New Orleans Hornets 2009-2010 Season Preview, Picks & Odds

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New Orleans Hornets 2008-2009 NBA Record: 49-33, 4th in Southwest Division

New Orleans Hornets 2008-2009 ATS (Against The Spread): 35-45-2

New Orleans Hornets Betting Trends & Betting Angles:

• 8-0 SU, 6-2 ATS past 8 at home to Grizzlies

• UNDER is 15-4-1 past 20 within Southwest

• 2-8 ATS past 10 games as favorite

• 6-14 ATS past 20 games as underdog

• 6-1 SU and ATS past 7 at home to Spurs

• UNDER is 7-1 past 8 games vs Rockets

• 1-8-1 ATS past 10 Nov home games

New Orleans Hornets 2009-2010 Preview & Prediction

They have a coach who might be trying to keep his job, a superstar point guard who is hungry to go past the second round and a new center who could have a career year playing with this team. Paul also should be happy that the Chandler trade was a basketball move and not a financial one. Okafor has a longer, more lucrative contract.

The Hornets’ bench is relatively weak and will need some young players to step up and develop quickly with big things expected of them.

For this team, health always is a key. If key players can stay healthy, the Hornets could resemble the 56-win team of two years ago, but probably still don’t have enough to get them over the top.

New Orleans Hornets Coach: Byron Scott (6th season)

New Orleans Hornets Returning Players: Center Hilton Armstrong; guards Bobby Brown, Devin Brown, Chris Paul, Morris Peterson; forwards Sean Marks, James Posey, Peja Stojakovic, David West, Julian Wright.

New Orleans Hornets Key Additions: Guard Darren Collison (draft), forward Ike Diogu (free agent), center Emeka Okafor (trade from Bobcats), forward Darius Songaila (trade from Timberwolves), guard Marcus Thornton (draft).

New Orleans Hornets Key Subtractions: Center Tyson Chandler (traded to Bobcats), swingman Rasual Butler (traded to Clippers), forward Ryan Bowen (signed with Thunder), forward Melvin Ely (signed with Kings), guard Jannero Pargo (signed with Bulls).

2009-2010 New Orleans Hornets Point Guards:

Somehow Paul topped his near-MVP season of 2007-08 but didn’t get as much recognition because the Hornets took a step backward. He led the NBA in assists and steals for the second straight year and set career-highs in points (22.8), rebounds (5.5) and minutes (38.5).

We’ll have to wait to see what more the NBA’s best point guard can do, but he worked tirelessly on his game in the off season because he wants to improve and wants the Hornets to go deeper.

The Hornets missed Jannero Parga last year. When Mike James and later Antonio Daniels relieved Paul there was too much of a drop off. It’s why Paul played the most minutes in his career and why Collison was taken with the 21st pick in the draft.

Collison is quick, can get in the lane and makes good decisions. No one is comparing him to Paul, bur from a speed standpoint and pushing tempo the Hornets found someone similar to spell their franchise player. By playing against Paul in practice, it should help Collison improve quickly.

2009-2010 New Orleans Hornets Off Guards:

After being in Scott’s doghouse the season before, Rasual Butler returned to the rotation and averaged a career-best 11.2 points. The Hornets saw value and traded him. Overall, shooting guard is a weakness for the Hornets, though.

In time, Thornton, a second-round pick acquired from the Heat for two No. 2s, could change that, He’s a scorer, moves well without the ball and is an underrated passer. He could give the Hornets depth at a position where they need it.

As of late summer, they had veteran Devin Brown to come off the bench and could use Julian Wright and Morris Peterson in a pinch.

2009-2010 New Orleans Hornets Small Forwards:

Peja Stojakovic missed 21 games last season, bringing his total to 94 of a possible 246 regular season contests with the Hornets.

Teams have to worry about him when he’s on the floor, but the Hornets just don’t know how much the 32-year-old with a troublesome back will be able to be on the floor.

So this might be a transition year for Stojakovic and third-year forward Julian Wright.

The Hornets are considering making Wright the starter and bringing Stojakovic off the bench. All of this is dependent upon Wright’s development and how Stojakovic’s back holds up.

Wright is a risk since he’s only averaged 4.1 points in 111 NBA games. But he worked hard after the season and the Hornets want to believe it will payoff.

Versatile James Posey was a great pick-up last year and will continue to provide stability, shot-making, defense and a competitive fire at both forward positions.

Peterson had his least productive pro season and looks to bounce back in New Orleans or elsewhere.

2009-2010 New Orleans Hornets Power Forwards:

West made the All-Star team for the second time last year, so he’s no longer the league’s best-kept secret. But his numbers could improve if Okafor does what they Hornets hope, which is to garner enough attention inside so it will create open shots for his teammates.

One of the NBA’s better mid-range shooters, West averaged a career-best 21.0 points last year, playing a personal-high 39.2 minutes. The Hornets would like his position to stay the same, but his minutes to go down a little and hope the signing of physical Ike Diogu will accomplish that.

The player and team hope this is a case of right place, right time. The Hornets have used Hilton Armstrong, Melvin Ely, Cedric Simmons and Brandon Bass, among others, as West’s backup with little success.

The well-traveled Diogu has been waiting for a chance to play consistently and show he’s better than his career averages of 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds. He should get the chance here. Posey adds some depth at this spot.

2009-2010 New Orleans Hornets Centers:

A double-double machine, Okafor needs work on his offensive game, but is more skilled than Chandler, who never averaged more than 11.8 points playing with Paul. Okafor hasn’t averaged fewer than 13.2 points, so the thoughts of what Paul can do to his game and his average have the Hornets excited.

They expect to run more because of Okafor’s defense and rebounding. He has averaged 1.88 blocks and 10.7 rebounds over his career. The Hornets also expect Okafor to be able to get more scoring opportunities for his teammates with his offensive board-work and ability to do more inside than Chandler.

Backup Hilton Armstrong has been a disappointment. The Hornets may not wait much longer for him to develop. In 29 starts last year, Armstrong averaged 6.8 points and scored in double digits just five times.

New Orleans Hornets 2009-2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the New Orleans Hornets will finish 4th in the NBA Southwest Division.

New Orleans Hornets Betting

New Orleans Hornets NBA Championship Odds: +1800

New Orleans Hornets Eastern Conference Odds: +4000

New Orleans Hornets 2008-2009 Betting Stats

New Orleans Hornets Straight Up: 49-33

New Orleans Hornets ATS: 35-45-2

New Orleans Hornets Home ATS: 19-21-1

New Orleans Hornets Away ATS: 16-24-1

New Orleans Hornets Record As Favorite: 43-18

New Orleans Hornets Record As Dog: 6-15

New Orleans Hornets Over/Under: 33-45-4

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