With a 12-1 record in the month of January, it's safe to say that the New Orleans Hornets are for real.
There can be no denying what Byron Scott's team has done so far this season. In compiling a 32-12 record heading into last night's game with the Golden State Warriors, the Hornets have established themselves as legit contenders in what is traditionally a top-heavy conference. During their recent run in the new year, which includes an active nine-game win streak, New Orleans has not just beaten its opponents - it has demolished them by an average of over 18 points. This includes last weekend's dominating effort against the defending-champion San Antonio Spurs, as the visiting Hornets won by 24 points.
It all starts with the continued emergence of third-year point guard Chris Paul. The MVP candidate is proof that a team can go far with a playmaker who's not only highly skilled, but also a great leader. This Hornets team feeds off of Paul's energy; in fact, eight of the team's 12 losses have come in games where Paul has not produced a double-double for points and assists. Paul is averaging 20.6 points and 10.5 assists per game to lead his team, and he's also atop the league with 2.59 steals a game.
The Hornets are by no means, however, a one-trick pony. New Orleans has one of the most underrated frontcourt duos in the league in power forward David West and center Tyson Chandler. West would likely be an All-Star if the Western Conference weren't so crowded at the forward position. The former Xavier star is averaging 19.7 points and 9.3 rebounds a game as the primary post option on his team and is one of the best jump-shooting big men in the league.
Chandler, meanwhile, is averaging just over 12 points, which is a pleasant surprise but does not reveal his true value. The former Chicago Bulls project has blossomed in the Big Easy, leading the league in the important category of offensive rebounding with 4.4 a game.
New Orleans has also been buoyed by the return of last year's key free agent signee, Peja Stojakovic. After playing just 13 games last season due to a back injury, the sharpshooter has come back to provide his team with a dangerous outside threat. Coupled with Mo Peterson, acquired in the offseason from the Toronto Raptors, and veteran Bobby Jackson off the bench, the Hornets have a number of options that allow them to stretch the floor and make other teams respect their perimeter game. In fact, they are fourth in the league, shooting 38 percent from beyond the three-point line.
The Hornets have also been doing what most good teams do: winning with defense. New Orleans is fourth in the league in opponents' scoring average, allowing only 92.5 points a game. If they want to go far in the playoffs, the Hornets will need to continue playing well on the defensive end. This is especially true when the second unit is in, as the Hornets might have one of the weakest groups of reserves in the league. Besides Jackson, the team's top reserve is Jannero Pargo, who bounced around the league before finding a home in New Orleans last year. The team is especially thin when it comes to quality big men off the bench, with journeyman center Melvin Ely the best of the bunch.
With the All-Star game hitting the Big Easy next month, New Orleans is hoping that the hoopla will drum up support from the local fan base. The Hornets have the second-lowest home attendance figures in the league, and it seems that after Hurricane Katrina, the city has not rallied around its still relatively new NBA franchise like it did around the Saints. It would be a real shame if the fans started to come around to this team too late, because success in the NBA can be fleeting. Just ask the Miami Heat.
