New Orleans Make Case For Elite Status In West

New Orleans Make Case For Elite Status In West

The New Orleans Hornets will head west this week in defense of a recent hot streak that has helped them ascend the Western Conference standings. The rise to the top of the pile wouldn?t be the first time this season. After a torrid 2010-11 start in November the Hornets sloughed off as the year progressed.

Now heading in the second half of the season, the Hornets look poised to finish what they started when it debuted.

Though it might be hard to rank the Hornets ahead of a team like the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers, it?s not unreasonable to imagine superstar point guard Chris Paul positioning his franchise in the upper echelon of the league?s elite.

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Though they missed out on the post-season altogether last season, they?re just three years removed from leading the Southwest Division with a 56-26 record that put Paul and the franchise on the map in 2008.

Through the first 45 games of this season the Hornets have posted a 29-16 record, currently trailing the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs for west supremacy. As always, it has been point guard Paul powering their dominance.

Averaging just over 16 points per game and nearly 10 assists, Paul has set his team up for success, specifically partner in crime David West. With just under 19 points per game, West leads the franchise in limited minutes, a testament to the depth of the roster.

With West scoring, Paul orchestrating the offense, and big man Emeka Okafor contributing as much as ever defensively, the core is in place for a franchise to compete down the stretch for home court advantage in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

According to Bodog?s online sportsbook, the Hornets have odds of winning the NBA championship. If the team can continue their hot play of late on the road this week, you may see those odds improve.

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