New Orleans
Hornets
Southwest
| 2011-12 Team Rating | |
| Offense | Defense |
| 98.3 | 102.3 |
| 26th Overall | 16th Overall |
2011-12 Season Stats
W
21
L
45
PCT
.318
GB
29
CONF
14-34
DIV
3-11
HOME
11-22
ROAD
10-23
LinksVideo | Statistics | Tickets | Team
|
Category | Grade | ||
 The Hornets brought in both quantity and quality up front, including No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis. Then there's longball threat Ryan Anderson, Robin Lopez, Hakim Warrick and draft pick Darius Miller.
|
A |
||
 Keeping Eric Gordon was imperative, so bully for New Orleans in treating the restricted free agent's rhetoric about preferring Phoenix as merely that. Austin Rivers will have some cover as a rookie thanks to focus on Davis.
|
B |
||
 Davis should have an immediate impact protecting the paint, and that typically has a trickle-out effect on the rest of a team's defense.
|
B+ |
||
 Wholesale changes mean the Hornets bench will look different but the pieces are there to be effective in reserve, with vet Roger Mason, Jason Smith and Warrick, among others.
|
B |
||
 Monty Williams is know so widely for being underrated that he's at risk of being overrated for that. Terrific teacher.
|
B+ |
||
B+
Summary
Maybe we're a little overexuberant about the Hornets' offseason, but that might all be part of the vibe coming from new owner Tom Benson and the lottery luck of landing the No. 1 overall pick. New Orleans knows what it has now, compared to last December when Chris Paul was ripped from its midst almost on the eve of the season.
There still is a lot of youth to be served here so few folks will get carried away. But there is enthusiasm again and, as long as Benson is willing to spend and not neglect the Hornets in favor of his NFL Saints, reasons for optimism.
-- Steve Aschburner
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