New Orleans Hornets Final 2011-12 Power Rankings

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Published: April 29, 2012

After finally reaching the end of what has been a very trying year, we present to you one final set of power rankings overlooking the entire season.

Number 2 in your programs, but number 1 in your power rankings - Jarrett Jack.

1. Jarrett Jack, PG: 45 GP, 34.0 MPG, 15.6 PPG, 45.6 FG%, 6.3 APG, 3.9 RPG, 18.0 PER

The team’s clear leader in a tough season, Jack finishes in the top spot; after all, who else could you really put here?

2. Chris Kaman, C: 47 GP, 29.2 MPG, 13.1 PPG, 44.6 FG%, 7.7 RPG, 1.6 BPG, 15.4 PER

Without Jack and Kaman’s efforts on offense, the Hornets would have struggled to score 80 points per game. Both deserve recognition for their consistent play this season.

3. Trevor Ariza, SF: 41  GP, 32.9 MPG, 10.8 PPG, 41.7 FG%, 5.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 14.3 PER

Ariza finishes the season in the #3 spot thanks you his strong defense and improved shot selection on offense.

4: Jason Smith, PF: 40 GP, 23.7 MPG, 9.9 PPG, 52.0 FG%, 4.9 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 16.6 PER

Before the season began, if you had asked me to predict who would finish the season in the top 5 of these power rankings, I probably would have gotten 4 of the 6, and then laughed at   the notion of Smith and Ayon making it. However, as we have come to realize all too well this season, injuries happen, and as a result, Smith stepped up. The result is the 4th spot in these rankings and a ton of respect for the work he has done to improve.

5. Carl Landry, PF: 41 GP, 24.4 MPG, 12.5 PPG, 50.3 FG%, 5.2 RPG, 18.3 PER

Landry finished the season on a very high note, which will certainly benefit him while negotiating his next contract. Because of the unexpectedly strong seasons of Smith and Ayon along with the wealth of talent in the upcoming draft at the power forward position, that new deal for Carl probably won’t be coming with the Hornets. Best of luck to Landry as he continues his NBA career, regardless of his next location.

6. Gustavo Ayon, C: 54 GP, 20.1 MPG, 5.9 PPG, 53.6 FG%, 4.9 RPG, 16.7 PER

Of all Hornets players expected back with the team next season, this offseason may be most important for Ayon. He clearly wore down as the season progressed, and conditioning should be a major point of emphasis over the next few months. If he puts in the work, then we could see the Gustavo who we saw around February all season long next year.

7. Greivis Vasquez, PG: 66 GP. 25.8 MPG, 8.9 PPG, 43.0 FG%, 5.4 APG, 14.3 PER

Averaging four turnovers per game over the team’s final seven contests shows you exactly what Greivis needs to improve on next season. Plenty of young point guards have trouble with turnovers early on and learn how to better take care of the ball as they gain more experience, so I am confident that Vasquez can make the necessary adjustments to his game to improve in this area. The extended amount of playing time that he was given this season could prove to be invaluable for his future in the NBA.

8. Emeka Okafor, C: 27 GP, 28.9 MPG, 9.9 PPG, 53.7 FG%, 7.9 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 15.6 PER

Unless the team decides to use its amnesty provision on him and eat the final two years & $28 million remaining on his contract, expect to see Okafor back on the court as the Hornets’ starting center next season. Hopefully, he picks up right where he left off before his injury.

9: Marco Belinelli, SG: 66 GP, 29.8 MPG, 11.8 PPG, 41.7 FG%, 37.7 3P%, 12.0 PER

If the Cavaliers win the Anthony Davis sweepstakes, I have decided to irrationally blame Belinelli as a result of his game-winning layup against the Warriors on Tuesday night. There is a good chance that Marco doesn’t return to New Orleans next season, but Monty Williams’ glowing review given to Sports Illustrated about him may indicate otherwise.

10. Al-Farouq Aminu, SF: 66 GP, 22.4 MPG, 5.8 PPG, 41.1 FG%, 4.4 RPG, 10.6 PER

A rough season overall for Aminu, but he gained tons of essential experience through the ample playing time that he received this year. I’m really looking forward to seeing what that experience combined with strong offseason work turns into next season.

11: Eric Gordon, SG: 9 GP, 34.0 MPG, 20.6 PPG, 45.0 FG%, 3.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 19.2 PER

Nine games was more than enough for me to see that the Hornets need to match whatever Gordon gets offered as a restricted free agent, and I think most people would agree with that sentiment.

12. Xavier Henry, SG: 45 GP, 16.9 MPG, 5.3 PPG, 39.5 FG%, 2.4 RPG, 9.2 PER

Given his aggressive, foul-drawing nature, Henry’s value hinges largely on his ability to convert from the line. As a 61% free throw shooter, Henry will struggle to get minutes on a good team; up that total by 15-20%, however, and that completely changes. Monty needs to lock Xavier in a gym this summer and make him shoot at least 100 free throws a day until he can consistently crack that 75% mark at the very least.

13. Lance Thomas, PF: 42 GP, 15.0 MPG, 4.0 PPG, 45.2 FG%, 3.0 RPG, 10.1 PER

Lance worked his butt off every day as a member of this Hornets team, but I’m just not sure how much higher his ceiling is than his current level of play. Monty gave him some minutes guarding opposing 3s, but that didn’t appear to go so well, so his best course of action now may be to hit the weight room hard this summer in an effort to improve his interior presence.

14. Jerome Dyson, PG: 9 GP, 20.0 MPG, 7.4 PPG, 39.6 FG%, 2.0 APG, 11.3 PER

Dyson did more than enough in his brief stint with the Hornets to warrant another invite to camp next season, and may have an early leg up on the 3rd point guard spot, depending on what the team does in the draft this summer.

Incomplete: Darryl Watkins, C

We hope you enjoyed our 2011-12 Hornets Player Power Rankings series. For past rankingsclick here.

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