Live06 - Hornets 06-07: Hornets acquire Peterson

[TheMC5]

My original plan for this dynasty was to simulate the first 3 seasons in order to have the 08-09 season run pretty much concurrently with the upcoming season. However the 2006 draft changed my plans considerably, and I have decided to start playing from the beginning of the 06-07 season.

CURRENT ROSTER

STARTERS
PG Chris Paul (84)
SG Morris Peterson (75)
SF Kirk Snyder (73)
PF David West (77)
C Dan Rasmussen (69)
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SG JR Smith (76)
PG Benji Iwanaka (74)
SF Haji Iwanaka (73)
PF Ike Diogu (71)
C Chris Andersen (67)
PG Gideon Christianson (67)
C Steven Hughes (64)
SF Eric Williams (61)
SG Arvydas Macijuaskas (60)

INDEX
05-06 Season Recap
2006 Offseason
06-07 Opening Night Rosters
06-07 Hornets Preview
Press Conference: Iwanakas Introduced

GM 1 (L): NOH 98 - POR 121
GM 2 (L): WAS 110 - NOH 98
GM 3 (L): NOH 103 - PHX 117

Hornets acquire Morris Peterson

[Lamrock]

My favorite member of the 07 NLSC class! Welcome back. Hope this one is as good as your Vancouver Sonics or your Raptors.

[TheMC5]

2005-06 SEASON RECAP




Record: 33-49 (5th in Southwest, did not make playoffs)

TEAM STATS
PPG: 93.8 (24th)
O. REB: 13.9 (10th)
RPG: 43.6 (10th)
APG: 17.7 (29th)
BPG: 5.10 (22nd)
SPG: 8.77 (18th)
TO: 15.5 (27th)
FPG: 22.9 (8th)
FG%: .431 (24th)
3PT%: .348 (11th)
FT%: .791 (5th)

LEADERS
PPG: David West - 21.3
RPG: David West - 10.2
APG: Chris Paul - 7.7
SPG: Chris Paul - 2.18
BPG: David West - 1.06

FINAL ROSTER
C: PJ Brown, Chris Andersen, DJ Mbenja
PF: David West, Ike Diogu, Jackson Vroman
SF: Desmond Mason, Kirk Snyder, Bostjan Nachbar
SG: JR Smith, Arvydas Macijuaskas
PG: Chris Paul, Speedy Claxton, Jacque Vaughn

TEAM STAFF
ASST. COACH: Leander Simpson (spec: shooting), Homer Noble (spec: none), Walter Brack (spec: guard)
SCOUT: Noah Ashe (spec: none)
TRAINER: Brodie Reeves (spec: Torso, Arms)

The Hornets 05-06 campaign started off with promise. With a 6-4 record through the first 10 games of the season, the players were feeling good about themselves and their playoff chances. David West improved drastically, posting 20 and 10's as if he were Elton Brand, but it was rookie Chris Paul who made it all happen offensively. So when he went down for over 2 weeks in the 11th game of the year, it altered the entire course of the Hornets' season. With only Speedy Claxton as a replacement for Paul, the team scrambled to find a viable short-term solution at point. They eventually brought former NBA player Raul Lopez back from Europe.

While Lopez and Claxton filled in admirably at point (Claxton narrowly missed a triple-double in his 1st start with 26pts, 9rebs, 9assts), the team predictably struggled. After dropping 6 games straight, New Orleans managed only 1 win before losing the last 2 games prior to CP3's return. When Paul returned to the lineup, the team's record was 7-12. The team struggled to improve with Paul back in the lineup, and roster changes became inevitable. Most fans and observers were expecting Desmond Mason to be moved due to his salary and the strong play of Kirk Snyder, whose play was proving his rookie season in Utah to be an aberration. Many were shocked then to see the newly signed Raul Lopez dealt to Atlanta for a 1st round draft pick. Inside sources have since revealed that Hawks were in pursuit of Lopez (who, it should be noted, looked positively Stockton-esque in EuroLeague)at the same time as the Hornets. The never-used Maicej Lampe was the next player to be moved, shipped to the big-man starved New Jersey Nets for veteran point guard Jacque Vaughn. Vaughn would play sparingly for New Orleans, but it's always a good idea to have 3 point guards on the roster. DJ Mbenja, who was cut by Dallas, was later signed as a free agent.

As the season wore on, it became more and more apparent that David West was shouldering too much of the inside scoring load, and it was showing in his performance. Unable to make a move for a quality center, the Hornets instead opted for the unproven rookie forward Ike Diogu from Golden State, giving up gunner Rasual Butler.

With all the new trade acquisitions, the Hornets enjoyed their lone .500 month in March, until Kirk Snyder got injured for the remainder of the season late in the month. The team then struggled to end, dropping 8 of their last 10 games to finish with the 6th worst record in the league. Of course, their poor record combined with Atlanta's would give New Orleans 2 high lottery picks in what is considered a very deep 2006 draft class. But then, anything can happen in the draft lottery...


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FINAL STANDINGS

Eastern Conference




Western Conference





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LEAGUE LEADERS






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PLAYER AWARDS










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PLAYOFF RESULTS






A little ironic that Gasol wins finals MVP after last season's finals, not to mention how insane it is that Memphis won?!

Anyway, draft lottery, draft, and other off-season shit will be next.

[TheMC5]

Thanks, Lamrock. Hopefully this one lasts a little longer than the others, though.

I'll be sure to check your "3rd best dynasty" soon!

[Lamrock]

Solid season recap. Your stats are so realistic!

[Clutch]

FINALLY! not only a stellar CP3 dynasty in the make, but told by one worthy to tell the tale! I'm sooo stoked on this one

[jonthefon]

Holy mcfuck! Where've you been for the...last year or so?

[TheMC5]

Lamrock: I spent forever editing player stats before starting the dynasty. They damn well better be realistic

Clutch: Great to see ya man, hope I don't disappoint.

jonthefon: Ummm, around?


I forgot to mention that in the first round, the Spurs lost Manu Ginobili with the series tied 1-1. I don't think a healthy Spurs lose to the Grizzlies. Just for the record.

Also, like I said in the 1st post I was originally planning on simming until 08-09 and doing short season recaps. That's why this one was fairly lacking in detail. But the draft shit will be cool.

[TheMC5]

2006 OFFSEASON


ROOKIE SCOUTING

After a season spent scouring the globe for top talent, scout Noah Ashe had compiled a list of 10 players to be brought in for pre-draft workouts. Though this year's draft class is considered very strong by all the experts and pundits, most NBA GMs have noticed a lack of top-flight talent. Surely many players from this draft class will go on to be star players in the league for many years, but none of them appear to be "franchise player" type material. With that in mind, here in no particular order are the results from the pre-draft workouts:

Grant Galanov Switzerland, PF 6'9" 221 lbs
Galanov really impressed in the workout. He muscled up Ike Diogu regularly, and showed and impressive array of post moves and foot work, and a soft touch at the hoop. Athletically he's quick enough to guard 3's and strong enough to bang inside with 2's, combined with an uncanny knack for blocking shots. But he struggled defensively in a 1-on-1 situation due to a complete lack of defensive fundamentals. He has shown a willingness to, though not a proficiency for, taking long jumpers, which could hurt his game if not corrected. But it's his rebounding which needs the most work. His timing, anticipation, and positioning are terrible, but the will seems to be there.

Best case scenario: he's a more athletic Zach Randolph who can block shots.

Soulis Lindquist Ireland, PF 7'0" 268 lbs
This hulking Irish-Swede is a perfect example of the deception of appearances. Though undeniably strong, Linquist was reluctant to force the action down low, and when he did he struggled to finish. He has a nice J out to 20', and can certainly hold his own on the glass, but he might not block 10 shots all season. For such an intimidating physical presence his aversion to the paint is surprising, but he has shown savvy on both ends of the court and the ability to produce despite his tendencies.

Best case scenario: A reliable though unspectacular double-double guy who does nothing to hurt the team at either end, a la Chris Kaman.

Marcus Mbembe Tenn.-Chattanooga, SG 6'3" 228 lbs
Mbembe is perhaps the top athlete in the draft. Though undersized, he can get to the rim at will and finish in traffic. He's solid from the line, and can hit open threes with some reliability. His mid-range game leaves something to be desired, though. He can get off any shot he wants, but his mechanics are off when he's not able to set himself. He's also a god-awful defender, which is a huge liability considering his size.

Best case scenario: Steve Francis without the injuries.

Mats Zubov Italy, PF 6'9" 230 lbs
This Italian-born son of Russian ex-pats may be the most well rounded player in the draft. He has a reliable mid-range game and can hit 3's on occasion. He'll crash the boards and bang inside. He's quick, athletic, and smart on both sides of the ball. But he will never dominate a game or a carry team. He's a role player. A very good role player, but still a role player.

Best case scenario: A more inside-oriented Shane Battier.

Alexander Jackson Alabama-Birm., SF 6'7" 221 lbs
Jackson excelled in 1-on-1 play, using his quickness and defensive tenacity to completely shut down Kirk Snyder. He showed the ability to score from all over the court. Though not astoundingly athletic, he should be able to hold his own in the NBA. One concern is that he seemed to tire quickly, though he may be able too improve his conditioning.

Best case scenario: A lock down defender with the ability to score from all over the court, like Ron Artest without the physical domination and insanity.

Desie Wheeler Iowa, C 6'9" 266 lbs
Wheeler seems like a bit of a project, but one that could pay dividends in the end. He's certainly good enough to contribute right away, but his main strengths lay in his shot blocking and speed up the floor. He does have nice mid jumper and can even stretch out to beyond the arc, but they aren't strong enough to compensate for his average post play. He gets pushed around more than a man his size should and as a result has some trouble rebounding. Still, none of his weaknesses are so glaring that they will prevent him from earning minutes no matter who drafts him.

Best case scenario: A beefier David West.

Sam Boyes Tennessee, SG 6'2" 189 lbs
Boyes has 2 traits every GM wants to see in their players; fearlessness, and unwavering confidence. Of course, the kid can also play. He's fast, has crossovers for days, and he can shoot the lights out from downtown. He'll also dunk all over you if you're not careful. For all his strengths, he has no court vision and so can't run the point as he should, and he plays a very Iverson-esque style of gambling defense which results in steals and easy points for the opposition.

Best case scenario: Allen Iverson, but obviously way less bad ass.

Jamie Lee Vietnam, PF 6'10" 236 lbs
Jamie Lee is an extremely talented player, it's just a shame he was discovered so late. At 25, he's only been playing basketball for 6 years, and competitively for only 3. Though raw, his talent is undeniable. His awkward jump shots are seemingly impossibly incredibly accurate. He crashes the offensive glass with reckless abandon, runs the floor well, and his awkward post play, like his jump shot, is oddly effective. He's a bit of a wild card. Being so old, how much room does he have to grow? Conversely, having only played for 6 years, how much, more does he have to learn? And how much of a hindrance will be his lack of knowledge and experience?

Best case scenario: A Vietnam-hardened, aggressive Dirk Nowitzki.

Benji Iwanaka Japan, PG 6'0" 185 lbs
The more highly-touted of twin Japanese basketball superstars, Benji Iwanaka is an old school point guard. He plays scrappy defense, is quick with the ball, sets up his teammates effortlessly, and generally leads by example. He was the driving force behind Japan's surprising 4th place finish at the World Championships this summer, locking down NBA point guards and international stars alike. He finished the tournament 3rd in assists and 2nd in assist-to-turnover ratio. He struggled shooting in the workouts, but the rest of his game is certainly NBA-ready.

Best case scenario: A tougher TJ Ford with a defensive mindset.

Haji Iwanaka Japan, SF 6'4" 234 lbs
Many pundits and observers thought Haji to be the beneficial recipient of always have played alongside a superior point guard in his brother Benji. But he proved himself in the workout, not only by scoring like it was going out of style, but by basically being everywhere on the court at once. He blocks shots, gets steals, rebounds, defends, and hustles on every shift.

Best case scenario: If Darius Miles (in his prime) could shoot.


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DRAFT LOTTERY RESULTS




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PLAYER RE-SIGNINGS

ATL re-signs F Al Harrington to an undisclosed contract.
ATL re-signs G Joe Johnson to an undisclosed contract.
CHI re-signs C Tyson Chandler to an undisclosed contract.
MIL re-signs G Michael Redd to an undisclosed contract.
HOU re-signs C Yao Ming for $51.91 million over 5 years.
CHA re-signs F Gerald Wallace for $41.48 million over 4 years.
DET re-signs F Tayshaun Prince to an undisclosed contract.
WAS re-signs F Caron Butler to an undisclosed contract.
PHO re-signs C Amare Stoudemire to an undisclosed contract.
GSW re-signs G Jason Richardson for $8.97 million over 1 year.
CLE re-signs F Drew Gooden for $48.63 million over 6 years.
SAC re-signs F Bonzi Wells to an undisclosed contract.
DAL re-signs G Jason Terry for $63.11 million over 6 years.


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2006 NBA DRAFT


ROUND 1

1. NOH - Benji Iwanaka PG, Japan
- strong defender
- good playmaker
- below average shooter
The Hornets shock the basketball world by drafting a really good backup for Chris Paul with the #1 pick, though it seems obvious they'll be making a play for Haji Iwanaka with the 6th pick.

2. WAS - Grant Galanov PF, Switzerland
- great shot blocker
- very athletic
- weak man defender
The Wiz add another potent offensive weapon to the Arenas-Butler-Jamison triumvirate. This likely shifts Butler to the off-guard in favor of a Galanov-Jamison front court.

3. MIL - Soulis Lindquist PF, Ireland
- good mid-range shooter
- savvy on both sides of the ball
- won't block any shots
The Bucks plugged a gaping hole at the 4, and Lindquist could complement Bogut's inside presence nicely.

4. POR - Marcus Mbembe SG, Tenn.-Chattanooga
- extremely athletic
- high-flying dunker
- shaky shooter
Portland filled a positional need, but didn't do much to address their problems with 3 point shooting and perimeter D. Though Mbembe has all the physical tools to one day be a star.

5. MIN - Mats Zubov PF, Italy
- reliable shooter
- high basketball I.Q.
- lacks aggressive mindset
Interesting pick for the Wolves. They already have KG and David Lee at PF, and Zubov is a bit of a stretch at #5. Kevin McHale can never have too many 4s.

6. NOH (via ATL) - Haji Iwanaka SF, Japan
- good shooter
- can handle the ball
- not much stamina
Surprise, the Hornets take the other half of the dynamic Iwanaka duo. It's a big risk considering the talent available in this draft, but if it works out it will pay off big time.

7. NYK - Alexander Jackson SF, Alabama-Birm.
- tough man defender
- can finish around the basket
- injury prone
The Knicks may have filled the biggest hole on their roster - a good defensive starting caliber player. If he stays healthy the Knicks could be back in the playoffs.

8. DAL (via Chicago) - Johnny Ibeabuchi PG, Washington
- excellent defensive player
- very quick
- almost no scoring ability
Dallas gets an excellent defensive point guard to backup Devin Harris, who should start with Jason Terry's move back to SG.

9. TOR - Desie Wheeler C, Iowa
- good shooter for a big man
- excellent shot blocker
- not much post game
Toronto finally has a serviceable center to play alongside CB4. If Wheeler can develop his inside game Toronto could be good.

10. SEA - Sam Boyes SG, Tennessee
- deadly from behind the arc
- will collect a lot of steals
- relatively poor free throw shooter
Seattle passed up a few good bigs in order to draft Ray Allen's eventual replacement. Not a good move.

11. LAL - Quint Hamilton SF, Cincinnati
- great vertical
- good strength
- not much of a shooter
His addition makes the Lakers a much more athletic team as a whole. Expect to see more running from the Lake Show this season

12. BOS - Jamie Lee PF, Vietnam
- great inside/outside game
- hits to offensive glass hard
- struggles defensively
This Vietnamese spark plug should see plenty of time backing up all 3 front court positions for the C's.

13. UTA - Felix Embrey PG, Congo
- great court vision and passing
- tough man defender
- no scoring ability
An odd pick considering Utah's lack of shooting guard depth, Embrey will likely play sparingly.

14. SAC - Derrick Gill SF, Fresno St.
- good passer
- very athletic
- no outside shot
The Kings are stacked at small forward with Artest, Bonzi Wells, and now Derrick Gill.

15. ORL - Donald Hamilton SF, Iowa
- good defensive player
- highly athletic
- sometimes appears lost on offense
Hamilton should immediately bolster Orlando's porous perimeter defense which will really help come playoff time.

16. NJN - Stephen Bentley SG, Utah
- incredibly accurate 3pt shooter
- good speed and quickness
- not a good passer
With great shooting, good speed, solid handles, and passable defense, Bentley should see plenty of time backing up both guard spots for the Nets.

17. CHA - Eddie Lo C, Kuwait
- very good rebounder
- exceptional strength
- slow up and down the court
An absolute steal for the Cats at 17, Lo's rebounding, strength, and low-post scoring should have had him in the top 10.

18. PHI - Ricky Mah SG, Alabama
- excellent shooter from anywhere on the court
- good passing skills
- no defensive ability
At 6'2", Mah gives Philly a very small back court if paired with Iverson, though his shooting could prove beneficial for AI.

19. MEM - Tierney Earnest PG, Jacksonville
- very good handles
- a threat from downtown
- can't finish inside
Earnest is a great pick for the defending champs. He's quick, can handle the ball, can shoot, defend, and should be able to supplant Damon Stoudamire as the starting PG in short order.

20. DAL - Julian Fujita PG, Pakistan
- great 3pt shooter
- can find the open man
- does not play any defense at all
Dallas could have likely got more value for this pick. Fujita's offense outside of 3pt shooting is not strong enough to cover for his defenselessness*.

21. LAC - Liu Ishito SG, Temple
- good 3pt shooter
- can dunk on anyone
- not very quick
With Cassell gone, the Clips needed more shooting in the backcourt. Ishito should fit in nicely.

22. HOU (via GSW) - Oren Brewer SG, Gonzaga
- incredible shooter
- good passing skills
- not very athletic
Brewer could thrive as a 3rd option behind Yao and T-Mac, but he needs to prove he can keep up with the pace of an NBA season.

23. DEN - Darrell Price PG, Valparaiso
- a threat from downtown
- very good ball handling
- not a strong or tough player
Just pile on the PGs, Denver!. Miller, Boykins, and Watson aren't enough! Let's use our 1st round pick on a PG, too!

24. CLE - Kendall Johnson PF, DePaul
- crashes the offensive glass
- can score around the basket
- can't hit a jump shot
Cleveland just keeps piling on the offensively limited, rebounding big men.

25. MIA - Idowu Hendrix C, Bowling Green
- good free throw shooter
- protects the paint with zeal
- not good at boxing out
Hendrix should step into Alonzo Mourning's former role quite nicely, though he certainly won't have to intimidation factor of Zo.

26. IND - Ben Holton PG, Ohio St.
- great free throw shooter
- sound defensively
- shaky handles for a PG
Holton will provide Indiana with some much needed bench depth at point and should be a solid contributor.

27. HOU - Hamidi Corbin PG, SE Illinois College
- solid shooter
- tough defender
- not much of a playmaker
Houston made out quite well in the draft, thoroughly strengthening their back court. They could really make some noise in the playoffs.

28. PHO - Oliver Anthony C, Utah
- good range on his jump shot
- can run the floor
- struggles rebounding the ball
Anthony should fit right in with Phoenix, he can run, shoot, dunk, and doesn't play any defense.

29. DET - Baha Roberts SG, Tulsa
- fantastic shooter
- good quickness
- poor conditioning
This was a case of "best player available. Detroit is loaded at the 2 with Rip, Ricky Davis, and Roberts. Look for Roberts or David to be moved during the season.

30. SAS - Andrew Battie PF, Kentucky
- good shot blocker
- can handle the ball
- terrible rebounder
An odd pick by the Spurs, Battie does not seem like a Popovich guy. His shot blocking alone won't be enough to keep him on the court in San Antonio.


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FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

TOP FREE AGENTS



CHA signs G Dajuan Wagner for $15.25 million over 6 years.
LAC signs F Maurice Evans for $15.41 million over 4 years.
CHI signs F Mike Dunleavy for $36.3 million over 6 years.
UTA signs F Ndudi Ebi for $14.52 million over 6 years.
CHI signs C Scot Pollard for $12.85 million over 3 years.
LAC signs C Joel Przybilla for $7.19 million over 2 years.
ATL signs C Ben Wallace for $76.52 million over 5 years.
ATL signs G Speedy Claxton for $3.6 million over 1 year.
CHA signs F Devean George for $14.51 million over 3 years.
CHI signs F Francisco Elson for $11.72 million over 4 years.
UTA signs C Zaza Pachulia for $11.13 million over 3 years.
CHA signs G Tyronn Lue for $12.69 million over 3 years.
CHI signs G Willie Green for $7.74 million over 2 years.
SEA re-signs G Ronald Murray for $15.48 million over 4 years.
ATL re-signs G Raul Lopez for $11.89 million over 5 years.
SEA re-signs F Damien Wilkins for $9.69 million over 3 years.
CHA re-signs G Keith Bogans for $6.86 million over 2 years.
DEN re-signs G Greg Buckner for $12.62 million over 3 years.
LAC re-signs G Quinton Ross for $14.22 million over 6 years.
UTA re-signs F Devin Brown for $26.9 million over 5 years.
MIN re-signs F Eddie Griffin for $19.01 million over 5 years.





All right, finally done that. Team previews next, then the fun begins

*Defenselessness is an awesome word

[OrlMagic]

You are lucky. Nr 1 draft pick

[Clutch]

that is an interesting pick; i would've figured a backup at the 2-spot since after JR, it's thin; but then again, several of your SFs are swingmen so that covers you

i like the pickup of the 'Iwanaka Boys'; it should create some interesting story elements; its too bad that Benji's pretty much NOT a lock for RotY, barring a major/season-ending injury to CP3 (which hopefully doesn't happen!)

anyway, great rookie breakdown

[Lamrock]

Great recap, but I get the feeling that you wasted your pick. #1 overall for a backup point guard? Hope he has good trade value.

[TheMC5]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Clutch: I'm pretty stoked on the Iwanaka boys, as well. I was targeting them all season as it looked like I'd have two picks between about 4-8. But then I won the lottery, and I started digging a little deeper, and none of the other rookies really looked like great pickups at #1, so I decided to gamble and go with the most interesting story element. Obviously I .dbf edited the Iwanakas to give them identical ages and birth dates, but the computer had them both from Japan and both 22 years old.

Lamrock: I hear what you're saying, and it hurt somewhat to use the #1 on a guy projected "top 10", but I though it would be too cool to have bad ass Japanese twins running amok in the NBA. And just wait until you see the gear I've got them decked out in. These guys are awesome.

[Chaser7]

Nice, a MC5 dynasty, I was really digging your Raptors dynasty, why did you leave the forum for like a year? Also on another note, I'm still really confused by why you're doing the 06-07 season, if you were planning on using the current rosters then wouldn't it not matter about waht happened in the 06 draft? It seems using the current rosters would be more fun..

[TheMC5]

Chaser: I was digging that Raps dynasty, too. Unfortunately school took over my schedule for a while, and then my computer crapped out, and I never bothered re-installing Live 07 or 08 for a long time, thus I didn't have much reason to come here often (though I did check in anonymously on occasion). And then I saw Live 06 for $10 a remembered how good it was, and I've been back at it ever since.

I may have been a little misleading in my intro post, as well. Though my intention was to play from the 08-09 season, I specifically DID NOT want current rosters. I wanted it to be sort of "imagine if the last 3 years in the NBA happened totally differently", type of thing. And then, of course, the potential to draft the Iwanaka brothers presented itself, and I changed course, opting to follow their (hopeful) paths to stardom.

[TheMC5]

2006-07 OPENING NIGHT ROSTERS


EASTERN CONFERENCE


ATLANTIC DIVISION




Coach: Doc Rivers

C: Kendrick Perkins, Colin Valentine (R), Darko Milicic, Mark Blount
PF: Al Jefferson, Jamie Lee (R), Raef LaFrentz
SF: Paul Pierce, Brian Scalabrine
SG: Tony Allen, Gerald Green
PG: Marcus Banks, Delonte West




Coach: Lawrence Frank

C: Oliver Fallas (R), Marc Jackson, Jason Collins
PF: Nenad Krstic, Scott Padgett
SF: Richard Jefferson, Jonathon Kovalev (R)
SG: Vince Carter, Stephen Bentley (R), Zoran Planinic, Antoine Wright
PG: Jason Kidd, Anthony Carter




Coach: Larry Brown

C: Eddy Curry, Katashiko Chan (R), Jerome James
PF: Channing Frye, Malik Rose, Mo Taylor
SF: Alexander Jackson (R), Trevor Ariza, Chiyo Vuu (R)
SG: Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson
PG: Stephon Marbury, Nate Robinson




Coach: Maurice Cheeks

C Samuel Dalembert, Joseph Fortson (R)
PF Chris Webber, Rashidi Burns (R), Jackson Vroman
SF Andre Iguodala, Brady Cobb (R), Jamal Mashburn
SG Ricky Mah (R), Kyle Korver
PG Allen Iverson, Kevin Ollie, Moochie Norris




Coach: Sam Mitchell

C: Desie Wheeler (R), Pape Sow, Rafael Araujo
PF: Chris Bosh, Charlie Villanueva, Aaron Williams
SF: Joey Graham, Eric Williams
SG: Morris Peterson, Jalen Rose
PG: Jose Calderon, Mike James, Dion Minor (R)


CENTRAL DIVISION




Coach: Scott Skiles

C: Tyson Chandler, Scot Pollard, Andrew DeClerq
PF: Mike Sweetney, Francisco Elson
SF: Luol Deng, Andres Nocioni, Mike Dunleavy
SG: Ben Gordon, Willie Green
PG: Kirk Hinrich, Chris Duhon, Jannero Pargo, Pete Weekes (R), Frank Williams




Coach: Mike Brown

C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao
PF: Drew Gooden, Kendall Johnson (R)
SF: LeBron James, Luke Jackson, Justin Reed
SG: Larry Hughes, Alexsander Pavlovic, Ira Newble
PG: Priest Anthony (R), Eric Snow, Mike Wilks




Coach: Flip Saunders

C: Chris Mihm, Slava Medvedenko
PF: Rasheed Wallace, Zahur Fall (R)
SF: Tayshaun Prince, Carlos Delfino, Viktor Khryapa
SG: Rip Hamilton, Ricky Davis, Baha Roberts (R)
PG: Chauncey Billups, Lindsey Hunter, Milt Palacio




Coach: Rick Carlisle

C: Kwame Brown, Jeff Foster, David Harrison
PF: Jermaine O'Neal, Jonathon Bender
SF: Ron Artest, Danny Granger
SG: Stephen Jackson, Dorrell Wright
PG: Jamaal Tinsley, Ben Holton (R), Anthony Johnson, Casper Hendrix (R), Sarunas Jasikevicius




Coach: Mark Jackson

C: Andrew Bogut, Jamal Magloire, Dan Gadzuric, Maicej Lampe
PF: Soulis Lindquist (R), Joe Smith, Jerome Moiso, Robert Traylor
SF: Bobby Simmons, Reece Gaines
SG: Michael Redd, Anthony Barros (R)
PG: TJ Ford, Mo Williams


SOUTHEAST DIVISION




Coach: Mike Woodson

C: Ben Wallace, Jelani McCoy, DJ Mbenja
PF: Al Harrington, Ronny Turiaf
SF: Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Yaroslav Korolev
SG: Joe Johnson, Josh Childress, Andre Emmett
PG: Speedy Claxton, Leif Farrell (R), Raul Lopez, Salim Stoudamire




Coach: Bernie Bickerstaff

C: Eddie Lo (R), Primoz Brezec
PF: Emeka Okafor, Sean May
SF: Gerald Wallace, Devean George, Jumaine Jones, Bernard Robinson
SG: Kareem Rush, Keith Bogans, Dajuan Wagner
PG: Raymond Felton, Brevin Knight, Howie Blain (R), Tyronn Lue




Coach: Stan Van Gundy

C: Shaquille O'Neal, Idowu Hendrix (R), Michael Doleac, Jackie Butler
PF: Udonis Haslem, Anani Hughes (R), Chris Taft
SF: Antoine Walker, James Posey
SG: Dwyane Wade, Allan Houston
PG: Jason Williams, Eddie Gill




Coach: Brian Hill

C: Dwight Howard, Steven Hunter, Alan Henderson
PF: Chris Wilcox, Dorgan Rundle (R), Pat Garrity
SF: Donald Hamilton (R), Hedo Turkoglu, Aaron Christian (R)
SG: Grant Hill, DeShawn Stevenson
PG: Steve Francis, Jameer Nelson




Coach: Eddie Jordan

C: Brendan Haywood, Peter John Ramos, Calvin Booth
PF: Grant Galanov (R), Antonio McDyess, Silas Christie (R)
SF: Antawn Jamison, Jared Jeffries
SG: Caron Butler, Jarvis Hayes, Dahntay Jones
PG: Gilbert Arenas, Antonio Daniels


WESTERN CONFERENCE


NORTHWEST DIVISION




Coach: George Karl

C: Marcus Camby, Nene
PF: Kenyon Martin, Darvin Slater (R)
SF: Carmelo Anthony, Eduardo Najera, Linas Kleiza
SG: Greg Buckner, Julius Hodge
PG: Andre Miler, Darrell Price (R), Earl Boykins, Earl Watson



Coach: Hubie Brown

C: Roshown Pierce (R), Greg Ostertag
PF: Kevin Garnett, Mats Zubov (R), David Lee, Eddie Griffin
SF: Trenton Hassell, Nikolos Tskitishvili, Jiri Welsch
SG: Wally Szczerbiak, Rashad McCants
PG: Marko Jaric, Troy Hudson



Coach: Nate McMillan

C: Theo Ratliff, Ha Seung-Jin
PF: Zach Randolph, Jason Maxiell, Sergei Monia
SF: Travis Outaw, Darius Miles, Seal Brunson (R), Ruben Patterson
SG: Marcus Mbembe (R), Juan Dixon, Martell Webster
PG: Sebastian Telfair, Jarrett Jack, Steve Blake



Coach: Jim O'Brien

C: Robert Swift, Johan Petro, Danny Fortson
PF: Nick Collison, Jarome Beasley
SF: Rashard Lewis, Vladimir Radmanovic, Damien Wilkins, Donta Smith
SG: Ray Allen, Sam Boyes (R), Richie Frahm
PG: Luke Ridnour, Ronald Murray, Terry Barnes



Coach: Jerry Sloan

C: Mehmet Okur, Zaza Pachulia
PF: Carlos Boozer, Kris Humphries, Ndudi Ebi
SF: Andrei Kirilenko, Devin Brown
SG: CJ Miles, Dennis Walton (R), Gordan Giricek, Dion Glover
PG: Deron Williams, Felix Embrey (R)


PACIFIC DIVISION




Coach: Mike Montgomery

C: Andris Biedrins, Adonal Foyle
PF: Troy Murphy, Kurt Thomas, Zarko Cabarkapa
SF: Mikael Pietrus, Josh Earley (R), Awvee Storey
SG: Jason Richardson, Dominic Hill (R)
PG: Baron Davis, Monta Ellis, Keith McLeod



Coach: Mike Dunleavy

C: Chris Kaman, Joel Przybilla
PF: Elton Brand, Gunther Stanton (R)
SF: Corey Maggette, Maurice Evans, Musa Battie (R)
SG: Cuttino Mobley, Liu Ishito (R), Quinton Ross, Lars Jovanovski (R)
PG: Shaun Livingston, Keyon Dooling, Daniel Ewing



Coach: Phil Jackson

C: Willie Fong (R), Andrew Bynum
PF: Lamar Odom, Austin Croshere, Brian Cook
SF: Quint Hamilton (R), Luke Walton
SG: Kobe Bryant, Dean Ramsey (R), Laron Profit
PG: Carlos Arroyo, Sasha Vujacic, Aaron McKie



Coach: Mike D'Antoni

C: Amare Stoudemire, Oliver Anthony (R), Brian Grant
PF: Shawn Marion, Boris Diaw
SF: Raja Bell, James Jones, Dijon Thompson
SG: Leandro Barbosa, Eddie House
PG: Steve Nash, Derek Fisher, Andrew Ishito (R)



Coach: Rick Adelman

C: Brad Miller, Brian Skinner, Jamal Sampson
PF: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Kenny Thomas
SF: Peja Stojakovic, Bonzi Wells, Derrick Gill (R), Corliss Williamson
SG: Kevin Martin, Francisco Garcia
PG: Mike Bibby, Arunas Agostini (R), Jason Hart


SOUTHWEST DIVISION




Coach: Avery Johnson

C: Erick Dampier, DaSagana Diop, Chuma Njinku (R)
PF: Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Battie
SF: Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse
SG: Jason Terry, Marquis Daniels
PG: Devin Harris, Johnny Ibeabuchi (R), Julian Fujita (R), Jacque Vaughn



Coach: Jeff Van Gundy

C: Yao Ming, Nazr Mohammed
PF: Stromile Swift, Juwan Howard
SF: Tracy McGrady, Matt Barnes
SG: Oren Brewer (R), Demian Ludwig (R), Luther Head, Derek Anderson
PG: Rafer Alston, Bob Sura, Hamadi Corbin (R)



Coach: Mike Fratello

C: Etan Thomas, Jake Taskalidis
PF: Pau Gasol, Hakim Warrick, Lawrence Roberts
SF: Shane Battier, Dil Ferguson (R), Brian Cardinal
SG: Mike Miller, Eddie Jones
PG: Damon Stoudamire, Tierney Earnest (R), Bobby Jackson



Coach: Byron Scott

C: Dan Rasmusson (R), Chris Andersen, Steven Hughes (R)
PF: David West, Ike Diogu
SF: Kirk Snyder, Haji Iwanaka (R), Carlos Burns (R), Bostjan Nachbar
SG: JR Smith, Desmond Mason, Arvydas Macijuaskas
PG: Chris Paul, Benji Iwanaka (R)



Coach: Gregg Popovic

C: Tim Duncan, Rasho Nesterovic
PF: Andrew Battie (R), Fabricio Oberto, Sean Marks
SF: Bruce Bowen, Brent Barry, John Salmons
SG: Manu Ginobili, Michael Finey
PG: Tony Parker, Reynaldo Green (R), Beno Udrih





Well, those are the rosters for the upcoming season. I'll do some sort of Hornets season preview, and then it's into the action.

[TheMC5]

I know, some coaching changes I didn't mention. Ooops.

[TheMC5]

HORNETS 06-07 SEASON PREVIEW


Chris Paul and David West hope to carry the Hornets into the playoffs

SEASON OUTLOOK

Patience.

It's a big word for New Orleans this year. It is what the fans must be with this team's development. It is what Byron Scott must grant the many rookies on this team. It is what the the players themselves must exude if they are to be successful this season.

Last season's 33 wins was a substantial step forward for a team that won only 16 games the previous year, but many problems that typically plague young teams were evident all season. The Hornets finished with the 3rd most turnovers in the league, committed the 8th most fouls, and most alarmingly finished 29th in assists. Many of the turnovers were attributable to Chris Paul, but it seems evident from the low assist totals that he had little help in creating plays. With a year of experience under his belt and a capable backup, some of the pressure should be off CP3, allowing him to operate more naturally. If David West (who many feel was robbed of the MIP award) continues his surprising improvement, the Hornets could have a very good Stockton-Malone type of PG/PF tandem for years to come with he and Paul, although both players have yet to prove themselves at that level.

The X-factor for New Orleans this season will the play of the many rookies on the roster, none more important than the highly hyped Iwanaka twins. Both Benji and Haji will start the season off the bench, and Byron Scott plans to use them as a unit as often as possible. If they get comfortable playing in the NBA in one season, the will be a huge boost to the Hornets playoff chances. The learning curve will be steep, though, and there could be just as many downs as ups.

Lost in all hype surrounding the Japanese prodigies is New Orleans second round pick, Norwegian center Dan Rasmusson. Rasmusson, slated as the starting center, is a solid big man. He rebounds well, can score and bang down low, and though he doesn't block many shots, he defends the paint incredibly well.

If Rasmusson, JR Smith, and Kirk Snyder can deliver some offensive punch, and the Iwanaka's aren't complete busts, West and Paul could lead this team into the playoff hunt, and possibly the final playoff berth.

PROJECTED ROTATION

C Dan Rasmusson #11 (N/A)
PF David West #30 (21.3ppg - 10.2rpg - 1.5apg)
SF Kirk Snyder #7 (10.4ppg - 5.0rpg - 2.6apg)
SG JR Smith #23 (13.7ppg - 3.3rpg - 1.6apg)
PG Chris Paul #3 (18.1ppg - 3.7rpg - 7.7apg)
----------
SF Haji Iwanaka #44 (N/A)
PG Benji Iwanaka #33 (N/A)
C Chris Andersen #12 (5.6ppg - 6.0rpg - 0.3apg)
PF Ike Diogu #9 (2.7ppg - 2.7rpg - 0.4apg)
SG Desmond Mason #24 (7.6ppg - 5.4rpg - 0.7apg)

PLAYERS ADDED

G-F Haji Iwanaka (draft)
G Benji Iwanaka (draft)
C Dan Rasmussen (draft)
F Carlos Burns (free agent)
C Steven Hughes (free agent)

PLAYERS LOST

G Speedy Claxton (free agent)
C DJ Mbenga (free agent)
F Jackson Vroman (free agent)
G Jacque Vaughn (free agent)
C-F PJ Brown (retired)

MAN ON THE SPOT

JR Smith


After 2 seasons of scoring in double digits and throwing down some ridiculous dunks, it's time for JR to step his game and start helping the team win in other areas.

His scoring has been consistent and his jump shot is steadily improving, but his passing still needs a lot of work. He still dribbles down the clock too much and doesn't really look to feed his teammates, but one hopes this will improve with age and experience. If he can make better decisions with the ball and continue th knock down jumpers Smith could become a viable 3rd option behind Paul and West, becoming much more valuable to the offense.

It's not his offense that needs the most work, however. His defense is still lazy and effortless, and this absolutely has to change for Smith to survive under Byron Scott. If it doesn't, don't be surprised to see Snyder slide to the 2 and bring in Iwanaka or Mason off the bench.

Smith's grip on the starting role is far from firm, but if he tightens it up it could be just what the Hornets need.

SCOUTING REPORT

- 3 point shooting is weak with Smith as the most reliable option
- scoring depth is lacking, so double teaming Paul and West could be effective
- no shot blockers aside from Andersen, encourage attacking the paint
- perimeter defense is strong, quick, and scrappy - opponents can't get lazy
- able to play either fast break or half court, though lack the shooters to be as effective as possible in half court
- Chris Paul drives everything the team does - if you beat him you'll likely beat them




Next post: 06-07 season opener @ Portland!

[TheMC5]

PRESS CONFERENCE: IWANAKAS INTRODUCED

The following is an abridged transcript of the Iwanaka press conference.

Q: My first question is for Benji. Benji, how do you feel about being the first Japanese player selected #1 in the draft? And to both of you, how are you adapting to life in the NBA so far?

Benji:: To be the #1 player chosen is a great honor. I do not think about being the first Japanese player - I am just a basketball player. If I am from Japan, or Korea, or America, it does not matter. I am just happy to be chosen #1 player. That is how I think about it.

Haji: It is a big change to play in the NBA from playing in Japan. But living here is nice. We both speak English OK, and here in New Orleans is great. But it is harder. Even in Summer League it was harder. Players are bigger and stronger and more aggressive, but that is how we play, too.

Q: Benji, do you feel pressure from being the number 1 pick, and having to play behind Chris Paul?

B: Yes, of course there is pressure. I always place pressure on myself to perform well. I think coach will see I am a good player and he will let me play. But all I can do is play my hardest and try to get better, so we will see.

Q: Haji, did it surprise you when the Hornets drafted you? Or did you know when they drafted your brother that you were going to land there?

H: No, it was a big shock. I thought for sure there were some other good players that would be taken before me.

Q: But you, both you and Benji, had been in contact with the Hornets throughout the season, and you knew they were interested in you as a pair, right?

H: Well, yes, I knew they wanted to draft us together. But my whole career people have always said I am only so good because I play with Benji, so I always think I will not get chosen very high. But I don't know how Benji helps me get rebounds and make blocks and play defense.

B: OK, but I for sure help you to score a lot more points.

H: Not a lot., but some points, OK.

Q: Benji, did you have any indication the Hornets would draft you #1?

B: No, I thought for sure they would pick Marcus Mbembe.

Q: For both of you, what would you consider to be a successful rookie season, both individually and as a team?

B: Of course the most important thing is to make the playoffs. I think it will be a good season if we make the playoffs.

H: I agree. Playoffs is the most important. For myself, I would like to play in the Rookie-Sophomore game. That would be good, I think.

B: For me, I just want to keep my turnovers low and shoot the ball OK. If I do that and we make the playoffs I will be very happy.



OK, so I lied. First game will be next post, I effin' promise.

[Clutch]

nice team review and interview article now curious to see how the Iwanaka boys fared in the season opener...

[Lamrock]

Love the interview. It will be very interesting to see if Benji gets decent PT. Keep it up!

On another note, I find it odd that you have Snyder and Rasmussen starting over Mason and Diogu, but its your dynasty.

[TheMC5]

Thanks dudes. Hopefully I'll have the season opener up today.

And Lamrock, Snyder starts because he's better than Mason. Last season, Mason started at 71 and Snyder at 69 overall. My team fared better with Snyder in the starting lineup last year, and this year he's a 73 to Mason's 70 overall. As for Diogu, he and West would be too small a front court. I might start the Birdman if Rasmussen struggles, but I don't have much faith in a Diogu/West pairing to start games.

[TheMC5]

06-07 SEASON TIPS OFF WITH BLAZERS HOSTING HORNETS

28/10/06 - Portland, OR

New Orleans Hornets (0-0) @ Portland Trail Blazers (0-0)

PREGAME REPORT
Hornets
- likely NBA debut for at least 3 of NOH's 5 rookies
- 2nd round pick Dan Rasmussen slated to start at center
- all 5 starters combined have less than 10 years NBA experience
Blazers
- Travis Outlaw takes over starting SF duties from Darius Miles
- highly touted, insanely athletic rookie Marcus Mbembe to start at SG
- home opener, and first game of the 2006-07 NBA season

STARTING LINEUPS
NOH G C. Paul (84) - G J. Smith (76) - F K. Snyder (73) - F D. West (77) - C D. Rasmussen (69)
POR G S. Telfair (72) - G M. Mbembe (79) - F T. Outlaw (71) - F Z. Randolph (79) - C T. Ratliff (64)

INJURIES: None






As a part of the NBA's opening night theme, all teams will be wearing retro jerseys





BOXSCORE
PLAYER OF THE GAME


Chris Paul walked off the court in visible disgust. He could clearly been seen mouthing the word "bullsh*t" repeatedly, having picked up his 3rd personal foul shortly after returning to the game early in the 2nd quarter, on what was a very dubious reach in call against Sebastian Telfair.

"(Telfair) would even tell you it was bad call", said Paul after the game. "He tripped at the same time as I went to pressure the ball. I never touched him. But the far ref sees me reach and sees him stumble, and calls a foul. I dunno man, that should be the ref who's near the play making that call, not the ref furthest away from what happened".

Paul was whistled for 2 personal fouls in the first quarter, the 2nd forcing him to sit out the final 3 and a half minutes of action. The Hornets were in the midst of a 8-2 run, taking a 18-17 lead, when CP3 was replaced by rookie Benji Iwanaka, whereupon the Blazers took control with a 12-4 run to end the 1st.

But it was the 3rd foul on Chris Paul that really killed the Hornets momentum. Again, Paul was leading his team on a run, coming as close as 2 points to the Blazers, before being whistled for his controversial foul. Iwanaka again came in off the bench, but this time fared much better, hitting 1 of New Orleans 2 three-pointers in the game while dishing out 4 assists. He played more calmly and under control than in the 1st quarter, when it was evident that he was suffering from nerves and pressure, and even played some hard-nosed defense on Telfair and Jaun Dixon.

"I was really nervous when I first stepped out on the floor," said Benji Iwanaka after the game. "I could not think straight or focus, but when I came back to the bench I did some meditation and felt much more comfortable when I went back out. Everything seemed to flow to me naturally from then."

It looked natural. Finishing with 7 points and 7 assists, Iwanaka seemed to almost glide around to floor, turning up anywhere to deflect a pass or take a charge, while seamlessly orchestrating the team at the offensive end. He looked particularly effective when paired with his brother Haji Iwanaka. Though Haji had a statistically poor performance, he and Beji had a way of creating good things when playing together. Despite his 1-6 shooting, Haji was a +2 in his 8 minutes of action.

Still, even with Benji's initial jitters cast aside, the Hornets trailed Portland 60-53 at the half, because they could not stop Zach Randolph. Randolph led all scorers with 16 points in the half, doing damage from inside and outside, no matter who Byron Scott threw out to defend him. He and Theo Ratliff had a field day inside against the Hornets bigs, combining for 13 offensive rebounds in the game.

In the second half, the Hornets again made a push, this time after CP3 had already picked up 4th foul (this one a well deserved one for hammering Mbembe on a layup out of frustration). Late in the 3rd quarter, with New Orleans having clawed to within 3, Martell Webster abused JR Smith with a crossover, and appeared to have a sure dunk, when Ike Diogu slid over at the last second to meet Webster at the rim. The Hornets recovered the ball a quickly called for time. Coach Scott drew up a play for David West, but Portland defended it beautifully, forcing Haji Iwanaka for take a running 3-pointer. With the crowd holding their breath, the sound of snapping nylon was clearly audible as Haji's shot went it. 83-83. Timeout Portland.

On the next possession, rookie Marcus Mbembe converted a 3-point play for the Blazers, who reeled off another 4 points straight to once again take a 7 point lead in to the break.

In the 4th, the Hornets fell apart. The turnovers quickly mounted, the shots stopped falling, and the deficit grew and grew. With 4 minutes left, Byron Scott threw in the towel, subbing out his starters and vets and letting the young players have a go. Portland continued the rout unabated.

"We can't happy with ourselves after that one", said Scott. "Too many mindless mistakes, too many turnovers. We gave them way too many easy points from offensive rebounds. Just a poor effort, all around. We have to get much better if we want to win our home opener.

Yeah, the foul on CP3 in the 2nd quarter was questionable", he continued, "but you can't use that as an excuse. This is basketball, bad calls are gonna happen, and as a team you have to deal with it and play through it. We have the depth and talent to do that, but sometimes it takes time with young players."

HIGHLIGHTS
Mbembe introduced to the home crowd
JR Smith hammers home a windmill
Benji nails a trey in the 2nd quarter
The Birdman disregards Ratliff's existence
Diogu denies Webster
Haji ties the game at 83





AROUND THE LEAGUE
- Jazz rookie G D. Walton, drafted in the 2nd round, scored 20 points on 7-12 shooting, making his debut as the starting SG in Utah's 120-86 dismantling of Golden State
- the Knicks were led in scoring in their 105-93 victory over the rival Nets by rookie A. Jackson, who dropped 23 points and grabbed 7 rebounds



Next Opponent: Washington Wizards (Hornets home opener)

[Clutch]

DAMN! WHAT STINKS IN HERE?!? Ohhh - your 3-pt shooting

2-21 at .095% - ouch! luckily they didn't fair much better in that dept

your squad's got a lot of work ahead to become a contender... but the process will be its own reward; i'd start with fixing the 27-12 turnovers - eeeesh!!! also maybe tell JR to make the extra pass to Snyder, Diogu or Birdman as they all seemed to have more consistency with their shots

also not bad games by the 'Naka twins (though Haji might wanna consider that extra pass too); the headband, retro striped high socks and ol' school Chuck Taylor's are hip!

all n' all, awesome recap mate hopefully your squad will feel more comfortable in front of the home crowd

[Lamrock]

30-14? What an awful 4th quarter. Good luck turning it around against the Wiz kids. If CP3 continues to play poorly (7 TO's and 4-13 FG = fail), Benji could have a solid rookie season after all.