Hornets Fact or Fiction: America Online’s Marc J. Spears
March 27, 2007
Spears
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With a handful of national writers in attendance at Friday’s game in New Orleans between the Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers, Hornets.com planned to debut a new feature, “Hornets Fact or Fiction,” with ESPN.com writer Chris Sheridan, who gladly agreed to participate. Alas, we couldn’t connect with the former Associated Press national NBA writer, due to coinciding pregame and postgame interview commitments for Sheridan and Hornets.com.
America Online NBA writer, Denver Post columnist and ESPN.com contributor Marc J. Spears wasn’t so fortunate.
Hornets.com tracked down Spears prior to Tuesday’s Hornets-Mavericks game at the Ford Center in order to grill Spears with some difficult Hornets-related questions. Spears was in Oklahoma City in part to work on an upcoming article he is writing about the Hornets’ final regular season game in OKC, which is April 13 vs. the Denver Nuggets.
Hornets.com: OK, Marc, time for fact or fiction. The Hornets will make the playoffs…
Spears: Fiction. I think if Peja Stojakovic would have been healthy this season, the Hornets might have been finished as high as fifth (in the West standings). There were several injuries, but primarily the Peja injury devastated the team. He’s probably coming back too late to save them.
Also with Golden State and the Clippers picking it up right now, I think the Hornets are going to be close, but no cigar. Because of Peja’s injury, fans in Oklahoma City will always wonder, what if?
Hornets.com: Chris Paul is a better point guard than Deron Williams…
Spears: Can I say push? I’ll say a push on that, because Chris was hurt this season. Early this season, I definitely would have said fact to that, but Deron Williams has been one of the most improved players in the NBA this year. I think they will both have a fantastic future, but because of Chris’ injury and Deron’s fantastic season, I’m going to say push.
Hornets.com: Byron Scott has done one of the top five coaching jobs in the league this season…
Spears: Fact. When Peja went down, I don’t think anyone thought the Hornets would be a playoff contender. People thought they were going to just fade away. I’d say Byron is fifth on the list (of top coaching jobs), because they continued to stay competitive through all of the injuries.
Hornets.com: The New Jersey Nets regret letting Scott go as head coach in 2004…
Spears: Whew, you’ve got some tough ones! [laughs] Fiction. I think it was best for both franchises, the Nets and the Hornets. I think Byron learned from that situation, moved on, resurfaced in New Orleans and is trying to build something steady with this team. I think Lawrence Frank has done a pretty good job in New Jersey – they’ve had some injury problems there this season as well. It’s fiction, because it worked out well for both parties.
Hornets.com: Chris Paul will eventually become a bigger star in New Orleans than Reggie Bush…
Spears: Fiction. The Saints have been there so long. I work in Denver, and Carmelo Anthony might be the biggest sports star in the city, but people still say that the most important job in Colorado is quarterback of the Denver Broncos. The way people in Denver feel about the Broncos is the same way people in New Orleans feel about the Saints, because they’ve been there for 40-something years.
It’s going to be hard for any superstar on the Hornets – a franchise that’s only been there since 2002 – to overcome anybody from the Saints, especially someone as popular as Reggie Bush. It would be cool if someone is smart enough to try to put them together to market the city of New Orleans in some TV commercials. Although that might be a little bit expensive. [grins]
But getting back to the point, I think unless it’s a Michael Jordan-esque type personality, it’s going to be tough to surpass anyone with the Saints. And that’s no knock on Chris, because he’s an incredible talent, but to supplant the Saints in popularity will be difficult.
Hornets.com: Tyson Chandler will be named to the All-Star team within the next two years…
Spears: Fact. I really think he might be the most improved player in the league, and he’s just been destroying people in the second half of the season. He’s still young. Right now, (the trade with Chicago) is starting to look like a steal for the Hornets.
Yao Ming is definitely going to be in the All-Star Game (in the future), but some of the other centers in the conference are getting older. Mehmet Okur is relatively young, but Marcus Camby is getting older, and there aren’t that many great centers in the Western Conference.
Chandler will get more recognition with team success. If he continues to play next season the way he is right now, who knows? Maybe (Chandler could be an All-Star) next season. But the team has got to win for it to happen.
Hornets.com: The Hornets would be at least a 45-win team this season if everyone on the roster had remained healthy…
Spears: Fact. But I think there are a lot of teams that could say that. The Nuggets, a team I am very close to, lost Carmelo to 15 games due to suspension and J.R. Smith 10 games to suspension. Plus, they had several other injuries. People in Denver are always going to wonder what would have happened if the fight in New York never happened. Just like people here will wonder how the Hornets would’ve done if Peja hadn’t gotten hurt. You could say the same thing about Houston and Yao.
Usually the teams that are at the top of the standings are not only good, but lucky health-wise.
Hornets.com: Peja Stojakovic is still the NBA’s best shooter when he’s 100 percent…
Spears: Fiction. I think Peja is one of the top five shooters in the league, but there is something so pure about Ray Allen’s jumper. That shot is so pretty. Peja is up there, but it’d be hard for me to make him the king right now.
