NBA Playoffs Conf. Semis (2) Hornets Vs. (3) Spurs

im a little disappointed with the Hornets' loss

I was hoping the Hornets would advance too, not out of dislike for the Spurs but it would have been a refreshing change. I know there's a lot of people eager for a Celtics/Lakers Finals but I was actually hoping for a Celtics/Hornets matchup so I'm sorry to see it won't be happening. Still, they had a good opportunity but the Spurs got hot at the right time.

The final push was fun to watch though, at times it looked like Pargo was going to shoot them out of the game and then he came back and knocked down a few shots to pull them within three. The final score didn't really reflect the effort New Orleans made in the final six minutes but kudos to the Spurs for taking care of business.

Things that New Orleans will need to succeed next postseason:
A better backup for Chris Paul. Pargo can score the ball, but I didn't see him making plays and finding shots for his teammates.

A good scorer at G/F. I mean a guy that doesn't need a screen to be able to shoot. Someone who can score without reciving a pass from Chris Paul.
Stojakovic is a good shooter but he can't create a scoring opportunity by himself. The same goes for Peterson.

When Pargo's shooting the lights out, he's the kind of player who can help a team with a burst of scoring since he's fearless when it comes to putting up shots. Unfortunately, that also makes him a liability when his shot isn't falling. With some of the shots he was taking in Game 7 he almost blew the Hornets run as much as he sparked it.

The Hornets' lack of offensive power

Hmm? They were fifth during the season, and were actually better in the playoffs through game six as they slashed their turnovers to an insanely low number.

I thought you would mention that. They did score around 100 points per game during the season (which should put them around 10th) but they get a ton of shot opportunities, whether it's forcing turnovers or Tyson's offensive rebounds. if you look at the box scores of their games, their FG% is too inconsistent for an "elite" playoff team. they can shoot <40% FG on any given night. That puts so much pressure on their defense, which at some times can be shaky. They're like a better version of the Bulls team from a few years ago that played really good D but had offensive problems outside of Gordon & Deng. West & Paul take the most shots and shoot around 48-49% and Tyson shoots 60+ but doesn't take many shots. Peja is at 44 for the season and Mo Pete shot a dismal 41% during the season. their 6th man Pargo who plays at the 2 during crunch time shot 39% during the season and 38% during the playoffs.

Either they need a solid consistent 3rd scorer outside of Paul & West or they need to be able to change up their offense during a long series like this because they were too predictable and after game 2, the Spurs had them figured out for the most part.

But Jordan Farmer gets more stops then KG! Whoops sorry, wrong thread.

They did score around 100 points per game during the season (which should put them around 10th)

But, their points per possession, which is a much better measure of offense ranks them 5th.

if you look at the box scores of their games, their FG% is too inconsistent for an "elite" playoff team. they can shoot <40% FG on any given night.

I decided to. And compared them to the Pistons who had relatively few roster changes during the season.

I also did points per possession.

This is a stupid way to do it, (especially not even doing standard deviations or anything) but I didn't want to bother comparing to all teams. To me, the graphs don't look very different. I don't think teams are actually as consistent as we would think.

West & Paul take the most shots and shoot around 48-49% and Tyson shoots 60+ but doesn't take many shots. Peja is at 44 for the season and Mo Pete shot a dismal 41% during the season. their 6th man Pargo who plays at the 2 during crunch time shot 39% during the season and 38% during the playoffs.

I'm not going to bother with Pargo, as he is too obvious, but looking at more accurate shooting measures: (edit: added playoff figures)
[table][mrow]Player[mcol]eFG%[mcol]TS%[mcol]peFG[mcol]pTS
[row]Chris Paul[col].524[col].576[col].513[col].565
[row]Tyson Chandler[col].623[col].632[col].632[col].640
[row]David West[col].484[col].535[col].468[col].522
[row]Pedja Stojakovic[col].552[col].581[col].541[col].583
[row]Morris Peterson[col].526[col].549[col].603[col].609[/table]
West is the only bad shooter of the bunch, and he makes up for it at the line. Pedja basically already played the third scorer role, look at their possession usage:
[table][mrow]Player[mcol]Usg%
[row]Chris Paul[col]25.7
[row]Tyson Chandler[col]14.5
[row]David West[col]26.3
[row]Pedja Stojakovic[col]19.7
[row]Morris Peterson[col]15.4[/table]
Using 20% of possessions is about what we should expect from a third scorer when you have a player like Paul, and another guy using 25+%. I don't know how many more possessions some new third scorer could take away (if he replaced Pedja, not Peterson) without negatively affecting the team.

I think they need, as I believe I said, more bench output. They need a guy who can score, or at least replicate Chandler more, from the frontcourt. Wright will get better and he had some good production, but he's easily more of a SF, than a PF/C. Pargo uses way too many possessions at a low efficiency to make their bench backcourt effective either, especially without Bobby Jackson. The first five plus Wright are at least short-term keepers in my opinion, with Armstrong and Bonzi Wells being on probation, I'd consider everyone else to be players to replace.

your numbers don't make Mo Pete look as bad as I think he is, but I do agree 100% that the bench needs to be better. I really like Wright. he's a high-energy defensive player. If I remember right, Wells Ely & Andersen are their upcoming free agents (Pargo has a player option which I think he'll pick up). I think they'll keep Andersen for that same high-energy play as Wright but Wells & Ely will be gone. They need to find some free agents or have Rasual Butler play some D and not suck. Butler was a pretty decent player a couple years ago.

Over half of Petersons shots are from three, and he hit over 39% there. And in the playoffs he shot 47%. We cannot forget that three pointers are worth a whole extra point, so shooting 39% on threes is like shooting 59% from two. His 47% playoff mark is equivalent to 71%. (And Pedja? His insane 55% playoff three rate is equivalent to 82%.)

Btw, mind taking care of the post above yours? A bit unruly.

Yes it's not upto Ben Bailey's standards. SOMEBODY PUSH THE REPORT THIS THREAD BUTTON PLS!

Sigh, he quoted my entire lengthy post, and then just said "KOBE IS THE MVP!", I just wanted the giant quote removed as it was stretching the page. Especially since he didn't respond to it and was just doing the same thing you are.

We're having a nice discussion here, if you'd like to discuss the topic with us, instead of pursuing some strange obsessive crusade because we had an argument in another thread. Well, then don't feel like you can't.

I think they'll keep Andersen for that same high-energy play as Wright but Wells & Ely will be gone

I'd keep Wells if he could be had cheap enough, his contract is basically coming off the books twice because Macijauskas' was about the same and is also expriring. Butler definitely needs to find a better game, especially with them paying him almost $8 million over the next two years, I have no clue why they ever game him such a contract.

Sigh, he quoted my entire lengthy post, and then just said "KOBE IS THE MVP!", I just wanted the giant quote removed as it was stretching the page. Especially since he didn't respond to it and was just doing the same thing you are.

Try being more specific then.

We're having a nice discussion here, if you'd like to discuss the topic with us, instead of pursuing some strange obsessive crusade because we had an argument in another thread. Well, then don't feel like you can't.

Yes full of fantastic graphs and stats. What a wonderful discussion!

according to the ESPN trade machine, Wells is making an expiring 2 million & change. I'm pretty sure he'll ask for more than that. also, I retract my statement about thinking that Pargo will pick up his option. He signed on as a relative unknown, with only limited experience mostly with Chicago. I think after gaining more exposure this year, he'll opt out and try to cash in.

Butler definitely needs to find a better game, especially with them paying him almost $8 million over the next two years, I have no clue why they ever game him such a contract.

Because a couple of seasons ago, Butler was the best player of the bench and they think he will continue developing his game. Jackson, Pargo, Stojakovic and Chandler also arrived to the team that off season.

Yes full of fantastic graphs and stats. What a wonderful discussion!

Some people like to provide support for their arguments. This sometimes includes using data, rather than memes or opinions, to support them. If you have a post that isn't about your throbbing desire for attention from me (which you get here, because I'm such a naughty little tease) it would be a welcome surprise.

Because a couple of seasons ago, Butler was the best player of the bench

Yeah, but that's no reason to reward someone, especially since he was already 26. Why did they bother with him and not J.R. Smith? (I honestly don't know.)

I'm pretty sure he'll ask for more than that.

But will he get it? Didn't he try something similar not too long ago and wound up with what he's got now?

I think after gaining more exposure this year, he'll opt out and try to cash in

Yeah, I noticed that too. For some reason it felt like he'd hanging around there forever, guess it was just two years. He shot a lot better last season (well...for him anyway), turned it over more though. I still wouldn't give him a contract to be much more than a fifth guard.

I'd love the Hornets to look into some of those guys in the NBDL instead of overpaying what they've already got.

Personally I think the hornets lack a premiere perimeter defender. MoPete is decent, but decent isn't good enough, and Peja is, well, Peja, and Paul can only guard the 1. Artest is a name that pops into my head, but he doesn't feel like a good fit personality-wise. Then again, a hot head is sometimes what a team needs. I also don't like Pargo, his decision making is atrocious.... I would rather the second unit be run primarily through bonzi. Perhaps they could get duhon from the bulls as a backup pg?

They should get Raja Flop.

I think Artests' personality problem might be overblown. He didn't cause too much trouble on that 60 win Pacers team, it wasn't him that derailed them that season. Yeah, the Brawl obviously, but he wouldn't have Stephen Jackson in New Orleans. And perhaps mostly because the media isn't paying attention, haven't heard much from him in Sacramento.

He would fill Qballers desire for a third scorer, and your desire for a perimeter defender. Then MoPete is coming off the bench, making the bench better. I don't think it's a bad decision really, nor replacing Pargo with Duhon.

JR Smith had problems with Byron Scott, that's why he was traded to Chicago

JR Smith had problems with Byron Scott, that's why he was traded to Chicago

JR Smith had problems playing defense and he doesn't get paid as much as Peja so he was expendable.

I also agree that Artest's problems are overblown. The media loves to jump on these guys like Artest, Stephen Jackson, Ricky Davis, Rasheed, guys like that that mess up once and carry that stigma for the rest of their career.

to get Artest though it would obviously cost them some money. and like you said "Do the Hornets want four players at $40 million+?" They're trying to extend Chris Paul as well so they need to find a young up and comer who fits the same mold as Ron Artest, but is just not proven quite yet.

My thoughts were on someone like Kevin Martin or if you want someone more defensively minded, Danny Granger.