Which team would miss their star the most ?

[Plainsman]

Watching the Hornets play without CP just makes ya realize that the Hornets are a one man team.

Is there another team who has a player that integral to their level of play ?

Would the Lakers miss Kobe as much ?

The Cav's miss LeBron and still be competitive?

The Magic had a good win over the Clippers without Nelson, but what if they'd lost Howard, not Nelson, and still be competitive ?

Maybe the Celtics strength is that they could still be formidable and lose either KG, Allen, or Pierce.

[RicanThunder]

Yeah, the Hornets are pretty sad without CP3. The Cavs, C's, and Lakers are so deep that they could beat 75% of the teams in the league without their superstars. I think the Magic would struggle without Howard. They are built inside-out (basically Howard and whole bunch of 3 point shooters). With no Howard, the defense doesn't have to sag into the lane and can stay with the shooters.

[AD]

I think having your superstar as a point guard is what really hurts New Orleans when he's hurt... Its easier to get by with other positions... But excellent point guard play is hard to find/replace... I guess my point is... the dropoff is more noticable when its the point guard position... (wasnt well articulated, but I think you catch my drift)

[RicanThunder]

I think having your superstar as a point guard is what really hurts New Orleans when he's hurt... Its easier to get by with other positions... But excellent point guard play is hard to find/replace... I guess my point is... the dropoff is more noticable when its the point guard position... (wasnt well articulated, but I think you catch my drift)

So, I guess what you are saying is if you have a point guard and the power forward gets hurt, the center will propose to his girlfriend the next weekend?:)

[AD]

well now I've smooth lost my entire train of thought...lol...(assuming I originally had one) are we talking about Eva Longoria now? No wait... They got married didnt they...

[KDisNotNice]

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20090203/capt.0298cddcce7f4d1691b6ca2b716bc60d.trail_blazer s_hornets_basketball_lawh106.jpg

[RicanThunder]

That picture does not look right for so many reasons....especially how Byron Scott is so attentively staring. He looks like a voyeur looking through a window.

[KDisNotNice]

There was a more graphic one on the nola.com website but it was in the flash format so I couldn't save that one.

[Plainsman]

The entire concept of the NBA in New Orleans , rides on the shoulders of Chris Paul. Without him, the Hornets are most likely in some other city by now.

Its not just that CP is a great PG, however. Its as much the inability of the other players to produce any offense without him. Peja can't get his own shot. Chandler has no offense without the lobs. Everyone gets their shots because of CP except DWest, and if opposing defenses could focus on DWest as the primary threat, then he would struggle.

To me, thats a team built entirely too much around one player.

[El Gato Pollo Loco!!!]

Watching the Hornets play without CP just makes ya realize that the Hornets are a one man team.

Is there another team who has a player that integral to their level of play ?

I think not, but both Cleveland and Orlando are close.


Would the Lakers miss Kobe as much ?

Maybe, but they have a deeper team than both of the previously mentioned. I think they would do just fine for a little while.



Maybe the Celtics strength is that they could still be formidable and lose either KG, Allen, or Pierce.

You get the prize! Boston is a lot deeper than the average fan realizes.