roster in hopes of not being deemed a first round bust. The league finally saw the silky-smooth jumper that he had been spending years perfecting, and his offensive prowess and talent became an example for undersized big men trying to make it in the NBA. What we’ve all witnessed is just the beginning of many more seasons and tales to come from these young Hornets.
Before I harp on our future, I would like to give thanks to the Hornets and the front office that has worked so well together to produce such a surprise team. Byron Scott, Kenny Gattison, and the host of assistant coaches and trainers did an excellent job this season. In addition, their cooperation with GM Jeff Bower has been crucial, and I expect continued success out of this tandem in the future. Gattison was the first to say that Bower is one of the few general managers in this league that actually builds a squad of players around what the coaches want in a team on both sides of the ball, and I agree wholeheartedly. Here’s to more of this season’s success in the future, and I hope we continue to progress until we can’t anymore.
So, what can Bower and the rest of the front office do to continue to improve this squad?
Get Tyson Chandler defensive help down low
A major concern all season has been depth in the post. Chandler is undoubtedly our best defender in the post, but behind him there’s nothing. Hilton Armstrong hasn’t been able to get into the rotation, and Melvin Ely has been less than satisfactory throughout the year (I hope he opts out). Ryan Bowen, who has made some big hustle plays, is terrible on the offensive end and has even been a liability defensively. We need a consistent veteran, someone that can spell Chandler without losing a lot of the offensive rebounding and defense. Maybe Chris Andersen will come around? I hope so, and I’m sure they’ll re-sign him.
Re-Sign Jannero Pargo
Pargo is currently under contract, but since he has an upcoming player option I can see him opting out once again for the big money. As much as I believe he’s hurt us at times, I think it would certainly be best to keep him on our roster. The key is how much they’ll pay him.
(Wisely) Re-Sign Bonzi Wells
Bonzi will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. While he’s performed pretty well at times this season, I don’t think it will be wise to give him a big payday. He made roughly $2.3M this year; anything significantly more might bite the team in the ass in the future. I’m concerned about his consistency and how well he fits in this offense, but hopefully he can become a more solid player on the bench for them.
Search for Trading Options for Rasual
Butler hasn’t seen any action since March 3rd, playing seven garbage minutes in a blowout against the Knicks and managing to go 0-4 from the field. It’s too clear that he’s a shell of his former self. His confidence ran out nearly halfway through the season, and with it went his jumpshot. Byron Scott has publicly stated that he told Butler that he could be the Sixth Man of the Year if he applied himself more, but it definitely hasn’t happened. He’s due over $10M over the next three seasons with no player option in sight, certainly too much for someone who has completely fallen out of the rotation with no health or related issues. It will be hard, but hopefully the team will find some sort of deal (even if we have to package Hilton Armstrong or Mike James).
Draft A Two-Guard
I think the best thing the Hornets can do in the upcoming draft is take a shooting guard. They have the 27th pick, and with the medium amount of depth in this draft I believe the team can find a decent one. I think we need a shooter more than anything at the position, as Chris Paul is excellent at finding open guys in their comfort spots on the floor. If not, I wouldn’t mind a defensive-minded, athletic big man such as Joey Dorsey from Memphis or Jason Thompson from Rider. Also look out for Courtney Lee, the talented Sun Belt two guard. The Hornets have no second round selection this year (Bonzi Wells trade).
Capping things off, I just want to say final cheers to the Hornets team for their spectacular season, and I want to wish them further success in the future.
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John Reid of The Times-Picayune has some good news and some semi-discouraging news to report today. The good news is that Hornets center Tyson Chandler claims that he should be alright for Game 6.
Tyson Chandler bruised his left foot in the fourth quarter of Game 5 against the Spurs on Tuesday night after landing awkwardly, but he said he will be available to play Thursday night in Game 6 in San Antonio.
“I landed funny, and I kind of lost feeling in it,” Chandler said. “But I’ll be fine.”
After the Hornets’ 101-79 victory over the Spurs at the New Orleans Arena, Chandler had both feet soaking in a large bucket of ice water. He played 31 minutes and had four points and eight rebounds.
The not-so-great news is that the New Orleans Hornets organization has been hit with a fine for the fire incident that occurred during halftime of Game 1 at New Orleans Arena.
In the Hornets’ opening game of their second-round series at the Arena, residue on the court caused by fire extinguishers forced a 20-minute delay before the start of the second quarter. The delay was caused after the Hornets’ mascot, Super Hugo, jumped through a ring of fire before dunking to entertain the crowd. However, when Arena officials put out the flames from the ring with the extinguishers, a sand-like residue scattered across the court that took 20 minutes to remove.
The Hornets were fined an unspecified amount by the NBA for delaying the game, and Hornets spokesman Harold Kaufman said after the incident that they would research and evaluate all incidents with the intent of making sure the necessary steps are taken to prevent any mishaps from happening again.
“We try to entertain the fans night in and night out,” said Hornets Vice President of Marketing Matt Biggers in response to the team’s decision to continue its elaborate introductions Tuesday night.
Stern said introductions involving high-tech flame torches is something the league should seriously consider reviewing whether it’s really necessary.
Posted By: Dustin Chapman
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By Wesley O.
 
In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. That is what the Hornets have to keep in their minds throughout this entire series, because this is going to be another uphill battle. New Orleans did everything right against the Mavericks in the opening round, they must carry that level of play into the second round.
Let’s break down the matchups. You got Tim Duncan going against either David West or Tyson Chandler depending on who Byron Scott wants to go with. Duncan has tremendous strength and shooting ability, so Chandler might have an advantage on West because of his larger frame, but don’t expect Duncan to be slowed down one bit. You got Peja Stojakovic taking on Bruce Bowen who is already known for his lock-down defense, but the Spurs most likely will have Bowen guarding Chris Paul throughout each game. Morris Peterson will try and out hustle Michael Finley and this could be the wild card matchup. Peterson was relatively quiet against the Mavericks, but with the Hornets most likely struggling to score points down the stretch, Morris will need to start hitting his shots to keep the momentum going.
And last but not least, Chris Paul will duke it out with Tony Parker, a match made in heaven. Parker not only averaged close to 30 points per game against the Suns, he also held Steve Nash in check for most of that series. For Paul, it was his coming out party as he chipped in 24 points per game and 12 assists per game. Paul will be the main target for the Spurs’ defense, and if they can force the ball out of his hands and not let him get open looks, the Hornets could really struggle to keep up.
The general consensus among most fans and experts right now is that the Spurs should have no trouble ending the Hornets’ magical season within five or six games, but don’t be surprised if the Hornets play just as well as they did against Dallas. New Orleans has a deeper bench, younger legs and a chip on their shoulders. All they have to do is keep Duncan in check and not allow Parker and Ginobili to drive and create shot opportunity for themselves. The Spurs must shutdown Paul, West, Stojakovic, Jannero Pargo and possibly Peterson in this series to advance all while keeping Chandler off the glass and away from the basket. Oh yeah, they also have to keep Bonzi Wells and Julian Wright from making impacts off the bench. I think you can see what I’m getting at here, the Hornets have too many weapons for the Spurs to defend. My prediction, the Hornets pull off the major upset in seven games.
Game 1- 5/3 @ NO 10:00 ET (TNT)
Game 2- TBA
Game 3- TBA
Game 4- TBA
*Game 5- TBA
*Game 6- TBA
*Game 7- TBA
* - If necessary
New Orleans Hornets
    
G- Chris Paul G- Morris Peterson F- Peja Stojakovic F- David West C- Tyson Chandler
Series Leaders
(Playoffs)
G Chris Paul: 24.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 12.0 APG, 2.0 SPG, 50% FG
F David West: 22.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.6 BPG, 48% FG
F Peja Stojakovic: 15.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 41% FG, 60% 3PT
San Antonio Spurs
    
G- Tony Parker G- Michael Finley F- Bruce Bowen F- Tim Duncan C- Kurt Thomas
Series Leaders
(Playoffs)
G Tony Parker- 29.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 7.0 APG, 52% FG, 50% 3PT
F Tim Duncan- 24.8 PPG, 13.8 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.4 BPG, 49% FG
G Manu Ginobili- 18.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.0 APG, 45% FG
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