Terry Shilton

What a series so far, the up’s and downs, the emergence of Chris Paul unbelievable, I personally wonder how many journalists would like their MVP vote back. This playoff run has saved basketball in New Orleans this team was essentially the only team without a home court advantage during the regular season as any away team that played in the Hornet’s nest had more supporters than the home team. But now season ticket sales for next year are way up, numerous stars were courtside and their the hottest ticket anywhere. They should honestly do an NBA where the “improbable happens” commerical for this years Hornets, 39 wins to 55 plus, quite the Cinderella story and honestly who’s favorite player right now is not Chris Paul he has been brilliant and done it in such an entertaining way as Greg Popovich put it “he turns games into an organizied playground.”

The Game goes Monday May 19th and is the Can’t miss game of the year.

Keys to Victory for the Spurs

1. Clutch Shooting, the Hornets have doubled Duncan fairly effectively so the Spurs need to make the Hornets pay for doubling him, especially Ginobli if he gets going he can be unstoppable in big games
2. Contain CP3, the Spurs have made a great coaching adjustment here by placing Bruce Bowen on Peja, your not going to stop CP3 from getting his points but if you can contain him from getting everyone else going he can’t beat you alone.
3. Patience, I said to a buddy before the Suns vs Spurs series you didn’t need a shot or game clock to decide this series just give each team 10 possesions and who ever executed them the best would win the series; this game will be the same the Spurs are an exceptionally patient team setting and re-setting plays, experience here is everything, if they control the games Tempo and don’t waste possesions they’ll roll into the West finals again.

Keys to Victory for the Hornets

1. CP3, Chris has been amazing and to beat the Spurs he’ll have to be on Monday, the key is to get other players involved early, if he can get Peja and West going the Hornets have a shot, that being said it won’t be enough just to get them going he will have to shoulder the load on offense as well, To win he’ll need another 30 point 10 assist night any less i see this Cinderella story coming to an end.
2. Foul Trouble, The Hornets have really only two people capable of playing Tim Duncan one on one with any effectiveness; David West and Tyson Chandler if either gets into early foul trouble it will be a long night as they’ll have to double nearly every touch and leave the perimeter open. Chandler is maybe slightly more disruptive defensively because of his length and may be the real key here.
3. Moment, the Hornets can’t get sweeped up in the moment and force turnovers and waste posessions but if they feed of the crowd, run the break, get an alley-oop, or a replay worthy play that positive Cinderella adrenaline can sweep the team, arena, city and can carry them through a major upset. I just love the turn around of this arena the last home game not a fan would sit for nearly the entire first half.

Prediction

I am trying to have some kind of bias here but let’s face I too have been sweeped up in the performance of CP3 and the Cinderella story of the Hornets, plus I have endured enough of the Spurs their dynasty has seemingly no end in sight, I won’t buy into that their boring thing, they play the game with a medical precision have unselfish players, the best power forward ever to play the game, a fantastic coach, hit big shots, even in this series came back from the brink; it’s just that I’m sick of them, it’s like that awkward moment now they have hung around too long for them to be interesting to me anymore, if they win it all again honestly give Tim a statue like MJ but someone please force him to retire.

Final Score: Hornets 103 Spurs 98

Terry Shilton

10. Jason Kidd - He has outright asked from a trade for the Nets and any contender would love to have him, he is # 10 because a deal for Kidd poses unique challenges, the Nets want a young roster player plus expiring contracts but NO one is offering anything close. The front runners are Dallas but they need another team’s help to match salaries, Cleveland also is interested but they want the Nets to take back Larry Hughes contract to help match Salaries and with Larry due 60 million with a number of years left the Nets have no interest at all.       

9. Sam Cassell - Sam has made it quite clear he is looking to be moved but their is no deal on the table at all from anyone their are simply to many rumours that Sam would accept a very low buyout to be free of the Clippers and a team that has a real title shot. The Celtics are said to be front runners but Suns will give their best sales pitch.

8. Corey Maggette - Corey has an option at the end of this year to opt out of his current contract and he undoubtedly will, he comes with a fairly reasonable price tag and can start or be a sixth man for a team looking to make a deep playoff run or a team looking to shake things up. I can see the latter with corey possibly ending up in Indiana as they have been high on him for a number of years twice coming very close to aquiring him an it’s likely they could resign him.  I personally see Corey going to the East as all your West big guns have strong 3’s

7. Gordon Giricek - A lot of suitors for GG he has an expiring contract is a good shooter, better than average defender and has shown flashes throughout his career that he may be a real good corer of the bench on a deep team. The only thing that may prevent a deal is that he finds a permnent home in Philly as exec’s see him as poor man’s Hedo Turkgolo but with a much cheaper price tag.

6. Mike Miller - The Griz are sellers they are looking to clear cap space plain and simple and rebuild a young team around Mike Conley and Rudy Gay. There are alot of teams that would love to add Mike Miller he is a proven winner, underrated ball handler and great shooter.

5. Kurt Thomas - a big with an expiring contract, great defender, good rebounder he will end up on a contender for depth likely to stay in the west, Dallas, La, Phoenix and San Antonio would love to add him for thier playoff push.

4. Ron Artest - Many people will be suprised that Artest is so high on my list as there is not a large market for his services yet, but Sacremento is rebuilding and with Salmons being such a pleasant suprise this year they will move him. 

3. Jamal Magloire - Has been terrible on the Nets but is a legitmate big, can rebound and defend was a former All Star and is really their only tradeable asset left, again offers are slow because many teams believe he may be bought out. Toronto has wanted this home town kid for sometime and I look for Colangelo to get involved especially with Jamal being at a low in terms of value, the expiring contract of Juan Dixon or Darrick Martin would do it.

2. Heat Pg’s Smush Parker, J -Will- Smush hasn’t played since legal troubles put him in Rileys dog house they will likely pay him out as he hasn’t seen the court in months and has little trade value because of it. The Soap opera has gone on long enough an he will be moved. Jason Williams has an expiring contract so he is very valuable current rumours have him going to The Grizzlies for Mike Miller. J-Will has fallen out of favour with Riley some time ago and is destined to be moved.

1. Andre Miller - Andre has been loved by coaches every where he plays, he is a pass first hard working Pg and a legitimate starter in the NBA with an expiring contract so his cap hit isn’t bad. The Sixers have been high on him but it’s unlikely he’ll re-sign plus they have Lou Williams behind him who at times has looked real good and could use the extra minutes. The Sixers are rebuilding and Andre has real value to teams like Denver and Cleveland among others although the Sixers don’t want to part with him the upside to trading him will be just to good.

Players Close to the Top Ten

Udonis Haslem, Mickael Pietrus, Devean George, Eduardo Najera, Flip Murray, Pat Garrity, Darrick Martin, Juan Dixon

none of these players made the chart as they are part of deals not really players teams are looking to make deals for Haslem may be the only exception.

Players who are being shopped but will not be dealt

1. Vince Carter - I can give you 60 million reasons but it only reaaly takes one, perception Nba players polled recently when asked “who was doing the least with their talent?” it was Vince Carter. Phil Jackson just publically ripped him and he he’s due 60 million over the next 5 years. Last reports were flying that the Knicks were offering Zach Randolph sources quickly denied this rumour. There are no offers at this time and to move Vince the Nets would have to be willing to take a TERRIBLE contract back like Larry Hughes who offers the Nets possibly less. Oh and as of yesterday Vince may need season ending surgery.

2. Jermaine O’Neal - He hasn’t been healthy in years, plus he has an early termnation option in his contract that he is expected to take and go where he wants. Indiana has been working the phones but what could his value be? there are too many unanswered questions when Isiah isn’t interested in either Vince or Jermaine you know no one else is. Only way he gets dealt is for an expiring contract nothing more if the Pacers reduce expectations that much maybe right now they are said to be looking for roster players in return.

3. Wally Szczerbiak - once a rising star Wally World has been marred by injuries and is on a rebuiliding team and is a depth player behind Durant. Both Wally and the Sonics would like to see him moved were he would be a nice depth player on a contender. Wally can still shoot the ball and finish and is known to be a tugh competitor nice playoff addition but he is owed 14 million or something this year and next. If he was big market they would pay him out and move on but he’s not and the owner is to busy trying to move this team to worry about Wally: so he stays.