The New Orleans Hornets are going to be exciting to watch this season. But will that excitement, courtesy of their re-tooled roster, be enough to carry them into the postseason?
Now, most would say no. After all, as talented a core as Ryan Anderson, Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers have the potential to be, there are still so many questions left to be answered.
Will Davis’ transition into the NBA spotlight be as seamless as humanly possible? Can Anderson become more than just a scorer? Is Gordon ready to shoulder the burden that comes with leading an entire team? Will Rivers be able to make an immediate transition from volume shooter to pass-first point guard?
Truth be told, those questions only begin to scratch the surface of the challenges New Orleans will be facing next season.
And yet, if all the questions yield immediate solutions and all the roadblocks prove easy to overcome, is this Hornets team, as constructed, talented enough, deep enough and resourceful enough to clinch a postseason berth?
According to Gordon himself (via hoopshype.com), yes, they are.
We have to be a tough team. We’re young and I would say there’s a chance that we could possibly make the playoffs as one of the lower seeds. There’s a chance, but we have to be a tough team.
Now, a player exuding faith in his own team is hardly news, but Gordon’s cautious optimism is noteworthy—because it’s genuine.
The Hornets have an intriguing roster, and again, are in possession of a core that should clinch playoff berths for years to come. Down the road, that is.
As much as some may like to believe in the talent New Orleans has assembled, there isn’t a single proven player on the roster, not one. And as valuable as youthful exuberance and athleticism can be, it takes a certain level of experience to carry a team into the postseason.
Gordon may very well be ready to lead this young team, but he’s just a kid himself, and even if he immediately develops into the second coming of James Harden, there’s no telling how his inexperienced teammates will fair.
Does New Orleans pose a tough matchup for its opponents? Yes, most definitely. Not only do they have a clear cut blueprint for the future, but they’re a much improved team over last years docket of no-names.
But, at least for now, that’s all the Hornets are—interesting, intriguing and a “tough” matchup. Achieving the status of a legitimate playoff contender comes later.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
