| Pre-Draft Summit: New Orleans Hornets Authored by Andrew Perna & The RGM Hornets Forum - June 22, 2008 - 1:00 pm
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The New Orleans Hornets:
2007-08 Record: 56-26
Difference From 2006-07: Seventeen More Wins
Playoff Result: Lost In Seven To San Antonio (Semifinals)
Restricted Free Agents: None
Unrestricted Free Agents: Chris Anderson, Ryan Bowen, Melvin Ely (P), Jannero Pargo (P), Bonzi Wells
The Verdicts
1. What could the team have done differently to advance in the playoffs?
ChrisTheFuturePaul: If we found a way to make Peja Stojakovic more effective against Bruce Bowen, and had not given San Antonio so many wide open looks at 3's.
NO-KG-AI: Fewer double teams on Tim Duncan, forcing him to beat us alone and not allowing their shooters get hot.
Copperhead: I agree with fewer double teams on Duncan. We also should have gotten to the rim and foul line more when our outside shots weren't falling.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
ChrisTheFuturePaul: Chris Paul’s penetration, David West's offensive arsenal and Tyson Chandler's defense (especially on Duncan). Peja also had a career-high for three-point shooting percentage.
NO-KG-AI: Defense, rebounding, the fast break, dribble penetration and the pick-and-roll.
Copperhead: The pick-and-roll, rebounding and defense.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
ChrisTheFuturePaul: Julian Wright was slightly surprising (given Byron Scott's usual hesitation to play rookies), and Peja lasting the whole year was a pleasant surprise as well.
NO-KG-AI: I wasn’t really surprised by what anyone did to be honest. Wright actually getting play time was surprising, but not his production.
Copperhead: Wright.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
ChrisTheFuturePaul: Hilton Armstrong. I was really hoping to see him lock down a spot in the rotation, but maybe next year.
NO-KG-AI: Mike James, Armstrong and Melvin Ely could have been a lot better.
Copperhead: Armstrong.
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
ChrisTheFuturePaul: I’m extremely confident considering we only really need to tweak our bench. We also have a good record drafting talent.
NO-KG-AI: I’m pretty confident. They grabbed Chandler, signed West to a great contract and completely rebuilt the team about in about three years.
Copperhead: Very. Jeff Bower has been doing well, so I'm confident he'll continue to build this team into a good one.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
ChrisTheFuturePaul: Additional bench scoring, though our dream would be a lock down defender at shooting guard.
NO-KG-AI: Athletic slashing wings and more big men.
Copperhead: An athletic, slashing shooting guard, a big man and another backup point guard in the event that Jannero Pargo isn't re-signed.
7. Who would you like your team to select?
ChrisTheFuturePaul: Brandon Rush, though he won't be there, and Bill Walker is an exciting prospect (when healthy) as well.
NO-KG-AI: Walker.
Copperhead: Either Courtney Lee or Chris Doulgas-Roberts if either is available.
The Draft Summit Archive:
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Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM. If you’re a fan of one of the many teams that we have yet to feature, surf over to our forums and weigh in on what is happening within the organization. If you’d like to contact Andrew, shoot him an e-mail at Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
