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or will the intensity of the playoffs catch up to them? They don't have a lot of experience, but that doesn't mean anything because people were saying they couldn't finish the season off strong and that's what they are doing now. When I ask this question, I mean this against any team they play, can they keep this excellent play up in the playoffs?

No responses eh, just no's...

not against any team.

for instance, the pistons would kill them. but they don't play the pistons in the western playoffs.

3 teams would be hard for them to beat. utah, because of they're great road record, but that would probably go to 7.

lakers if both gasol bynum are back, basically taking tyson and david out of the game. especially tyson.

and the spurs - becaue they are such a great defensive team, even though they have slowed down, unlike houston, another exceptional defensive team, the spurs have multiple offensive matchups.

they are winning their first round though. no way they lose to the nuggets or warriors or even dallas. not with homecourt. not when maybe 2 of those teams aren't great road teams.

but they do have to fix their interior defense though. tyson and david need to quit the complaining, get back on defense and not be afraid to be physical.

and they have chris paul. he will always get his points.

it'll be fun.

I think the question should be: "WILL the Hornets..." as to make a prediction, because CAN the Hornets do it? Well... OF COURSE they CAN!! I mean, the Hawks CAN win the title this year too (the possibility is real, although VEY VERY VERY unlikely... although with that scoring staff...)

Everyday they prove they're more and more legit. IMO they're definetly a playoff team.

who's going to stop them?

they should get the first seed. they have some easy games coming up.

denver? dallas? the warriors?

all three are just trying to get a spot.

denver is undisciplined...losing to the kings at home? at home?!!!

dallas has beaten one good team since that trade.

and the warriors look beat.

plus the hornets are, IIRC, the second best road team, after the frikken Boston Celtics -and actually happen to be one of the few teams to actually beat the C's.

all year, ppl have said they are going to drop. injuries, too young..blah blah blah. well they've haven't. and are on top of the strongest division and conference.

in their division: the rockets, the spurs, the mavericks. nuff said.

I'd hate to making another "fortune telling historical post" (because predicting what will happen is frowned upon, I guess) but I really don't think the Hornets can keep "this" up if the "this" is basically being the best team in the West. I mean, I don't see them winning the West. I think it'd be a great story, and I think I'll probably end up cheering for them just because they're so different, but I doubt they can win.

Sorry for the predictions!!

hornets will make it out of the first round... i like their chances against denver or gsw. I also think they can give a lot of trouble to dallas or houston. If lakers make it to finals with a healthy squad or spurs start looking like last years spurs with barry/horry back then i don't see hornets getting passed those teams. I know Utah got to the semifinals last year, but I can see hornets winning possibly and it'll go down to the wire. suns v hornets matchup will be pretty amazing as well.. two great PGs and PFs.

i believe that like every other team in the west, they will be very tough come playoff time. i think they will play well but that doesn't necessarily guarantee success (just like for every other team).

they do, however, have a great coach that has won in the finals as a player and gotten there as a coach, a superstar pg that will not be phased, a playoff tested vet in Peja, and big men that can handle the rigors of pound it in playoff basketball.

this team has a lot going for them - it'll be fun to watch but as far as my answer, yes i think they will have success but no, i don't think they will win the west (this year).

Only reason people are hating on them is because of the name on their jersey.

They are atop one of the most competitive playoff races ever in what is regarded as the toughest conference in basketball.

Their star player because of their success and his contribution deserves to be consensus MVP.

Yet they are magically supposed to stink when playoffs start?

Well, they DO have FOUR All-Star caliber players. I would think so.

_BBIB_ wrote:Only reason people are hating on them is because of the name on their jersey.

A) People thinking they won't advance very far isn't 'hating'. Are people on this board aware that you can have an opinion that a player or team won't be as good/isn't as good as their fans suggest without being a hater right?

B) It's not the name on the jersey. It's the lack of recent success by the team who's name is on the jersey. Recent success means alot. Rarely in the NBA do teams come out of nowhere and win something. They come close to the top of the mountain at least once before they actually get there.

I dont see why they cant. They will probably win the most ridiculous conference races we've ever seen. They have the best PG in the league who seemingly does whatever the hell he wants to do on the court with startling ease, they have one of the deadliest 3-pt shooters in history, an all-star PF , a top 5 rebounder and a decent bench. They are not going to miraculously start stinking. I would not be shocked if they went to the wcf, hell i wont bat an eye if CP3 is hoisting the finals mvp trophy in a couple of months. They're legit folks, really legit

They are good enough to do it, I will say that.

But I don't think they will. In fact, if they end up against either Denver or Dallas they just might lose in the 1st round. Wouldn't that be something, to have Dallas be upset by a #8 seed one year and then do the same thing to a division rival the next?

Still, I think what happens is they win in round 1 and advance to play the Jazz in a battle featuring the two faces of the PG position in this league for the next decade. If that does happen, I'm quite confident that the Jazz will win decisively.

So, no, they won't.

Will they?

They should get out of the first round with little problems, but from there, it's a dogfight for any team in the West.

i see them continuing

Finishing the season strong has never been an issue, these last few seasons, we've exploded out of the gates, floundered for a while and had strong finishes.

It all depends on matchup, and I hope we get a good matchup in the first round to get some seasoning, and hopefully advance.

They're the most dangerous team out West after the Spurs, Lakers, Jazz, Mavs and Nuggets. Maybe it's just me, but they scream regular season team only to me...

sarah42 wrote:who's going to stop them?

they should get the first seed. they have some easy games coming up.

denver? dallas? the warriors?

all three are just trying to get a spot.

denver is undisciplined...losing to the kings at home? at home?!!!

dallas has beaten one good team since that trade.

and the warriors look beat.

plus the hornets are, IIRC, the second best road team, after the frikken Boston Celtics -and actually happen to be one of the few teams to actually beat the C's.

all year, ppl have said they are going to drop. injuries, too young..blah blah blah. well they've haven't. and are on top of the strongest division and conference.

in their division: the rockets, the spurs, the mavericks. nuff said.

The Jazz would beat them, and probably in 6, maybe 5. Williams has only lost to Paul twice in his career.