Will the Hornets have an All-star this year?

[panthers90]

I think Tor, Cle, Mia win their divisions. I think Chi will be 4. That leaves, Cha, Ind, Wash, Atl. Out of those 4, ATL was very very good when Horford was healthy, Washington is solid (yeah they lost Ariza,but Pierce and Humphries are nothing to scoff at), Ind was no. 1 seed (yeah, I know they lost Stephenson). So even though Charlotte got Stephenson (and maybe Boozer) I still don't think they improved enough to get above 7th.

[greghardy'sAK-47]

big al got the small market treatment last season.  i think he makes it this year with more eyes on the hornets out of the gate.  think lance has the potential to be an AS, but they might give him the crazy man treatment until he gets a season or two of "good behavior" behind him.  

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I think Tor, Cle, Mia win their divisions. I think Chi will be 4. That leaves, Cha, Ind, Wash, Atl. Out of those 4, ATL was very very good when Horford was healthy, Washington is solid (yeah they lost Ariza,but Pierce and Humphries are nothing to scoff at), Ind was no. 1 seed (yeah, I know they lost Stephenson). So even though Charlotte got Stephenson (and maybe Boozer) I still don't think they improved enough to get above 7th.

Why do you think that Boozer and Stephenson aren't a big enough improvement?

Outside of Cleveland and possibly Chicago, Charlotte had potentially the best offseason in the eastern conference.

Additions: Hairston, Vonleh, Roberts, Stephenson, Williams, and possibly Boozer

Departures: Ridnour, CDR, Tolliver, White, Tolliver, and Haywood

If that's not a big enough improvement to jump into the top five then I don't know what is.

[cbarrier90]

I think Tor, Cle, Mia win their divisions. I think Chi will be 4. That leaves, Cha, Ind, Wash, Atl. Out of those 4, ATL was very very good when Horford was healthy, Washington is solid (yeah they lost Ariza,but Pierce and Humphries are nothing to scoff at), Ind was no. 1 seed (yeah, I know they lost Stephenson). So even though Charlotte got Stephenson (and maybe Boozer) I still don't think they improved enough to get above 7th.

 

I like Atlanta too, but don't let that playoff series fool you. They were still a below .500 team, actually choked that series away, and were facing a Pacers team that was crashing and burning.

 

When Horford was healthy, they were on pace to finish around that 5-8 spot where most of the up-and-comers were for a majority of this season. They are in the midst of a very underwhelming and downright disappointing offseason despite being in the same spot the Hornets were coming into this offseason (good coach, young talent, cap space, etc.)

 

That Pacers team just lost the one player that brought it every night during that crash and burn sequence and they're capped out and can't move.

 

We swept Toronto last season and all they've done is kept their core from that team in tact and added a project in Caboclo.

 

We had Washington's number down the stretch and all they've done is replaced a young Ariza with old Pierce (an upgrade, but nothing we can't contain.)

 

The Heat finished their season looking eerily reminiscent of the 2010 Cavs, and all they're doing is trying to patch up what will inevitably be a sinking ship as they still owe Cleveland picks for acquiring LeBron in the first place. McBob's only real success as a role player came in Charlotte, Deng disappeared once he was traded from the Bulls, and Bosh and Wade aren't in 2007 anymore.

 

Cleveland has LeBron, but lacks experience, much like the old Cavs teams he played with. The only difference is Irving, but Irving hasn't made the playoffs. For that matter, neither has Love (if that happens.)

 

No East playoff team will be a pushover for the Hornets, but just because they have Charlotte on their (teal alternate) jersey doesn't mean they can't be considered amongst the top flight teams in the conference. That's how unpredictable it's shaping up to be right now.

[rmoneyg35]

Big Al always gets 20-10 and no all star game correct? So unless there are major injuries then I don't see it happening. Sadly.

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[Rise of The Hive]

Possibly two, Lance and Kemba or Big Al or heck maybe three!

[SIGCHI222]

Big Al and Lance.

[panthers90]

Why do you think that Boozer and Stephenson aren't a big enough improvement?

Outside of Cleveland and possibly Chicago, Charlotte had potentially the best offseason in the eastern conference.

Additions: Hairston, Vonleh, Roberts, Stephenson, Williams, and possibly Boozer

Departures: Ridnour, CDR, Tolliver, White, Tolliver, and Haywood

If that's not a big enough improvement to jump into the top five then I don't know what is.

I'm looking at it from the other angle, I'm not saying that the Hornets had a bad offseason; it has been really good... if you think the Hornets are a top 5 team, you have to name 2 teams that are going to drop down in rankings.Staying top 5- Chi (getting Gasol and Rose), Mia (obviously lost LBJ, but got Deng, Granger, McRoberts, Shabazz- still have Bosh and Wade), Toronto is probably gonna win the division again since Bk, and NY made no upgrades, and probably got worse. So that leaves 2 teams to make the top 5. I'd argue that Cle will be up there as well. Which brings me back to my original post- that leaves Was (kept core together replacing Peirce with Ariza), Indy (lost Stephenson, but still have 3 all stars), Atl  (got Thabo and Baze and most importantly Horford back), lastly while I think Bk is out of hte playoffs, they got 2Js and get Lopez back for injury as well.

 

So I'm not saying that there is absolutely no way Hornets can be the 5th seed, I just wouldn't bet against those 3 other teams to be there instead.

 

And getting Booze is a toss up for me. Getting him will be an increase offensively for sure, but then him and Al would probably be one of the weakest 4/5 combo defensively in the league. And I wouldn't expect Hairston and Vonleh to contribute from day 1. 

 

I hope I'm wrong tho as the Hornets are my 3rd favorite team.

[SIGCHI222]

I'm looking at it from the other angle, I'm not saying that the Hornets had a bad offseason; it has been really good... if you think the Hornets are a top 5 team, you have to name 2 teams that are going to drop down in rankings.Staying top 5- Chi (getting Gasol and Rose), Mia (obviously lost LBJ, but got Deng, Granger, McRoberts, Shabazz- still have Bosh and Wade), Toronto is probably gonna win the division again since Bk, and NY made no upgrades, and probably got worse. So that leaves 2 teams to make the top 5. I'd argue that Cle will be up there as well. Which brings me back to my original post- that leaves Was (kept core together replacing Peirce with Ariza), Indy (lost Stephenson, but still have 3 all stars), Atl  (got Thabo and Baze and most importantly Horford back), lastly while I think Bk is out of hte playoffs, they got 2Js and get Lopez back for injury as well.

 

So I'm not saying that there is absolutely no way Hornets can be the 5th seed, I just wouldn't bet against those 3 other teams to be there instead.

 

And getting Booze is a toss up for me. Getting him will be an increase offensively for sure, but then him and Al would probably be one of the weakest 4/5 combo defensively in the league. And I wouldn't expect Hairston and Vonleh to contribute from day 1. 

 

I hope I'm wrong tho as the Hornets are my 3rd favorite team.

Chicago ain't getting Rose back.  That mother fuger is broke in the head.

Miami is awful with Deng as LBJ's replacement and Wade returning.

 

We are the three.

 

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I'm looking at it from the other angle, I'm not saying that the Hornets had a bad offseason; it has been really good... if you think the Hornets are a top 5 team, you have to name 2 teams that are going to drop down in rankings.Staying top 5- Chi (getting Gasol and Rose), Mia (obviously lost LBJ, but got Deng, Granger, McRoberts, Shabazz- still have Bosh and Wade), Toronto is probably gonna win the division again since Bk, and NY made no upgrades, and probably got worse. So that leaves 2 teams to make the top 5. I'd argue that Cle will be up there as well. Which brings me back to my original post- that leaves Was (kept core together replacing Peirce with Ariza), Indy (lost Stephenson, but still have 3 all stars), Atl (got Thabo and Baze and most importantly Horford back), lastly while I think Bk is out of hte playoffs, they got 2Js and get Lopez back for injury as well.

So I'm not saying that there is absolutely no way Hornets can be the 5th seed, I just wouldn't bet against those 3 other teams to be there instead.

And getting Booze is a toss up for me. Getting him will be an increase offensively for sure, but then him and Al would probably be one of the weakest 4/5 combo defensively in the league. And I wouldn't expect Hairston and Vonleh to contribute from day 1.

I hope I'm wrong tho as the Hornets are my 3rd favorite team.

I'm not convinced Miami is going to be a good team. Their success is contingent on a lot of things... team chemistry, can Bosh play the lead, can Wade stay healthy, can Bazz and Chalmers run the point? They have a lot of question marks.

Right now I like... Chicago, Cleveland, Toronto, Washington, Charlotte, Indiana, Miami, Atlanta.

Some of those teams you mentioned above didn't get better, they made lateral moves. I think what has happened is that we are so used to our team not making any significant moves that when they do, we still don't expect results.

[Zaximus]

Miami is going to get TRASHED down low against guys like Big Al, etc.  Bosh was able to play center for so long because of Lebron's defensive abilities but I expect Al to dominate down low when we play them. 

[asknoquarter]

I think the way the East is shaping up, it isn't really going to matter much what seed you have. 

 

There isn't going to be any team that everyone wants to avoid like the last few years.  Obviously the higher seed the better, but I tend to rank teams by who I wouldn't want to play.

 

Chicago is the team I wouldn't want to play the most.

Cleveland is next just because of Lebron, but I still feel we could beat them.

Washington is a team with the potential to be really good, but how much can they improve?

Indiana has some serious questions and guard and I don't think that will end up well for them.

Brooklyn could be a really good team, but you almost have to count on injuries there.

Miami is going to regress bad, Wade can't carry a team the way he used to and they have no PG,

Toronto doesn't impress me, Lowry had a good season, but this isn't a team I am worried about.

Atlanta isn't a playoff team right now.

New York might actually improve, but I still don't think they are ready to compete yet.  It will take another year.

 

 

 

Honestly our starting lineup and our depth is right up there with the best in the east.  I have some concerns about the PF spot, but I think our young guys will improve and Vonleh will be able to give us some good minutes this season.  The development of MKG will be the biggest difference this season(aside from injuries).  If MKG can develop via the Kawhi Leonard curve(being two years behind him) he could start to show serious improvement this season and frankly playing with Lance could be really good for him.

[KJ89]

1. Al 2. Lance 3. Kemba

all of the above.

[lindseyjw14]

We won't have an All-Star unless ESPN wants to push the agenda to make a Hornet an All-Star. What ESPN wants, ESPN gets.

Season Stats-

*- Min, Pts, Reb, Ast, Stl, Blk, Tov

A- 30.3, 49%, 10.9, 7.4, 1.5, 0.9, 0.7, 1.9

B-