New Orleans Hornets 2012-13 NBA Preview
Photo Credit: Mark Allison, Flickr.com
New Orleans Hornets
2011-12 Vitals:
21-45, 5th in Southwest Division, 15th in Eastern Conference
89.6 PPG/93.4 OPP PPG
2012-13 Roster:
Al-Farouq Aminu – SF
Ryan Anderson – PF
Anthony Davis – PF
Eric Gordon – SG
Xavier Henry – SG
Robin Lopez – C
Roger Mason – SG
Darius Miller – SF
Austin Rivers – SG
Brian Roberts – PG
Jason Smith – PF
Lance Thomas – F
Greivis Vasquez – PG
Hakim Warrick – PF
Offseason Additions:
Anthony Davis, Robin Lopez, Hakim Warrick, Ryan Anderson, Austin Rivers, Darius Miller
Offseason Subtractions:
Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, Gustavo Ayon, Chris Kaman, Jarrett Jack, Marco Belinelli, Jerome Dyson
Projected Starters:
PG – Greivis Vasquez
SG – Eric Gordon
SF – Al-Farouq Aminu
PF – Ryan Anderson
C – Anthony Davis
Season Outlook:
The New Orleans Hornets have reason to be excited again. They won the NBA draft lottery and selected the consensus No. 1 pick in Anthony Davis. He’ll have his growing pains as all rookies do, but as a shot blocker and defender, he’ll have an impact very quickly.
Eric Gordon is back and when healthy, he can score 25 points per game. They’ve made some other moves to build around Davis, including bringing in sharpshooter Ryan Anderson. He will help spread the floor to give Davis room in the paint.
The Hornets won’t make the playoffs in a tough Western Conference, but they are trending up and are on the fast track back to the postseason.
Best-Case Scenario:
Anthony Davis provides a defensive anchor in the paint and is better than expected on offense. Eric Gordon proves he is one of the most talented shooting guards in the league and the Hornets get to .500 and narrowly miss the playoffs.
Worst-Case Scenario:
Davis falls into the trap of rookie big men who struggle with foul trouble. He can’t be productive if he can’t stay on the court. Gordon can’t stay healthy and Anderson realizes it was Dwight Howard‘s presence in Orlando that made him so effective.
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