New Orleans Hornets' Ascent and the 2008 Draft

The most coveted positions for NBA front offices: center and point guard.  In the last decade only two championships were won without Hall of Fame centers.  Both of these championships were won by the Pistons, who made up for it by having a top-notch defensive center who could neutralize the others.

The point guard position is the most important position in today’s game.  Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio, Utah, New Orleans, Golden State, and Detroit are all carried by All-Star caliber point guards.  Michael Jordan played for years before he started winning, it’s doubtful Magic Johnson could have ever led a team to a losing record because a point guard LEADS a team. 

This is why the rise of the New Orleans Hornets should come as no surprise.  Fluke, they are not, and NBA fans should expect to fill their sting for quite some time.  The Hornets are entering an era will they will be in the best shape of their franchise’s history by having a Hall of Fame point guard, Chris Paul, and an All-Star caliber center, Tyson Chandler, for the primes of their careers. 

Paul is the leader, on-floor coach, leading the league in assist and steals while scoring over 20ppg a game.  Chandler not only made the Olympic squad but also is leading the league in offensive rebounds and is second in field goal-percentage.   He is in his sixth season having come straight out of high school.   Paul ends his rookie contract 3-year period in the off-season. 

Having the best point guard and  a quality 7’1” center for the entirety of their primes is quite a building block, add on a fixture at power forward in David West and you have a trifecta.   David West, a current All-Star who is still improving each year at a tremendous rate epitomizes the Hornets’ lunch pail attitude.  His approach and professionalism are a trademark of the club and fit perfectly with Chris Paul and Coach Byron Scott. 

West, Peja, Paul and others were somewhat of a backlash of the Jamal Mashburn, Baron Davis, and Jamal Majlorie era, where the team was representing everything that was wrong with the NBA. West's ofrfseason approach has him acquiring new skills each year.  Knowing his limitations has helped West; hence, he has mastered the 17-foot jumper making the pick-n-rolls with Paul lethal.

Add Peja Stojakovic.  His health this year has provided a service to CP3 that few players in the world can.  Even if he has missed his past twenty shots, this 6’10” Serbian sharp-shooter can stand one foot off of the sidelines and teams still will not leave him alone for a second to help out on Paul due to his reputation alone.  With his man never abandoning him, it has left CP3 ample room to have a MVP season.

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