NBA JAM: NEW ORLEANS-OKLAHOMA CITY HORNETS

In our continuing rundown on the NBA season, Neate looks at the Southwest Division, specifically the New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets.

Last season: 38-44, 10th in Western Conference
Coach: Byron Scott
New faces: Bobby Jackson, Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovic
Funny-looking white guy: Peja, you're it
Blogs: Hornets 247, HornetsReport

you can liken the Hornets to that New Orleans delicacy, gumbo. Except that according to what you read, GM Jeff Bowers has thrown in way too many new ingredients, discarded some of the usual ones, and killed everyone's appetite.

Despite being displaced by Hurricane Katrina in '05-06, the Hornets doubled their win total from 18 to 38, behind their talismanic, charismatic point guard, rookie Chris Paul, who put up 16 points and close to eight assists per night. Swingman Desmond Mason, whom I've always been a fan of since he played at Oklahoma State and Sports Illustrated did a story about his unusual (for a jock) major, art, is one of the league's best unknown players. Power forward David West, the team's top scorer and rebounder, is also underrated.

However, it seems Bowers couldn't leave well enough alone. Newcomer Peja Stojakovic's best days are behind him. As well, the Hornets look like they're going to get killed on the boards, since newly acquired Tyson Chandler comes in from Chicago with a rep for playing soft, and the other option at centre, Marc Jackson, has been hampered by hamstring problems. First-rounder Hilton Armstrong has sweet skills, but he was last seen doing little when his UConn team got ousted by George Mason in the NCAAs. So if Jackson's limited and Chandler continues to struggle, who's the answer?

Scott Carefoot at RapterBlog put it best: "Honestly, are Hornets fans even excited about these moves?"

Bottom line: The Hornets need to make a run a playoff spot as the league and the ownership try to cobble enough corporate support to make a return to New Orleans viable for 2007-08. (They'll play six games in Louisiana this season, the rest of schedule in Oklahoma City.)

However, with all the changes, it doesn’t stand to reason that they’ll get the 5-10 more wins it’s going to take; more often than not, a 20-win improvement is usually followed by a team regressing.

Also in Southwest Division: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs

Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.