In the Lane - January 18, 2008
January 18, 2008
Point guard Chris Paul has emerged as a star, David West is the best power forward nobody talks about, and center Tyson Chandler is turning into one of the greatest steals in recent NBA trade history. Forward Peja Stojakovic’s return to health and shooting guard Morris Peterson’s long-sought acquisition round out a starting five as good as any playoff contender in either conference.
The recent resurgence of the bench gives hope that the elite eight on the current roster is enough to not only carry the Bees into the post season, but perhaps past the opening round into what I like to call MAY PLAY (if you play in the month of May the team has advanced into the second round)!
Until the playoff scenarios emerge it can’t be determined how long the Hornets post season run will be and how special this group will become. But, it’s not too soon to compare this dynamic, young team with the best in franchise history. The 1996-97 squad was, in some ways, remarkably similar to this year’s team. Like this year’s contingent, that team was also coached by a former NBA star. I’ve put the two teams side-by-side to attempt to draw some comparisons that might form a bond between the 54-win team from a decade ago and this year’s unit.
BOGUES VS. PAUL. The most obvious parallel is at point guard where both Bogues and Paul turned pro out of Wake Forest University. Bogues averaged 8.8 assists per game during his 10 seasons with the Hornets. Including his first 36 games this season Paul’s career assist-per-game average is 8.7. CP3 is a far superior talent than Muggsy ever was, but they have become close friends because of their ties to the Demon Deacons program, the Hornets, the state of North Carolina, and of course their abilities to break down presses, traps and half court defenses. Bogues was acquired via the draft (expansion, 6th), while Paul was also added through the draft (amateur college, 4th).
CURRY/SMITH VS PETERSON. This is the one position with very few comparisons for the two teams. Although both Peterson and Smith were signed as free agents prior to the historic seasons, Curry was acquired via the expansion draft eight seasons earlier. Curry was one of the best pure shooters to ever wear a Hornets uniform, while Smith was known for his defense. Smith actually started the most games (39) at shooting guard that season. Curry, who started 20, still averaged 14.8 ppg. Peterson, will start more than the two combined and is currently averaging under 10 ppg.
DIVAC VS. CHANDLER. Both were acquired in July, 10 years apart, in much talked about trades. Divac came to the Hornets in a draft day deal for this high school kid named Kobe Bryant in 1996. Chandler was brought in for a former high school draftee (J.R. Smith) and the most likeable Hornet ever, PJ Brown in 2006. Both stand 7-1. Both were acquired from a major market team (LA and Chicago). Chandler is a much better rebounder than Divac ever was…Vlade a much better passer (301 assists that season).
MASON VS. WEST. Both were acquired by former Hornets VP of basketball Operations Bob Bass. Mason in a trade for former all-star Larry Johnson in 1996. West was a first round draft pick in 2003. Their most common bond is how underrated Mason was and West is, despite putting up remarkable numbers. Mason averaged a double double in his first two seasons in Charlotte (16.2/11.3 during the ’96-’97 season), and although undersized at 6-8, he weighed anywhere from 250 to 300 pounds depending on whose tally you believed. This allowed him to defend much bigger opponents, including centers. West is approaching a double double average (19.3/9.5), is also considered undersized at 6-9 240, and sometimes is forced to defend much larger opponents. Although the two are totally opposite in most other terms, on the court there are some similarities.
RICE VS. STOJAKOVIC. Both sharpshooters were acquired in key deals for the franchise. Rice was the main piece acquired from Miami in the six-player Alonzo Mourning deal in 1995. Peja was picked up in a sign and trade from Indiana in 2006. Rice’s numbers with the Hornets were better, as the Bees likely got the best three years from the 6-8 star out of Michigan. He averaged 26.8 ppg during the 54-win season, scoring over 2100 points, and claiming the 1997 NBA all star game MVP award. Peja’s best season ever came in 2003-04 with Sacramento (24.2 ppg with 1,964 points. The bottom line is that each Hornets team relied on the small forward spot for long range shooting (Rice shot 47% from three land, Peja is shooting 42% this season).
COWENS VS. SCOTT. This is a classic match up of differing styles. Cowens, the ex-Celtic great, favored the rough and tough, eastern conference physical play (the Hornets marketing theme that season, HORNETS HARDBALL, was taken from a Cowens quote during the summer). Mason probably fit the style better than anyone on that team. Scott, the ex-Laker star, learned the pro game along side a pretty good open court player by the name of Earvin Johnson so he leans much more on the side of pushing the tempo and open court play. Both coaches won multiple NBA championships (Cowens two, Scott three). Scott (121) also just passed Cowens (109) this season for the third most coaching victories in Hornets history.
As for the benches, aside from the platoon at the two-guard position there were no standouts for Cowens’ team. Matt Geiger backed up Divac and averaged 8.9 ppg, but played in just 49 games due to injuries. Rookie Malik Rose and late-season acquisition Ricky Pierce also contributed (Pierce averaged 12 ppg in 27 contests). Scott has tossed out regular criticism toward his inconsistent bench since the season-low six point output on New Year’s eve. Still, Bobby Jackson (7.0 ppg), Jannero Pargo (6.4 ppg), along with Melvin Ely and Ryan Bowen could possibly be a better group of reserves than the ’96-’97 team.
Through the first 38 games here how the Bees stacked up against the best Hornets team ever:
BEST HORNETS TEAM EVER?
The Hornets are off to their best start in franchise history. They are ahead of the pace set by the winningest team in the 20-year history of the club.Point guard Chris Paul has emerged as a star, David West is the best power forward nobody talks about, and center Tyson Chandler is turning into one of the greatest steals in recent NBA trade history. Forward Peja Stojakovic’s return to health and shooting guard Morris Peterson’s long-sought acquisition round out a starting five as good as any playoff contender in either conference.
The recent resurgence of the bench gives hope that the elite eight on the current roster is enough to not only carry the Bees into the post season, but perhaps past the opening round into what I like to call MAY PLAY (if you play in the month of May the team has advanced into the second round)!
Until the playoff scenarios emerge it can’t be determined how long the Hornets post season run will be and how special this group will become. But, it’s not too soon to compare this dynamic, young team with the best in franchise history. The 1996-97 squad was, in some ways, remarkably similar to this year’s team. Like this year’s contingent, that team was also coached by a former NBA star. I’ve put the two teams side-by-side to attempt to draw some comparisons that might form a bond between the 54-win team from a decade ago and this year’s unit.
| 1996-97 | 2007-08 | |
| PG | MUGGSY BOGUES | CHRIS PAUL |
| SG | DELL CURRY/TONY SMITH | MO PETERSON |
| C | VLADE DIVAC | TYSON CHANDLER |
| PF | ANTHONY MASON | DAVID WEST |
| SF | GLEN RICE | PEJA STOJAKOVIC |
| COACH | DAVE COWENS | BYRON SCOTT |
BOGUES VS. PAUL. The most obvious parallel is at point guard where both Bogues and Paul turned pro out of Wake Forest University. Bogues averaged 8.8 assists per game during his 10 seasons with the Hornets. Including his first 36 games this season Paul’s career assist-per-game average is 8.7. CP3 is a far superior talent than Muggsy ever was, but they have become close friends because of their ties to the Demon Deacons program, the Hornets, the state of North Carolina, and of course their abilities to break down presses, traps and half court defenses. Bogues was acquired via the draft (expansion, 6th), while Paul was also added through the draft (amateur college, 4th).
CURRY/SMITH VS PETERSON. This is the one position with very few comparisons for the two teams. Although both Peterson and Smith were signed as free agents prior to the historic seasons, Curry was acquired via the expansion draft eight seasons earlier. Curry was one of the best pure shooters to ever wear a Hornets uniform, while Smith was known for his defense. Smith actually started the most games (39) at shooting guard that season. Curry, who started 20, still averaged 14.8 ppg. Peterson, will start more than the two combined and is currently averaging under 10 ppg.
DIVAC VS. CHANDLER. Both were acquired in July, 10 years apart, in much talked about trades. Divac came to the Hornets in a draft day deal for this high school kid named Kobe Bryant in 1996. Chandler was brought in for a former high school draftee (J.R. Smith) and the most likeable Hornet ever, PJ Brown in 2006. Both stand 7-1. Both were acquired from a major market team (LA and Chicago). Chandler is a much better rebounder than Divac ever was…Vlade a much better passer (301 assists that season).
MASON VS. WEST. Both were acquired by former Hornets VP of basketball Operations Bob Bass. Mason in a trade for former all-star Larry Johnson in 1996. West was a first round draft pick in 2003. Their most common bond is how underrated Mason was and West is, despite putting up remarkable numbers. Mason averaged a double double in his first two seasons in Charlotte (16.2/11.3 during the ’96-’97 season), and although undersized at 6-8, he weighed anywhere from 250 to 300 pounds depending on whose tally you believed. This allowed him to defend much bigger opponents, including centers. West is approaching a double double average (19.3/9.5), is also considered undersized at 6-9 240, and sometimes is forced to defend much larger opponents. Although the two are totally opposite in most other terms, on the court there are some similarities.
RICE VS. STOJAKOVIC. Both sharpshooters were acquired in key deals for the franchise. Rice was the main piece acquired from Miami in the six-player Alonzo Mourning deal in 1995. Peja was picked up in a sign and trade from Indiana in 2006. Rice’s numbers with the Hornets were better, as the Bees likely got the best three years from the 6-8 star out of Michigan. He averaged 26.8 ppg during the 54-win season, scoring over 2100 points, and claiming the 1997 NBA all star game MVP award. Peja’s best season ever came in 2003-04 with Sacramento (24.2 ppg with 1,964 points. The bottom line is that each Hornets team relied on the small forward spot for long range shooting (Rice shot 47% from three land, Peja is shooting 42% this season).
COWENS VS. SCOTT. This is a classic match up of differing styles. Cowens, the ex-Celtic great, favored the rough and tough, eastern conference physical play (the Hornets marketing theme that season, HORNETS HARDBALL, was taken from a Cowens quote during the summer). Mason probably fit the style better than anyone on that team. Scott, the ex-Laker star, learned the pro game along side a pretty good open court player by the name of Earvin Johnson so he leans much more on the side of pushing the tempo and open court play. Both coaches won multiple NBA championships (Cowens two, Scott three). Scott (121) also just passed Cowens (109) this season for the third most coaching victories in Hornets history.
As for the benches, aside from the platoon at the two-guard position there were no standouts for Cowens’ team. Matt Geiger backed up Divac and averaged 8.9 ppg, but played in just 49 games due to injuries. Rookie Malik Rose and late-season acquisition Ricky Pierce also contributed (Pierce averaged 12 ppg in 27 contests). Scott has tossed out regular criticism toward his inconsistent bench since the season-low six point output on New Year’s eve. Still, Bobby Jackson (7.0 ppg), Jannero Pargo (6.4 ppg), along with Melvin Ely and Ryan Bowen could possibly be a better group of reserves than the ’96-’97 team.
Through the first 38 games here how the Bees stacked up against the best Hornets team ever:
2007-2008 |
1996-1997 |
|
26-12 |
W-L |
22-16 |
97.4 |
PPG |
98.9 |
93.4 |
OPPG |
97.0 |
PAUL, 21.7 |
TOP PTS |
RICE, 26.8 |
CHANDLER, 12.0 |
TOP REB |
MASON, 10.1 |
PAUL, 10.4 |
TOP AST |
BOGUES, 7.2 |
