New Orleans Hornets Odds to Win 2008 NBA Finals
The New Orleans Hornets are the new kids on the block in terms of the Western Conference playoff picture, but they could end up as the number one seed as they are currently in first place in the Western Conference with a two game lead over the competition. Will the young Hornets, led by MVP candidate Chris Paul, be ready to challenge for a NBA title this season? Get Jimmy’s take as he weighs the 2008 New Orleans Hornets odds to win the NBA Finals.
Why they’ll win it all:
There’s one real reason and one reason only that the Hornets will win it all and that’s point guard Chris Paul. Steve Nash made the little man relevant again three seasons ago and since Utah’s Deron Williams and New Orleans’ Chris Paul have added themselves to the list of elite point guards in the NBA. Paul’s ability to distribute the basketball has been unmatched this season as he leads the league with 11.5 assists per game. He has brought forgotten players Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic back into the limelight with his great ability to facilitate the offense. No team can be considered a championship caliber team if it doesn’t have the ability to get stops defensively. The Hornets rank fifth in the NBA in points allowed. While New Orleans is currently in a position to retain home court throughout the Western Conference playoffs, if they don’t end up winning the West it shouldn’t be too much of a setback. The Hornets are 29-11 at home this season and nearly as good on the road at 26-12. New Orleans’ ability to win on the road makes them a tough out in any series.
Why they won’t:
This is the Hornets first rodeo with this particular team. They won just 39 games last season and were on the outside looking in. This team doesn’t yet have the big game experience to win it all. While the turnaround from last season to this season has been remarkable and while they have put together the best record in the West to this point, Chris Paul doesn’t yet know the different beast that the playoffs is. Easier said than done, but all opponents have to do is stop Chris Paul and New Orleans won’t even make it out of the first round. New Orleans depends on Paul to score. His scoring often plays second fiddle to his assists, but his points are just as important. On April 8th, the Hornets were held to a season low 66 points at home by Utah. The big reason was because Paul only had four points. His nine assists were respectable, but the Hornets cannot survive with him shooting poorly from the floor. Teams with big athletic defenders may be able to slow him down and as a result slow down the Hornets.
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