Post by donatello2424 on Jul 29, 2008 7:47:04 GMT -5
No one expected New Orleans to be on the top of the east, not even the own New Orleans General Manager. In fact, most people expected New Orleans to be towards the bottom of the standings. However after the first sim, an unexpected team is found on the top of the Eastern Conference standings. At 6-1, the Hornets hold the best record in the east and are tied for the best record in the league.
One would assume that the Hornets reached an easy stretch of their schedule. One could assume that, but the Hornets played some solid teams. They gave a Philly team with Jamison, Richardson, and Arenas their only loss during the sim. Golden State struggled this sim, but they have a solid team with Garnett and Parker. Utah was defeated, who is playing well and is 4-5 so far. The only loss came against a team who only lost 2 games during the sim. They then defeated Chicago and Atlanta who are struggling, and Milwaukee who has Kobe and Okafor. If we discount the schedule, there must be a reason why New Orleans is doing so well.
The starting lineup gets the most playing time of course. As a result, they would need to be solid. Signing Jake Tsakalidis was a big step in the transformation of the Hornets. Jake, who had a career high 23 rebounds in his first game for the Hornets against the 76ers. Tsakalidis is putting up 13.9 rpg, 2nd in the league along with a respectable 10 ppg for a guy who isn’t known as a scorer. Tsakalidis is anchoring the frontline for the Hornets and being a very solid rounding big man.
Tsakalidis is providing great rebounding for the Hornets
Can’t just say that Tsakalidis is the only starter producing. Third year man Carl Landry is putting up 19/8 starting alongside Tsakalidis. Another 3rd year man is the scoring anchor for this team. Jeff Green is putting up a team high 22.4 ppg, along with a respectable 5.7 rpg and 4.9 apg, turning himself into a very solid all-around player. The rest of the starters are also producing. Second year man Eric Gordon is putting up 13 pgg and point guard Juan Carlos Navarro is adding 13 ppg with 7 apg and only 1.9 topg. This solid production from the starters, make it easier for the team to succeed. However, the starters aren’t putting up great scoring numbers. Bench production is the reason why this team is doing well.
Landry, Green, and Navarro are all producing for the Hornets
A team needs a solid bench to do well. The Hornets are getting good production from their bench. Ernest brown, backing up both Tsakalidis and Landry is putting up 10.9 rpg. Jamario Moon and Lior Eliyahu are combing for 15.8 ppg backing up both wing spots. Raymond Felton, backing up the point guard spot is putting up almost 10 ppg as well. This bench production doesn’t even show the depth of this team. Alexey Shved, the Hornets 1st round pick, hasn’t even seen the court yet and is a very solid scoring point guard. If needed he can come in and provide scoring if needed. Second year big man Joey Dorsey also hasn’t seen the court much and is a solid rebounder. Not to forget players who haven’t seen any minutes are Jason Bennett and Jose Juan Barea.
Brown is proving to be a rebounding beast off the bench
1st round pick Alexey Shved has yet to see the court
This team might start to lose games left and right as their overall talent level catches up to them. Injuries might plague the team and their bench gets worse. Who knows? Maybe this is a fluke. All that is certain is it is very impressive that this Hornets team is on the top of the east right now.
