The Los Angeles Lakers are currently seeded 3rd in the Western Conference and are working hard to improve their standing. They are currently two games behind the #1 seeded New Orleans Hornets, who they happen to face later tonight in the second of a back to back.
This game is more than just a fight for the best record in the conference. This single match-up has the opportunity to identify the true MVP of this amazing season. Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul will face each other for the final time this season (until the playoffs, perhaps) and luckily, it’s at the end when everyone already has the MVP race locked down to these two guys.
The New Orleans Hornets have had an amazing season. One to remember for a lifetime. The fans who have gone through so many big life changing events in Louisiana have finally come to the support of their home team. With the many issues the team has had selling out home games, they seem to finally have the support of the resident of New Orleans.
Someone else who has stuck with the Hornets is Ryan of Hornets247.com. The website is incredible and I suggest everyone take a look. I was lucky enough to exchange some thoughts with Ryan and he took the time to answer a few of my questions about the Hornets. Also, here is a link to my answers.
LA Ball Talk: Chris Paul is obviously the biggest name on your team at this point. As a fan of his game who doesn’t get to see him play every night, is he really the leader that everyone makes him out to be or is he just very good at putting up numbers? Is he the MVP?
Hornets247: He’s absolutely the leader of the team. He was the leader of the Hornets from the day he walked on to the court as a rookie, which is bizarre considering there were some long time veterans on that team. He will bark, point, direct, get on people, call huddles on the floor during free throws, and rip into refs on behalf of his team mates. It works because every player on the floor knows that Chris is giving it his all every minute. MVP of the league? Of course I think so. He’s in the process of submitting the best season by a Point Guard ever. People talk about how he could submit a historical never-been-done season if he averages 20+ points, 10+ assists and 3 steals, but he’s ALREADY submitting a never-been-done season by averaging 20+, 10+ and 2.7+. I just can’t say enough about what he does for the Hornets.
LA Ball Talk: Eventhough Chris Paul has apparently become a monster this season, team wins only comes from a team effort. Kobe struggled in LA until his teammates were finally able to put the ball in the basket. With West becoming an All Star, and Chandler on the verge of his first All Star appearance in the near future, how have the role players on this team and basically everyone besides Chris Paul really made this team what it is today?
Hornets247: Honestly, all of the other players on the team have both defensive and offensive flaws. The bench is also really weak, though getting stronger as Julian Wright figures things out and Bonzi Wells gets incorporated with the team.
This team, however, is a testament to GM Jeff Bower and what you can do by slotting together certain specialists that fit into a system. Defensively, the team has been well-coached to recognize the weaknesses of each team member, and its become second nature for help to arrive when a player is in one of those situations. Offensively, this team is built to operate around a master distributer like Paul. West, Peja and Morris spread the floor beautifully, Chandler is deadly rolling to the basket, and Paul can operate in the middle with ease, finding the open guy or hitting a mid-range shot at will. If the pick and roll isn’t running, both Peja and West can post up, West being skilled at scoring both going towards and fading away from the basket, and Peja able to sink fade aways beautifully. It’s just a well-coached, well built team.
LA Ball Talk: The Hornets have suddenly become one of the biggest stories in the NBA. They currently hold the #1 record in the Western Conference with the Spurs and Lakers just behind them. How do you feel the seeding will work out going into the playoffs based on remaining schedules and any other factors?
Hornets247:
2. Lakers
3. Spurs
4. Jazz
5. Rockets(with a better record than the Jazz)
6. Suns
7. Mavericks
1. Jazz
2. Lakers
3. Mavericks
4. Rockets
5. Spurs
6. Suns
7. Golden State
8. Nuggets
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