In this week's Sports Illustrated, I listed the Wizards' lackluster play as my biggest early-season surprise.
While the Wizards' struggles have thrown me, I have to admit I was torn in making my choice: Is the biggest surprise actually the Hornets' stellar play instead?
In many ways, the Hornets' good start hasn't been surprising (or at least that was how I justified it to myself). Injuries decimated last season's team, with the five starters missing a combined 133 games. Add sixth-man extraordinaire Bobby Jackson's 26 games on the shelf, and that is a heck of a team on the inactive list.
Now healthy, the Hornets -- Wednesday's loss at Portland aside -- have been terrific. They have been sharp offensively (seventh in the NBA in shooting and 10th in scoring) and defensively (ninth in points allowed) in winning four of their first five games.
Chris Paul has developed what one scout called a "Steve Nash-like ability to probe the lane," averaging 12.8 assists while shooting 47.8 percent from the floor. Sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic, who was signed in '06 to prevent defenses from collapsing on Paul, hit a franchise-record 10 three-pointers against the Lakers on Tuesday. Tyson Chandler is morphing into a young Ben Wallace, and power forward Davis West continues to develop as he is averaging a team-high 20.8 points.
I had a chance to talk to Paul last week for a future story and he confirmed what I suspected: Last year, for him, was brutal.
"Worst of my basketball career," he said. "I've never experienced anything like it. To be sitting on the sideline watching the team, knowing how good we could be ... man, that was tough."
How good can the Hornets be? For starters, if they remain healthy, they are a lock for the postseason. They have size (Chandler, West), skill (Paul) and shooters (Stojakovic, Mo Peterson), not to mention an intriguing rookie in Julian Wright.
And they are a team no one will want to face in April.
Melissa Haro
Alison Preston
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Ty-C is twice the player that Ben Wall is. He will lead the league in rebs. and blcks. Westy is an all-star and C3PO will become one of the best PG's in the league. A championship awaits.
Ruby salutes…
Los Angeles , CA
Total Comments (2720)
don't know about championships but playoffs are a decent bet with no major injury. I'm a big D. West guy. Chandler was indeed a steal.
Lex from NorCal
San Francisco , CA
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Omaar,
I would argue that is it is hard as he!! to believe you find your way onto the internet. Sportswriters get paid to prognosticate. Would you honestly prefer that Mr. Mannix sits around for the next two months and says, "I honestly have no idea what is going on or who is good this year." Why wouldn't anyone conclude the Hornets are a pretty decent club? Didn't Paul lead a much weaker team into the playoffs his rookie year? And before his injury, wasn't Stojakovic the number two guy on a Kings team that was among the best in the league for several years. Add two developing big men in a league where most teams do well with only one...then figure in their hot start. Yeah, I honestly don't think there is anything wrong with someone assuming they are legit. And please don't type in caps. It is stupid and hard to read.
AcesFullMoon
Greenwood, IN
Total Comments (301)
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