Lucky me will be at Hornets media day next Monday, ready and willing to ask the players and coaches bunches of questions. I already have a few key things I want to ask and certain guys I want to focus on, but I'd love to get your ideas also.
So, what questions would you like answered? Anything you'd love to know about a particular player or coach? Want someone's take on a certain subject?
Give us your ideas in the comments below. And keep them realistic, please.
26 super-fantastic comments post your own
johnpagenola
09/23/09 11:22 AM
How much of the changes in the off-season has been to get the Hornets tougher to "fight it out" with the physical teams in the NBA? Can Okafor and Diagou push back? Sometimes I have felt that even if I can't play basketball like the Hornets, at least I wouldn't let the other team push me around like the Hornets do. Man up, for God's sake.
#1
Dariusz Ejkiewicz
09/23/09 01:10 PM
To Morris Peterson: If you at some point of your career would consider playing overseas in Europe, which country would you like to play at the most.
www.ejkiewicz.com #2
emir
09/23/09 03:29 PM
to the coaching staff : what are you going to do to motivate the players to preform at their best during games for the whole 48 minutes
to chris paul: what more if anything is there for you to improve on?
to Peja: Is there anything new you are trying to stop your back pains from coming back and taking you out for the season
to david west: sometime in the near future are you planning on becoming a man and letting your balls drop instead of whining about every no call?
ah okay i admit the one to david west was harsh but his whining bugs me and i've been looking for a way to get back at him and that was my way right there
#3
Tobi
09/23/09 04:02 PM
To one of the coaches: Is a low post offense planned for a line-up with okafor?
To Fluffy: Is it (even) more effective calling "and one" to the lesser experienced replacement refs?
To Peja: In which offensive-system are you feeling more comfortable: moving around screens and catching the ball on the run or being mainly used as a spot up shooter?
To CP: What can your new back-ups Bobby Brown and Collison bring to the offense of the second unit, that Daniels or Mike Brown weren't able to do last season?
#4
Mikey
09/23/09 06:04 PM
With a trio of guards on the roster that are actually younger than CP, what should we expect out of Chris Paul, the mentor?
Is this a do-or-die season for Hilton Armstrong, and what is the coaching staff expecting out of him this season?
With all the injuries last year, it was extremely difficult to limit Paul's and West's minutes AND make it to the playoffs. What is the coaching staff planning to do to get the Hornets' top two players some rest so they can stay fresh in April through hopefully June?
#5
Sosh
09/23/09 09:00 PM
For Coach Scott: The lack of consistent production from the bench was a glaring issue last year. Now that the roster is virtually set, you most likely have some idea of each Hornet's role and capabilities. What steps are you taking to ensure that the bench players help carry the load against what is a tough conference and an even tougher division?
#6
jdpourciau
09/23/09 09:38 PM
To Coach Scott:
Will there be a return this year to more two point guard sets? If so, do you plan on doing this from the beginning of the season, or would you prefer to wait until Collison or Brown get more comfortable in the offense?
#7
mitch
09/23/09 10:59 PM
To Coach Scott:
Both of the team's rookies played well in the summer league and caught the eyes of many NBA analysts. Do you think that Collison and Thornton are ready to contribute in their first year and what kind of role can we expect to see them in?
#8
NOEngineer
09/24/09 08:28 AM
Coach: For the shooting guard and small forward positions, have you designated any players as the "starter" for each position going into training camp? On what basis will you make the selection of who will start game 1 of the regular season at those positions?
David and Hilton: We haven't heard much about your offseason. What specific aspects of your game have you each been working to improve?
Julian: Since the mental aspects of the game seem to be what have been limiting your minutes, what have you been doing in the offseason to prepare mentally for this pivotal season?
Bower: Which new player do you think will make the biggest impact in our division this year: Emeka Okafor, Shawn Marion, Richard Jefferson, Allen Iverson, or someone else?
#9
Thudso3
09/24/09 03:03 PM
The hornets have been more aggressive in player aquisition than most have expected this year. Do the hornets plan to stay aggressive in 2010 when some valuable players become available? Are we poised to do?
#10
byronscott4
09/25/09 09:32 AM
Armstrong: You've been maligned in the press for not developing as a player. What did you do this offseason to improve your overall game?
B. Brown: You are working under one of the best point guards in the game now after playing for lottery teams so far in your career. What do you hope to learn by playing with and against CP3 in practice every day?
Collison: You are used to playing at a big name college program where pressure was part of the routine. What sort of adjustments do you need to make to being a backup in the NBA with limited minutes?
Diogu: What do you think your biggest challenge will be with the Hornets this year?
Marks: After last year when you got the first significant minutes of your career, did you find that you were more desirable as a free agent? What made you decide to return to New Orleans?
Okafor: There has been plenty of talking comparing you to Tyson Chandler with both of your weakness and strengths compared to each other's. What do you think that you bring to the table that most "experts" aren't aware about?
Paul: Now that you are golfing more, are you going to be trash talking Coach Scott that you can beat him at his own game? How excited are you about working with the younger point guards this year?
Thornton: Do you think your adjustment to the league will be affected by being so close to where you went to college? How many tickets do you think you will be taking care of this year?
West: With back to back All Star seasons, is this the year that we stop hearing about you being unappreciated, unknown, underrated, etc.?
Coach Werdann: How much pressure do you feel not only being the new big man coach, but knowing that Armstrong in particular is under close scrutiny this year and Shinn has said that young players must be developed?
Coach Pack: Being a new coach, what has been the biggest eye opener for you so far?
Coach Scott:
1. Will you be honing up on your bowling game so that CP3 can't beat you at both bowling and golf?
2. Being in the last year of your contract, do you find yourself thinking like most players in that you are out to prove your worth to this team and others in the league?
3. Your former teammate Kurt Rambis is now a head coach in Minnesota. Did you think he had a future in coaching when you played together? Are you looking forward to your first gaming coaching against a former "Showtime" teammate?
4. Will you be sharing with your assistants the number of games you think the team will win this year?
#11
BigMy
09/25/09 11:44 AM
To Coach Scott: Why not try Hilton as a back-up 4, as he seems more comfortable playing away from the basket, and has not proved successful defending centers?
#12
Niall Doherty
09/25/09 12:12 PM
Great stuff, guys. Please keep the questions coming. I'll be combing through them all on Sunday and putting together lists of Q's to ask specific players and coaches.
www.ndoherty.com #13
downtowndave78
09/25/09 12:23 PM
Scott- Now that you have made it clear that Ju Ju will only be competing for the small forward position do Peja & Posey have a shot at starting at the 2 guard or is that only a battle between Brown, Peterson, & Thornton? Also, how do you handle a situation where Peja refuses to go along with this move?
Also, what does Devin Brown need to do in order to improve his game, and does he have the overall ability to be a consistent & effective starter in the league?
#14
Khalil Henderson
09/25/09 01:10 PM
To any one on the team?
With all the moves the team in the Southwest made do you think you can win the division.
#15
DrewS
09/25/09 01:53 PM
To Mo Pete: How's your cousin Jonathon Bender's comeback going?
To any of the Hornets since it's no secret they're such big fans of Obama: What do you think of his first 8-9 months in office?
To any of the Hornets: how many major NCAA violations by big-time basketball schools do you think it will take for Stern to realize that the one-year-in-college rule is making a mockery of the phrase "student athlete" and the NBA should therefore spend its own money nurturing a real developmental league?
#16
urgmasdaughter
09/25/09 06:37 PM
Any Hornet: What one song pumps you up in the locker room before hitting the floor for warm-ups?
Name the funniest thing you've witnessed in the locker room?
Veteran Hornets: When training camp hits what's gonna be the rookie hazing for Collison and Thorton?
#17
Tobi
09/26/09 06:21 AM
To Jeff Bower: Are you pursuing Raja Bell, who is likely being shopped before the season starts?
#18
Dariusz Ejkiewicz
09/26/09 08:07 AM
Julian Wright: We know that you are very active on Twitter when it comes to answering the die-hard Hornets fans. What do like most about the technology, is it the opportunity to talk to other players or the interaction with fans who can tell you what they think?
Julian Wright: I have heard and listened to your music on myspace. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now regarding your music career?
Sean Marks: What is the best memory that you have from playing for Slask Wroclaw in Poland? What is your best polish memory or the best polish meal that you tasted during that time.
Peja Stojakovic: Is there anything to the beard? We know that from the past experience that you play a lot better when have a beard is it some kind of a bad boy / rough and tough factor or is there some other story to it?
Peja Stojakovic: Who would you consider being the best Former Yugoslavia player that played for the team, yourself or Vlade Divac? be honest
Morris Peterson: Cosidering the fact that you are from Flint, Michigan I would like to know if at an early age you were a fan of Glen Rice or when he was on the Hornets team? Do you guys know eachother?
Chris Paul: Growing up in North Carolina and attending the same school as Muggsy Bogues whose continues effort to make little men respected in the Nba, how does it help the modern little men to make a mark in the league? Also were you a fan of the Charlotte Hornets and Muggsy Bogues when they were in their prime?
www.ejkiewicz.com #19
Niall Doherty
09/27/09 11:37 AM
Just put the first draft of questions together. Thanks so much to everyone who has responded here. The list is shaping up nicely.
There's still time to get your questions in. Keep in mind that I'll likely have the least face time with the big names (Paul, Scott, West), so any questions you can come up with for the other guys are more likely to get asked. Here are some players that I'm short on questions for:
Bobby Brown
Devin Brown
Darren Collison
Ike Diogu
James Posey (no questions for him yet)
Darius Songaila
Marcus Thornton
www.ndoherty.com #20
Niall Doherty
09/27/09 12:32 PM
Also, the T-P reported that Larry Owens and Earl Barron have been invited to training camp, so they might be available for questions tomorrow, too.
www.ndoherty.com #21
Dariusz Ejkiewicz
09/27/09 01:44 PM
Bobby Brown: A year ago we heard that Chris Paul was really high on your skills and he wanted you very much with the franchise. How much of an encouragement was it to have one of the best players in the nba believe in you so much?
Darren Collison: What is your favourite thing about New Orleans up to this point? Is it the team, the food or maybe the people of Luisiana?
Devin Brown: Do you still live in a Hotel? Will you try to shoot less bricks this year? from last year's the Hornets would be able to build a new practice facility
To Hugo: How do you feel about the upcoming season? How much trouble did Superhuge have after the "flaming ring" disaster?
www.ejkiewicz.com #22
byronscott4
09/27/09 08:53 PM
Devin Brown--In your second stint with the Hornets, what types of changes have you seen from your first time with the team to now?
James Posey--Your signing was seen as a "last piece" type of signing but due to injuries and other reasons, the Hornets actually had fewer wins last season compared to the one before. Do you think that it's unrealistic for any team to sign one player and think that it's the last piece of a championship puzzle?
2. Now that you have been in the league for many years, do you have a favorite venue in the league to play at?
3. On the other hand, if you had a chance to eliminate any arena from the league, which one would it be and why?
Darius Songaila--How do you handle being traded twice in one off-season? Is it easier to be hurt by the "rejection" or is it part of the game that you take in stride or is it something that motivates you to show that you are worthy of a roster spot?
#23
Niall Doherty
09/28/09 08:09 AM
Just realized that George Shinn, Chad Shinn, Jeff Bower and Hugh Weber will be available today, too. Any last minute questions for them?
www.ndoherty.com #24
Dariusz Ejkiewicz
09/28/09 08:29 AM
George Shinn: During the Charlotte days you were a huge supporter of Muggsy Bogues and everything that he did for the franchise. Don't you feel that despite the move to New Orleans a few years back Muggsy still deserves his jersey to be retired by the Hornets franchise?
www.ejkiewicz.com #25
downtowndave78
09/28/09 02:24 PM
Shinn: Due to your commitment for success within our franchise and for the community I have been actively trying to get the Hornets organization involved with a school that works with at-risk students. However, I have not received a response from any of the listed contacts that are available on the website after nearly two years of trying. What is a man to do, who believes in your approach and philosophy for success in life, in order to have you listen to my pitch for 125 students who are the future of our community? The school boasts of one of the highest success rates in its challenging arena, and a partnership with such an inspiring organization such as the Hornets could produce profound and extraordinary achievements for our local future. Thanks you so very much for everything you have done to help the people of of the area. Your commitment and compassion do not go unnoticed.
#26