1996 Seattle SuperSonics vs 2008 New Orleans Hornets

[OldSchoolNoBull]

These are two very similar teams, imo - both have star point guards, star power forwards, european small forwards with long range on their jump shot, defensive-minded centers, etc. My question is, who would win between these two teams in a seven game series?

Head Coach: George Karl

C: Sam Perkins
PF: Shawn Kemp
SF: Detlef Schrempf
SG: Hersey Hawkins
PG: Gary Payton

Bench: Vincent Askew, Ervin Johnson, Frank Brickowski, Nate McMillan, David Wingate, Eric Snow

VS

Head Coach: Byron Scott

C: Tyson Chandler
PF: David West
SF: Peja Stojakovic
SG: Morris Peterson
PG: Chris Paul

Bench: Bonzi Wells, Melvin Ely, Janerro Pargo, Julian Wright, Hilton Armstrong, Ryan Bowen, Mike James

[farzi]

Sonics for me.

Much better defensively. Payton in his prime > CP3 now (although I think paul will end up better).

Also kemp >>>>>> anyone else on the hornets.

[GSW2K4]

That Sonics team defense was legendary.

And their role players -- Shrempf, Hawkins, McMillan, even Ervin Johnson -- were more effective than NO's role players.

Would be a great series though

[That Nicka]

Sonics

[Jordan23Forever]

Sonics for me. Payton would put the clamps on Paul and they had a good, athletic defender for West in Kemp. Aside from that, Hawkins > Mo Pete and Schrempf > Peja (less one dimensional and a better defender). The only real advantage the Hornets have is at center, and Chandler doesn't create his own offense anyway, so with Paul bottled up his effectiveness would probably be limited.

Also, that Sonics team had one of the 5-6 best team defenses of the last 12 years.

[Ballings7]

1996 Supersonics, with ease

[Batman1]

That Sonics team then was considered great, but today that team would own the league. That Sonics team is like the current Suns team with much much better defense.

[Ballings7]

Hornets voter: Emerge!

[Point forward]

If Gary Payton can reduce Kevin Johnson to smoking rubble (he got the nickname "The Glove" for completely shutting down KJ7 in 1993), I am confident that he can shut down CP3. Call me crazy, but Gary was THAT GOOD on defense.

EDIT: for the minutes where Glove rests on the bench, you got Nate McMillan and Eric Snow. Snow is the worst defender, and he is All-Defensive Team member. Strongest defensive PG rotation of all time?

[shawngoat23]

If Gary Payton can reduce Kevin Johnson to smoking rubble (he got the nickname "The Glove" for completely shutting down KJ7 in 1993), I am confident that he can shut down CP3. Call me crazy, but Gary was THAT GOOD on defense.

EDIT: for the minutes where Glove rests on the bench, you got Nate McMillan and Eric Snow. Snow is the worst defender, and he is All-Defensive Team member. Strongest defensive PG rotation of all time?

Even though Chris Paul has only done it for one year, I think this one year already trumps anything Kevin Johnson has done. (And I really enjoyed watching KJ play, so I'm not oblivious to how good he was.)

That being said, the Sonics roll easily. Too good and too much depth.

[a-rod]

Hornets voter: Emerge!

it's probably NO, he has become a huge homer lately

i take the sonics..

[NO-KG-AI]

I hope you aren't talking about me.

[J-Mezzy]

Ban him Sal
Anyways, Sonics would take this. Sonics would be the best team in the NBA today. It would sure as hell be fun to watch CP3 vs Payton though.

[Ballings7]

hehe three...

[yearsago]

That mid 90's sonics team was one of the best teams not to win a title in that run