The Red Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets are 31-16 and have a hold on the number three playoff spot in the Western Conference. Furthermore, they are in the midst of an impressive, defense-fueled ten game winning streak. They are in no danger of leaving the great city of New Orleans because they have fulfilled attendance requirements set by ownership. Surely, the average NBA fan must be thinking that these are either headlines from the 2007-2008 Season or facts made up by delusional Hornets enthusiasts. But, surprisingly, all of these statements are 100% factual. You are thinking, "Okay, it is all true, but how did a Hornets team that looked dead last year come back so strong"? Well, there are a number of answers to that very fair question. More specifically, three key things.

The first is the re-emergence of All Star point guard Chris Paul. Paul missed a huge chunk of last season and the Hornets dearly missed his leadership and play making ability. Despite grumblings of his unhappiness in New Orleans which surfaced this summer, he remained with the Hornets and has had a sensational season. He currently leads the NBA in steals with nearly 3 per game and ranks 3rd in the league with 9.7 assists. Helping Paul get the job done is a solid supporting cast consisting of David West, a bevy of young talent, and several new additions.

Secondly, the Hornets are no longer coached by former general manager Jeff Bower, but instead by first year head coach Monty Williams. Williams is the youngest head coach in the league, and he is currently one of the top candidates for Coach of the Year Award. With him, he has brought a great sense of leadership, an atmosphere of winning, and a ferocious, defense first mentality. This brings me to possibly the most important upgrade for the Hornets: defense.

The Hornets concluded their game last night against the Golden State Warriors as the league's leading defensive team, allowing a meager average of 91.19 per game. This superb defense is obviously keyed by Paul, and he is supported by top shot blocker Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza, one of the league's best perimeter defenders.

The Hornets might not be an irrefutable title favorite quite yet, but if they continue to play outstanding defense, they will certainly be able to do considerable damage in a top heavy Western Conference.