| | By Eric Karabell
ESPN.com
The fact that the Charlotte Hornets were able to win 49 games this past season is amazing. There was the death of Bobby Phills and psychological toll it took on fellow racer David Wesley. Then there was Derrick Coleman's driving habits, Anthony Mason's midnight fights, owner George Shinn's trial and Eddie Jones' impending free agency, so the Hornets certainly had a lot to think about as the season went on. But in the end Paul Silas guided the team to the No. 4 pole position in the East, though its playoff run never really got started.
|  | | Coleman keyed the Hornets with consistent scoring and solid defense as well. |
The Hornets you saw in 1999-2000 will look a lot different this fall because of the absence of Jones, who was dealt to Miami along with Mason and others. But the Hornets have been able to overcome free agent subtractions in the past, making the playoffs in five of the last eight years and just missing the other three times.
So after focusing on two teams (Atlanta, Boston) who didn't sniff the postseason last year, we turn our attention to the Hornets in our third offseason team spotlight. We have our opinions, which are below, and we thank you for yours. Check out the Hornets user comments to the right.
Why the Hornets were 49-33: This record was produced thanks to the starting lineup and an underrated job of coaching by Silas, who got the team to overlook what was going on around it. The five starters were among the league's top units, getting healthy totals in scoring and rebounding while also defending enough as Charlotte got hot down the stretch to earn home court in the first round of the playoffs. The Hornets had two seven-game winning streaks in the final five weeks of the season. However, when it came time to host the 76ers in the playoffs, the Hornets lost three of four and were gone quickly. Strangely, even the fans didn't show up for their two home games.
On the court, Jones continued his ascent to becoming one of the top shooting guards in the league, finishing with career-high averages in scoring, rebounding and assists, as well as his usual lofty steals total. Think Jerry West knew he'd be this good? And while Wesley, Elden Campbell and Mason were solid players, the other real star of the show was the enigmatic Coleman, an up and down player for years who finally gave a consistent performance.
After nearly killing himself and teammate Eldridge Recasner in a car wreck before the season, Coleman was lazy and unproductive in November. Then without warning he was great, averaging 18 points a night the rest of the season. The most surprising thing was that DC actually wanted to play. There were no little injuries keeping him out, as his 74 games were his most in six seasons. Coleman's already a very rich man, but if he decides to play like that all the time year after year, he might not have any peer at power forward in the East.
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Current projected top 6
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PG
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David Wesley
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SG
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Jamal Mashburn
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SF
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P.J. Brown
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PF
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Derrick Coleman
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C
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Elden Campbell
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6th
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Baron Davis
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Team MVP: Jones. Team LVP: Veteran Dale Ellis came over in a trade from Milwaukee, figuring to add much needed range, but was so bad in the clubhouse he had to be released. Surprise! Admit it, you assumed Coleman would continue his career path of disappointment and never figure it out. But look at the numbers. They're pretty impressive. Up and comer: Jamaal Magloire was the 19th pick in the draft, and should find time as the first big man off the bench (now that Brad Miller skipped town). But the choice here is Baron Davis, who might even push Wesley to more shooting guard or even out of town. Davis should eventually supplant Wesley, or surely do more than average the 5.9 points he did his rookie year. Look back at the top picks in last summer's draft and Davis stands out as a guy who didn't put up numbers. That shouldn't be a problem next season.
What they need: If the team had stayed intact, there wouldn't be a whole lot on the wish list except some more bench depth, and even that wasn't a major issue. Silas didn't have to play his starters all but 24 minutes in Game 4 of the playoffs against Philly, but he did. But now, with Jones gone to Miami, there are new faces.
Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown, Otis Thorpe, Rodney Buford and Tim James come over from the Heat, Jones, Mason, Ricky Davis and the rights to Ellis are gone.
The team needed guard depth to start with after the tragic loss of Phills, one of the top sixth men in the NBA. Youngster Eddie Robinson showed he could score a little, but not defend. Wesley isn't among the top point guards in the league and won't be any better at shooting guard either. Ricky Davis, who showed definite potential the last two years, will fit in with the Heat. Mashburn, who is more small forward than shooting guard, is your new shooting guard. Mashburn is a pretty good player, let's remember. He's not at all a defensive presence like Jones was, but he can score. Maybe Buford fits in here as well.
Most normal NBA teams need size. The Hornets have plenty of it, with Magliore joining Campbell, Brown and Coleman up front. The loss of Miller, a restricted free agent who could have kept, but wasn't and bolted to Chicago, was strange. But he is a bench player, after all. Even Todd Fuller was a nice player to have around, but the Heat further raided Charlotte by snapping him up as well. Can second-year guy James play up front?
What the plan is: The Hornets aren't thinking about winning a title this year. A year ago, many people thought they were the team to beat in the East. But letting go of not only Jones, who would've just bolted had they not dealt him, but other helpful pieces as well like Miller, shows what's going on here. Charlotte is content to win enough games to make the postseason, nothing more.
The Hornets have never made it past the second round of the playoffs, despite pretty consistent success with Allan Bristow, Dave Cowens and now Silas at the helm. So what always holds this team back? In an Eastern Conference which certainly appears wide open, the Hornets shouldn't be that far away. There's enough talent here to win games, even without Jones. Is Mashburn going to produce that much less than Jones did? Is Brown worse than Mason? Nope.
Direction heading: Hard to give the Hornets much hope of getting better sans Jones, but to be nice, we'll say a small dropoff and still playoff-bound. It's not like playing in Charlotte is that bad. They did do pretty well considering Jones was outta there anyway.
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ALSO SEE
Offseason spotlight: Hornets users comments
ESPN.com's Offseason Spotlight Index
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