– Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
((Ed. note: This has been up at Hornets.com for a while. Not sure how I missed it:))
Along with the fact that theyre either an NBA shooting guard or small forward, what did Orlandos Vince Carter, Golden States Reggie Williams and Washingtons Al Thornton have in common during the 2009-10 regular season?
. . . OK, times up. The answer: Carter, Williams and Thornton each compiled one of the best offensive games of their professional careers vs. New Orleans. Carter put on a one-man offensive show on Feb. 8, pouring in 48 points, 14 more points than he scored in any other 2009-10 game. Williams racked up 28 points on March 8, in only his fifth NBA appearance after being called up from the D-League by Golden State. On Nov. 17, Thornton deposited 30 points for the Clippers in NOLA.
Amid the Hornets decline from ninth in defensive efficiency in 2008-09 to 21st last season, an inability to contain opposing wing players became a glaring problem. With opponents often penetrating into the lane or roaming freely on the perimeter, it made it exceedingly difficult for frontcourt starters Emeka Okafor and David West to protect the basket. Okafor did finish 11th individually in the NBA with 127 blocks, but New Orleans defensive field-goal percentage of 48.3 ranked 28th in the league.
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