Why the New Orleans Hornets Have a Good Chance of Another Strong Playoff Run

The New Orleans Hornets started out this season slow and have now started to play solidly again, showing signs of the same excellence that helped them in last years playoffs. Just this past Sunday, December 28, the Hornets came back from behind to win a close one against the Indiana Pacers 105-103. Chris Paul and David West had an outstanding performance and led us through.

The Hornets have surprised many fans throughout the NBA and have been a very pleasant surprise for New Orleanians. Last year, although they were playing winning basketball throughout the beginning of the season, attendance only started to increase after the All-Star game, which was a huge success. And after their strong playoff performance against the Mavericks and Spurs, the Hornets sealed the deal.

This year looks to be very promising. The only concern is how to deal with the Spurs and Lakers. We have deftly handled the Suns, and can squarely beat many teams. Chris Paul has proven himself both offensively and defensively now. It was a huge accomplishment to beat the NBA record for most consecutive games with a steal. His energy and hustle is infectious and helps motivate all the others.

The Hornets will only succeed if they fully capitalize on their strengths - solid role players. We have seen that we are outsized by the Lakers and Spurs. So we can't expect to win with a very tough and gritty inside game. We work best with an up-tempo style, spreading the ball around and building momentum.

Having solid role players who enjoy their position is what brings championships. So far, David West and Chris Paul have excelled. Peja is our sharpshooter, and this year is critical for him. He needs to step up and make this year his capstone performance. Tyson Chandler's athleticism is remarkable, and he has to capitalize on it with more alley-oops and fast inside moves. James Posey is a great addition and should help with both offense and defense.

The Hornets are a team with great chemistry, and this year looks to be a promising one. Coming off of last year's experience and success, the Hornets now have what it takes to compete with the household team names. There's a strong chance many people will be shocked with the Hornets' power and success come playoff time.