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In the Lane with Licht: Fast Times at Hornets High
November 10, 2006
Not that he’s permitted to partake, but not even General Manager Jeff Bower had his own team in that one. Water cooler talk aside, this Hornets team is a fun one to follow. They play fast, they play under control, they play defense, and they play as if they respect and enjoy being around each other. They also play with confidence, which a team is wont to do when it features the best player at his position in the league (yes, I like him better than the two-time reigning MVP). Chris Paul is not the only reason the Hornets are an early-season elite team in the NBA, but he is the best place to start. A 21-year-old second-year star who plays as if he’s been in the league for a decade, CP3 is one of those rare athletes who obviously makes everyone around him better. You hear about how MARKETABLE he is, and that is because he’s one of the most WATCHABLE players in the NBA. He’s clearly a leader (have you noticed how much more vocal he has become?), a spectacular player, and a very likeable person. By the way, he’s also increased his scoring average, assists, and shooting percentages from a season ago. While this team’s early-season success begins with Paul Ball (which is another way of saying UNSELFISH BALL) it certainly doesn’t end there. Leading scorer and rebounder David West, the new additions, the defense, and the coaching philosophy all figure into the equation: *David West has a new contract with the same work ethic and results. Through the opening week of play he was again leading the team in scoring and was second in rebounding. NEW ADDITIONS: *Peja Stojakovic…or as I like to call him Stoj-ARC-ovic…is no more disturbed over his slow start than he is impressed with the hot-shooting game that he’s had. As Byron Scott says, “…one of the great shooters of the last decade didn’t suddenly forget how to shoot…” so, if he’s not concerned you need not be either. *Tyson Chandler has done exactly as the scouting report said he would do: he rebounds the ball. He leads the team in board work (more than double any other teammate except West) and is already among the league leaders in both offensive and defensive rebounding. At 7-1 he’s the tallest Hornet and gives them something they lacked a season ago, an intimidating shot blocker. *Cedric Simmons has probably been the biggest surprise for the Hornets this November. It’s not surprising that the 15th overall draft pick from N.C. State is such a good shot blocker (team leader); what’s remarkable is that the youngest Hornet (just 20) is already in Byron Scott’s rotation. He’s smart, athletic, and, in the absence of Marc Jackson (hamstring injury) and Hilton Armstrong (progressing slowly as a rookie), is simply necessary. *Bobby Jackson has been impressive because he’s helped lead the bench bunch (maybe we should call them Bobby Jack’s Pack) without making a single three pointer in the opening week (0x 9). When I watch him play he reminds me of a tailback. He reads the floor, sees an opening, and shifts into fifth gear as he heads to the hoop. Jackson was brought in to help alleviate the wear and tear on the smallest player on the team and it’s working. Chris Paul averages just 35 minutes per game early on. *Jannero Pargo has been up and down, but has also allowed coach Scott to rest CP3 more than a season ago. He looks confident of the system on the floor and can play at the same time as Paul, allowing the rookie of the year to slide to shooting guard at times. THE DEFENSE: The Hornets finished the opening week of the season among the top five in the NBA in both points allowed (90.3) and opponents’ field goal percentage (.417). If those numbers hold they’re a significant upgrade from a season ago (95.6 ppg and .459 FG pct.). Why the dramatic changes? So far I see three elements. First, Desmond Mason is designated as the team’s two-guard stopper and he’s showing an affinity for the role. His first four assignments were Paul Pierce, Stephen Jackson, Tracy McGrady, and Jason Richardson. Only Pierce went above his average, but many of his second half points came with Mason off the floor. Second, Tyson Chandler’s presence inside is something the Hornets haven’t truly had since Vlade Divac. He has the length (7-1) and instincts to alter shots and the mentality to go after every shot that misses. Third, and don’t read this as a criticism, the Hornets haven’t played a lot of high scoring teams yet. Golden State is the only team that sees itself as an offensive force. Boston is very inexperienced, Indiana really doesn’t have an identity, and Houston’s mantra is more “stop you” than “outscore you”. COACHING PHILOSOPHY Byron Scott’s Princeton-style offense works, but it works even better when his team is stopping the opposition. A defensive STOP means (1) the opponent didn’t score, (2) there’s a rebound or loose ball to get, and (3) a fast break opportunity is possible. The more the Hornets get to run the better the chances are that they can dictate tempo. The more they dictate tempo the more likely they can vary their scoring chances. The more they vary their scoring chances the more pressure they put on opponents. And, the more pressure they put on opponents the greater the likelihood their defense will be effective. Defense has been particularly important because Scott’s bench has been erratic so far. When it’s been good it’s been very good, and vice versa. Paul and Peja could develop into one of the great dynamic duos in the league…add in West and this trio could make life miserable for the rest of the league. Making the historic start even more amazing for this franchise are all of the obstacles it has had to overcome. It relocated from Charlotte, N.C. to New Orleans, LA, then evacuated to Oklahoma City, OK, and played on four different home courts a season ago. In a sense, last season was played almost entirely on the road. They overcame all that adversity to improve by an NBA-best twenty games from its franchise-worst 18-win campaign in 2004-2005. If any franchise deserved to get off to a historic start this season it was the Hornets, whether you picked them to do so or not.
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Bob Licht |
 
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