From: pjs@sc.cs.appstate.edu (Jason Snyder)
Subject: Charlotte Hornets (Was: Chapman.....)
Summary: Why the Hornets could have trouble
Keywords: Hornets, basketball
Organization: Appalachian State University
Distribution: rec.sport.basketball.pro
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 17:04:15 GMT



Here are my $.02 worth on the 1992-93 Charlotte Hornets. Though I agree with
most netters in believing that they will be better than last year, I think 
that they will not be third in the central (as some people believe) or even
make the playoffs.

The addition of Alonzo Mourning fills a gaping hole at center, but still 
leaves them one of the shortest teams in the NBA. Even with Larry Johnson
and his 11 rpg the Hornets were outrebounded by an average of 3.7 boards a game.
Mourning will help, but how much?

The starting line up as I see it are as follows:

PG: Muggsy Bogues
SG: Kendall Gill
SF: Johnny Newman (if healthy, Anthony Frederick otherwise)
PF: Larry Johnson
C:  Alonzo Mourning

With this line up, there is only one player taller than 6'7", and Newman 
certainly doesn't contribute on the boards. 

The forward situation hopefully will change. Some people see Johnson at SF and 
this is certainly where the Hornets would like to put him. They probably would
like to have:

PG: Muggsy Bogues
SG: Kendall Gill
SF: Larry Johnson 
PF: Kenny Gattison (unless Reid gets his head on straight and gets consistent)
C:  Alonzo Mourning

but this arrangement could have problems. Can Johnson play effective D on the 
likes of Pippen, Mullin et.al? Perhaps more importantly, how will the offense be
with Johnson at SF? Johnson works best in the post, as does the people who would
play PF, Reid and Gattison. Johnson has a good jumper, but he won't slash to the
hoop a la Barkley or Worthy. This line-up could put tremendous pressure on Gill
to shoot from the perimeter (to balance the inside game) while his best game is
driving to the hoop. Of course, the "motion offense" that the Hornet's try to 
employ will hopefully negate these "offensive balance" considerations.

So, if the stars are in the right houses and the Hornets are blessed:
	1. Mourning will become a shot-blocking and rebounding presence immediately
	2. Johnson will move to SF and Reid or Gattison will take over at PF
	3. The motion offense and pressing defense they played last year will 
		continue to squeeze maximum production out of Gill and Johnson
	4. Tony Bennett will provide a shooting dimension and some height at the
		point.
	5. Newman will accept his role and form an explosive bench with Dell Curry.
	6. Reid becomes consistent. (yeah, right)
	7. Hornets win 82 games and march their way to the Championship  :-)

The Hornet's could be in trouble if:
	1. Mourning has trouble adjusting. He is a bit thin to be bumping with 
		the Eatons and Donaldsons of the NBA. 
	2. Johnson continues to play PF and Newman starts. This alignment has good
		offense, but are god-awful on the boards (ok maybe just not good). Even
		if they hold their own on the boards, their opponents will continue to
		just shoot over them. (Hornet's opponents shot .496 last year)
	3. Gill or Johnson go down for any reason
	4. The rest of the league figures out the pressing D/ motion O that was
		successful in masking deficiencies last year


I'm a die hard Hornet's fan (who from NC isn't? :) ) and I hope they will be
successful, but until they get some height (or more precisely, use it) they
will continue to have problems. 

Comments, flames welcome

					Jason Snyder
					(pjs@sc.cs.appstate.edu)


ps: I know I'm going to be flamed because of my apparent belief that 
	height==good, so I should point out that this is not my belief. I just feel
	that a line up of 
		
		5'3
		6'4
		6'7
		6'5
		6'9

	Is a little short to be playing in some high schools, let alone the NBA!
	If those players were Tiny Archibald, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Charles
	Barkely and Bill Russell, I'd say the height was just fine. Unfortunately,
	we are talking about the Hornet's here ;)

Newsgroups: rec.sport.basketball.pro