[llperez]

was watching the nbatv team preview the other day, and cwebb and the crew were ripping into the hornets pretty bad. CWebb, if i remember correctly, said that the owner should be open with the fans that they dont have a chance at the playoffs. Say What? Even if you dont think they will make the playoffs, are they so bad that they litterally have no chance and the owner should openly tell all fans that the season is hopeless before it gets under way? And at the very end of the preview, just to hammer his point home, he said maybe they can see the playoffs in another 4 years or so.

Wow, i dont know if they make the playoffs or not, but you would think he was takling about the wolves or something. CP3 is a top 4-8 player in this league who makes everybodys jobs easier. Okafor and west down low is very solid. With thornton, ariza, a healthy peja, willie green and quincey pondexter all on the wings, they now have some guys to give paul options for his passes.

This entire starting 5 is under 30, so unless paul comes right out and says im gone, i dont see the need to rebuild. And this team with its same core players did make the playoffs not long ago.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Webber was a great player, but he says A LOT of things I don’t agree with…

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Webber was a great player, but he says A LOT of things I don’t agree with…

[ChrischiParticipant]

I don’t think NO will make the playoffs this season. But with Paul they will always have a chance. I mean it could very easily happen that one or two guys from teams in front could get injured. I wouldn’t count them out completely until they keep that core and stay healthy.

[ChrischiParticipant]

I don’t think NO will make the playoffs this season. But with Paul they will always have a chance. I mean it could very easily happen that one or two guys from teams in front could get injured. I wouldn’t count them out completely until they keep that core and stay healthy.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

The Hornets definitely could make the playoffs, but right now the West is pretty stacked. You have the Lakers, Jazz, Spurs, Thunder, Suns, Mavs who have pretty much claimed a spot already. That leaves the Nuggets, Blazers, Hornets, and Rockets to fight for those last two. I would put the Nuggets and Rockets before the Hornets, and maybe the Blazers as well depending on how healthy they are this year. So it doesn’t look to good. Maybe thats what Webber was pointing out. But I don’t know why he said they could not make the playoffs even in 4 years. 

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

The Hornets definitely could make the playoffs, but right now the West is pretty stacked. You have the Lakers, Jazz, Spurs, Thunder, Suns, Mavs who have pretty much claimed a spot already. That leaves the Nuggets, Blazers, Hornets, and Rockets to fight for those last two. I would put the Nuggets and Rockets before the Hornets, and maybe the Blazers as well depending on how healthy they are this year. So it doesn’t look to good. Maybe thats what Webber was pointing out. But I don’t know why he said they could not make the playoffs even in 4 years. 

[ChrischiParticipant]

I don’t think the Suns have claimed a spot already. I actually have them missing the playoffs. I mean they always have a shot with someone like Steve Nash, but it will tough for them, tougher than for NO imo.

[ChrischiParticipant]

I don’t think the Suns have claimed a spot already. I actually have them missing the playoffs. I mean they always have a shot with someone like Steve Nash, but it will tough for them, tougher than for NO imo.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

You think the Suns have a playoff spot on lock??? I disagree with that…

I’d replace the Suns with the Blazers in that group of teams you posted.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

You think the Suns have a playoff spot on lock??? I disagree with that…

I’d replace the Suns with the Blazers in that group of teams you posted.

[llperez]

theres certainly some teams in the west with better chances, but i dont like the term "claimed a spot already" for just about anybody but the lakers.

[llperez]

theres certainly some teams in the west with better chances, but i dont like the term "claimed a spot already" for just about anybody but the lakers.

[marcusfizer21Participant]

It’s as if Chris Webber had forgotten how good Chris Paul is… I think his mindset was still set last season where Paul was riddled by injuries… I think if CP is healthy this year, they would make some noise…

[marcusfizer21Participant]

It’s as if Chris Webber had forgotten how good Chris Paul is… I think his mindset was still set last season where Paul was riddled by injuries… I think if CP is healthy this year, they would make some noise…

[ChrischiParticipant]

I think the Mavs have claimed a playoff spot also.

[ChrischiParticipant]

I think the Mavs have claimed a playoff spot also.

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

the garanteed spots in the west is

lakers, mavs, spurs, jazz, and maybe a few others

[Malik-UniversalParticipant]

the garanteed spots in the west is

lakers, mavs, spurs, jazz, and maybe a few others

[raybeasParticipant]

by the Pacers @ Ind. Not a good sign.

[raybeasParticipant]

by the Pacers @ Ind. Not a good sign.

[McWinningParticipant]

Imo Las the only guaranteed playoff team.

Maybe Dallsas but theirs so many very good teams that it evens it out so if a team gets hit with the injury bug they could find themselves out of the playoffs being replaced by teams like New Orleans, and Memphis.

And i think Portland is definetly top 6, i mean they were 6th last year and they were completely banged up last year.

If Their healthy i think their top four.

[McWinningParticipant]

Imo Las the only guaranteed playoff team.

Maybe Dallsas but theirs so many very good teams that it evens it out so if a team gets hit with the injury bug they could find themselves out of the playoffs being replaced by teams like New Orleans, and Memphis.

And i think Portland is definetly top 6, i mean they were 6th last year and they were completely banged up last year.

If Their healthy i think their top four.

[McWinningParticipant]

Well Nea Orleans was with out David West @ Indiana whos at full strength is a pretty good team so i wouldnt be too worried.

[McWinningParticipant]

Well Nea Orleans was with out David West @ Indiana whos at full strength is a pretty good team so i wouldnt be too worried.

[PlatypusParticipant]

raybeas… Its preseason calm down…

 

anyways if Okafor can click with Chris Paul like Chandler did then this team can contend and if they can get him to play defense, hell i wish we could trade Okafor for Sammie D, he’d be a great fit, all Hornets need is a great post defender and someone who can get garbage buckets which is his game… I cant wait to see what they do with Peja and Okafor next season, it will show what direction the team is heading… they need help in the front court depth and at the 2

4 trades i wish we could make

1. Okafor for Sammie D (big wish)

2. Willie Green (expiring deal) for Boobie Gibson (small trade)

3. 1st round pick(s), Peja, and Marcus Thorton for Iggy (big wish)

4. trade exception and 2 2nd rounders for Maxiell or trade exception, Gray, Mensah-Bonsu, and 2 2nd rounders for Charlie V (detroit cuts salary) (small trade)

Depth then would be

Paul – Gibson

Iggy – Belinelli

Ariza – Pondexter

West – Maxiell

Sammie D – Smith

2 are big but the other 2 are small and would be great depth

[PlatypusParticipant]

raybeas… Its preseason calm down…

 

anyways if Okafor can click with Chris Paul like Chandler did then this team can contend and if they can get him to play defense, hell i wish we could trade Okafor for Sammie D, he’d be a great fit, all Hornets need is a great post defender and someone who can get garbage buckets which is his game… I cant wait to see what they do with Peja and Okafor next season, it will show what direction the team is heading… they need help in the front court depth and at the 2

4 trades i wish we could make

1. Okafor for Sammie D (big wish)

2. Willie Green (expiring deal) for Boobie Gibson (small trade)

3. 1st round pick(s), Peja, and Marcus Thorton for Iggy (big wish)

4. trade exception and 2 2nd rounders for Maxiell or trade exception, Gray, Mensah-Bonsu, and 2 2nd rounders for Charlie V (detroit cuts salary) (small trade)

Depth then would be

Paul – Gibson

Iggy – Belinelli

Ariza – Pondexter

West – Maxiell

Sammie D – Smith

2 are big but the other 2 are small and would be great depth

[raybeasParticipant]

but if you cant beat the Pacers (who ever said they were a good team is WRONG), then you cant be a top 8 team in the West. D.West didnt play, so how long will he be out? Even if hes ‘resting’, what does that say about his conditioning? Is M.Thornton really as bad as hes shown this preseason? Hes not the player I saw last year. Too many holes to fill, too much for C.Paul to do to make them a good team. I say they miss the playoffs again.

[raybeasParticipant]

but if you cant beat the Pacers (who ever said they were a good team is WRONG), then you cant be a top 8 team in the West. D.West didnt play, so how long will he be out? Even if hes ‘resting’, what does that say about his conditioning? Is M.Thornton really as bad as hes shown this preseason? Hes not the player I saw last year. Too many holes to fill, too much for C.Paul to do to make them a good team. I say they miss the playoffs again.

[HitsterParticipant]

NOH were above .500 when CP3 played last season I believe so if he is fit and can play 75 to 80 games at his highest level then the Hornets should be a 45 win team but with a new coach and the addition of  new players like Trevor Ariza, a lot could go right or wrong. At best the Hornets win 50 games, at worse they get just above.500.

[HitsterParticipant]

NOH were above .500 when CP3 played last season I believe so if he is fit and can play 75 to 80 games at his highest level then the Hornets should be a 45 win team but with a new coach and the addition of  new players like Trevor Ariza, a lot could go right or wrong. At best the Hornets win 50 games, at worse they get just above.500.

[SteroidParticipant]

If Paul played like he did a couple of seasons ago or so, then I’d say they have an extremely good chance to make the playoffs and win a series probably…

[SteroidParticipant]

If Paul played like he did a couple of seasons ago or so, then I’d say they have an extremely good chance to make the playoffs and win a series probably…

[PlatypusParticipant]

Okafor needs to step up defensively if this team is going to have a chance

[PlatypusParticipant]

Okafor needs to step up defensively if this team is going to have a chance

[llperez]

im not sure why we are bringing up the loss to the pacers. It was by 3 points and no one on new orleans played more then 30 minutes.

[llperez]

im not sure why we are bringing up the loss to the pacers. It was by 3 points and no one on new orleans played more then 30 minutes.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 I put the suns in my lock for the Playoffs list over Portland, because the Blazers have too many injuries to consider a lock. If it weren’t for the injuries it would be a no-brainer. But I think the Suns actually should make it with all their moves this offseason, Steve Nash of course, I love their coach Alvin Gentry. Like their starting Center, Robin Lopez, (Sometimes even more than his brother, Brook) And they always seem to surprise you. I’m a bit dissapointed with the small front court, but Turkoglu could start at the 4 with either Grant Hill or Childress at the 3. This should be an interesting season for the Suns, but anytime you have a great PG like Nash, a true Center in Lopez, and a great coach in Gentry, you always have a lock, in my mind, for the playoffs.

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 I put the suns in my lock for the Playoffs list over Portland, because the Blazers have too many injuries to consider a lock. If it weren’t for the injuries it would be a no-brainer. But I think the Suns actually should make it with all their moves this offseason, Steve Nash of course, I love their coach Alvin Gentry. Like their starting Center, Robin Lopez, (Sometimes even more than his brother, Brook) And they always seem to surprise you. I’m a bit dissapointed with the small front court, but Turkoglu could start at the 4 with either Grant Hill or Childress at the 3. This should be an interesting season for the Suns, but anytime you have a great PG like Nash, a true Center in Lopez, and a great coach in Gentry, you always have a lock, in my mind, for the playoffs.

[joecheck88Participant]

i think we forget how special of a player chris paul is. he is a superstar that can be mentioned in that tier just under lebron, kobe and durant with the howards, wades, and deron williams of the world. arguably he could be the 4th best player in the league behind lebron, kobe and kd. when healthy we can expect 25ppg, 5rpg, 11apg and 2spg. nobody else in the league is close to that. honestly, this team could challenge for home court in the first round if they live up to their potential. chris paul is special, david west was an all star, ariza is a very good 3rd option, okafor is a defensive minded double double(13ppg, 11rpg, and 2bpg), thornton can be a great 6th man, and while overpaid stojakovic just needs to shoot 40% from 3 and this is a lethal offensive team with defensive anchors at pg and c(paul and okafor) with ariza a potential lockdown defender.

point is, with a healthy chris paul this team is very good.

[joecheck88Participant]

i think we forget how special of a player chris paul is. he is a superstar that can be mentioned in that tier just under lebron, kobe and durant with the howards, wades, and deron williams of the world. arguably he could be the 4th best player in the league behind lebron, kobe and kd. when healthy we can expect 25ppg, 5rpg, 11apg and 2spg. nobody else in the league is close to that. honestly, this team could challenge for home court in the first round if they live up to their potential. chris paul is special, david west was an all star, ariza is a very good 3rd option, okafor is a defensive minded double double(13ppg, 11rpg, and 2bpg), thornton can be a great 6th man, and while overpaid stojakovic just needs to shoot 40% from 3 and this is a lethal offensive team with defensive anchors at pg and c(paul and okafor) with ariza a potential lockdown defender.

point is, with a healthy chris paul this team is very good.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

IMO

New Orelans is somewhat average to me. I like the pieces but them overall. I feel they should be fighting for that final spot. Nothing more, nothing less.

They need someone like AK47: Could play 2 positions, strong defender. The upside to the Hornets is: Peja-14mil and West-9.5mil are coming off the books. If someone wants to play with stars: He could join CP3 next season.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

IMO

New Orelans is somewhat average to me. I like the pieces but them overall. I feel they should be fighting for that final spot. Nothing more, nothing less.

They need someone like AK47: Could play 2 positions, strong defender. The upside to the Hornets is: Peja-14mil and West-9.5mil are coming off the books. If someone wants to play with stars: He could join CP3 next season.

[butidonthavemoney]

“when healthy we can expect 25ppg, 5rpg, 11apg and 2spg”

That’s a little overzealous, don’t ya think?

I honestly don’t believe the Hornets have a chance to make the playoffs. There is just way too much talent in the West.

[butidonthavemoney]

“when healthy we can expect 25ppg, 5rpg, 11apg and 2spg”

That’s a little overzealous, don’t ya think?

I honestly don’t believe the Hornets have a chance to make the playoffs. There is just way too much talent in the West.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

"when healthy we can expect 25ppg, 5rpg, 11apg and 2spg"

That’s a little overzealous, don’t ya think?

 

 

Why would it be when he done it the past 3 seasons? 25 is high, I would say 22 but the other numbers are CP3 when healthy.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

"when healthy we can expect 25ppg, 5rpg, 11apg and 2spg"

That’s a little overzealous, don’t ya think?

 

 

Why would it be when he done it the past 3 seasons? 25 is high, I would say 22 but the other numbers are CP3 when healthy.

[butidonthavemoney]

If Chris Paul puts up those stats, I will eat my shoe.

Those are MVP numbers.

[butidonthavemoney]

If Chris Paul puts up those stats, I will eat my shoe.

Those are MVP numbers.

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Then he should have been a 2 time MVP

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/stats?playerId=2779

[Mr.Knick 32Participant]

Then he should have been a 2 time MVP

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/stats?playerId=2779

[joecheck88Participant]

i knew he was close to those numbers. 25ppg was a little high but my point was he could be argued a top 5 player in this league and imo, a top 5 player can carry a team atleast to a playoff series win or two. i love deron williams but when u look back at that year when no was a 2 seed, paul was special, more special than deron williams will ever be.

and mr knick you are correct by saying this is an average team but paul can make everyone play better than they really are. so im just saying i wouldnt be surprised if they won 55 games and grabbed lets say the 3 seed in the west. that is only if paul is 100% healthy tho. i cant wait to see paul back to full strength. its easy to forget paul with deron williams, rondo, rose and westbrook emerging and mainstays like kidd and nash still playing at a high level.

im high on cp3 for some reason. matter of fact, im going to go out on a limb and say, chris paul is a top 5 player in the nba easy. there is debating in my mind. the only people ahead of him are kobe, lebron, kd and dwight(and only because dominant big men are harder to find).

[joecheck88Participant]

i knew he was close to those numbers. 25ppg was a little high but my point was he could be argued a top 5 player in this league and imo, a top 5 player can carry a team atleast to a playoff series win or two. i love deron williams but when u look back at that year when no was a 2 seed, paul was special, more special than deron williams will ever be.

and mr knick you are correct by saying this is an average team but paul can make everyone play better than they really are. so im just saying i wouldnt be surprised if they won 55 games and grabbed lets say the 3 seed in the west. that is only if paul is 100% healthy tho. i cant wait to see paul back to full strength. its easy to forget paul with deron williams, rondo, rose and westbrook emerging and mainstays like kidd and nash still playing at a high level.

im high on cp3 for some reason. matter of fact, im going to go out on a limb and say, chris paul is a top 5 player in the nba easy. there is debating in my mind. the only people ahead of him are kobe, lebron, kd and dwight(and only because dominant big men are harder to find).

[butidonthavemoney]

I am aware of Paul’s stats.

He never averaged 25 points per game and it is pretty ridiculous to expect that a pass first point guard ever will.

[butidonthavemoney]

I am aware of Paul’s stats.

He never averaged 25 points per game and it is pretty ridiculous to expect that a pass first point guard ever will.

[mgreener_34Participant]

 Whenever a a team looses a player, and they are no longer considered a good team then the team was no good to begin with. Take LeBron away from Clev they don’t win. Take Kobe away from the Lakers, and that team could still win you some games. The point is, to much empheses is put on Paul to stay healthy, and everyone knows thats not going to happen. He reminds me of Baron Davis in that he is always a little out of shape, and is almost a 100% guarantee to miss games. The only way the Hornets make the playoffs is if someone else not named the Blazers have a injury prone season 

[mgreener_34Participant]

 Whenever a a team looses a player, and they are no longer considered a good team then the team was no good to begin with. Take LeBron away from Clev they don’t win. Take Kobe away from the Lakers, and that team could still win you some games. The point is, to much empheses is put on Paul to stay healthy, and everyone knows thats not going to happen. He reminds me of Baron Davis in that he is always a little out of shape, and is almost a 100% guarantee to miss games. The only way the Hornets make the playoffs is if someone else not named the Blazers have a injury prone season 

[PlatypusParticipant]

its 1 injury calm down

[PlatypusParticipant]

its 1 injury calm down

[Author]

Posts