This Year's Hornets Team against the 2006 Finalist Mavericks

[JordansBulls]

How would the 2007-2008 Hornets done if they were playing the 2006 Version of the Dallas Mavs instead of the 2007-2008 Mavericks?


Who would have won?

[TAI8]

Interesting because both of these teams played/are playing the San Antonio Spurs and were leading their series. We won Game 1 but lost three straight to Dallas and eventually came down to an OT thriller in Game 7 at San Antonio. New Orleans could win Game 4 but I fully expect us to kill them and tie the series up. I think the teams are relatively similar in terms of talent and coaching, but the problem with Dallas was their ability to finish series in a convincing manner and was their demise in the Finals that year. New Orleans this year is a question mark. This is their first year in the playoffs since the Baron Davis era and the relocation and the first year they won a seven-game series. We know that they defeated Dallas easily but we don't know if they are mentally strong enough to take out the defending champs when leading the series 2-1. We will know in a week.

[JoshB914]

Hornets in 5.

[ronnymac2]

To me, the mavericks never had an identity. Think about it this way. All great teams always have something that is theirs, and theirs alone. They have a certain style, or have a great player, or have 2, or play great defense, or have great offense. The mavericks to me never had a great, unique quality that could put them over the top of anyone.

Think about it like this. 2004 pistons had a great,great defense. the repeat lakers had arguably the most dominant force ever in shaq, while being able to play great 4th quarter d, and had kobe to come up big. the bulls had the ultimate player and closer, mj, with a stifling d. the spurs this decade have a great system played through the best pf ever, and a great defense. rockets were built around dream, excellent shooting (a bunch of double digit capable scorers), and good d (led by dream of course) showtime ran,ran,and ran, with magic, yet could slow it down and kill ya with kareem. insanely efficient offense. the badboys had great d (even if they were thuggish) and an assassin in isiah. I could go on bout the celts, wilt teams, etc.

what did the mavs have? decent defense, but no real singularly great defensive stopper. Nobody in the middle. no great rebounder. their closer, dirk is very good, and the teams best player. His passion is underrated. But i don't want my closer putting up a bunch of fadeaway 17 foot, contested jumpers up. i know he can make them, but its really not that efficient a shot for anyone.

The hornets seem to have good defense overall, with a steals king in paul and defender/shotblocker in chandler. also, think of paul like isiah thomas. Awesome competitor, skill set about the same. And I'd rather have him to get a high percentage shot than dirk. So i take the hornets.