New look New Orleans Hornets are tough to gauge for Suns
Dec 26, 2011, 9:46 PM | Updated: 9:53 pm
The name across the front of the jerseys and the colors will be the same, but everything else about the Phoenix Suns opening night opponent, the New Orleans Hornets will be different.
The two teams split their four meetings last year, but that has become an irrelevant barometer with the Hornets featuring eight new players on the roster.
They shipped away superstar Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers and lost leading scorer David West to the Indiana Pacers via free agency.
Starting point guard Jarrett Jack is suspended one game for a DUI and no one has any idea what the Hornets starting line-up is going to be.
Head Coach Alvin Gentry is sure of one thing — newly acquired shooting guard Eric Gordon is going to be a handful to deal with.
“They’ve got a guy who I’ve said all along is probably the most underrated guy in the league from the standpoint of what he does for a team,” said Gentry. “I think he could average 20 on any team you put him on in the league.”
Gentry did not specify, but the players most likely to get looks guarding New Orleans dynamic two-guard will be Grant Hill and Jared Dudley. Shannon Brown could also get an opportunity off the bench.
