|
November 2, 2008
Predictions, what’s the use? It’s so damn hard to be right, and even when you are most people assume it was dumb luck that got you there in the first place. All too often, they’re quite right. But making bold, unsubstantiated prognostications, er, guesses is half of what makes sports fun, right? Here’s a good one for you. The New Orleans Hornets will win the 2008-09 NBA championship. Why? Why not? Reasons? Chill out, I'm working on it. 1) Chris Paul might be the best point guard in the NBA at this stage of his career. Don’t freak out, there are a few other pretty great ones we’re all well aware of, but it’s hard to argue that anyone’s playing with more confidence and consistency than CP3 right now. 2) James Posey. He’s become the Reggie Sanders of the NBA, showing up on teams (Miami, Boston) right when they make their championship push. I’m actually not even that big a Posey fan, but it’s hard to argue his presence on winners is just a coincidence when you look at the way he shoots from distance and his steady hand on defence. 3) Shooters. Peja. Mo Pete (still good for a three, a circus shot and drawing one charge each game). 4) Depth in the backcourt. Paul is great and he’ll have to be for the Hornets to win, but having a rotation of he, Rasual Butler, Devin Brown and Mike James is, while not crazy good, certainly steady. 5) Youth. Every title team needs a step-up from a young player at some point. Hilton Armstrong and Julian Wright are both capable of being that guy. 6) Mr. West. I’ve heard it said that David West isn’t a good enough second star to propel a team to a title. Not sold. That pretty much means every team in the East outside of Boston and Detroit has no chance and there aren’t too many in the Western Conference that would survive that test either. Even the Spurs could be questioned, since God bless him, Tim Duncan’s getting older and Manu Ginobili is constantly battling injury. 8) Byron Scott. He’s right up there with Rodney Dangerfield in the “I get no respect" category. I’m not going to sit here and rave about his ability to scheme or how great he is with “x’s and o’s,” (he’s got a losing career record and more bad seasons than good ones) but he’s also taken two teams to the NBA finals and in his fifth season with the Hornets deserves at least some credit for the turnaround. I think he can get to the next level. Doc Rivers managed to. So there it is, a shot in the dark. Feel free to agree, disagree, or write a whole other blog about how I don’t deserve the air I breathe. But remember: it’s just a prediction. Unless of course, it turns out I’m right.
|
