re: Monty Williams

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What would they have had to do for you to not have considered it to be a solid job?

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I think Monty mishandled Thornton, and related to that gave too much trust to Green, Belinelli and at times Jack. He also used Mbenga when he should have been using Gray. Other than that there really isn't much to complain about from a rookie head coach dealt the hand he was dealt. The defensive transformation of this team is pretty impressive.

I think all of Demps' moves were acceptable to good except Thornton for Landry. For me this trade is incomplete until we've resigned Landry or flipped him for another asset. If Landry ends up being starting PF + cap space for a starting wing then it's a good trade. If Landry ends up just being the backup PF then it's an adequate trade, and if Landry walks it's a bad trade.

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being 1 of the 16 teams to make the playoffs is considered a success.

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With playoff CP3 and playoff Ariza, I'd give the Hornets even odds against every team except the Lakers, Thunder, Celtics and Bulls. They may go out in the first round because they drew the Lakers, but I'd put them down as the 6th to 10th best team in the playoffs, not 16th. That's pretty good for a team most expected to be in the high lottery that's missing it's best scorer.

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Ariza and Landry are good pickups, but we moved 2 good players for 2 other good players. Outside of moving talent at guard for talent at forward, what have we done?

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You're right about just shuffling players. I'd say Juju for Belinelli is the only talent addition we've seen. Unless Demps can pull another one of those off it's all up to what he can do with at most the MLE and a 2nd rounder. Buying a first round pick would be helpful too.

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The defensive transformation of this team is pretty impressive.

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Totally agree.

But the defensive collapse when Ariza was out makes me question how much was due to coaching and how much is due to Ariza being a ridiculous defender.