Hornets Look to be Improved vs. Sportsbook Odds with New Coach. The question to be answered at the sportsbook is how much the New Orleans Hornets will be improved with a new head coach. The Hornets hired Monty Williams who had been an assistant at Portland since 2005. The Hornets were a major disappointment this past season vs. the NBA odds at the offshore sportsbook so it will be interesting to see how they do next year.
Sportsbook odds favored the Hornets too much this past season based on what they had done in previous years. New Orleans flopped to a 37-45 straight up record last season. They were 37-44-1 against the spread at the offshore sportsbook. Part of their problem was the injury to star point guard Chris Paul. When he was hurt the Hornets really struggled to win games and cover the point spread. They should be improved next season simply because Paul will be at full strength.
New Orleans went with Williams over a number of other candidates including Boston assistant coach Tom Thibodeau who was named Chicago’s new head coach. New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower believes the Hornets got the best coach available. New Orleans was going to bring in Williams even if they had hired Thibodeau as the head coach. Now it will be all on Williams. Chris Paul was very happy with the hiring. He said that Williams is a perfect fit for the team.
New Orleans missed the playoffs this past season for the first time in three years. They should be better this upcoming season with Williams at the helm. Last season the Hornets were just 17th in the league in points per game at 100.2. That number has to improve if New Orleans is to contend next season and cover the odds at the offshore sportsbook. The defense was even more of a disappointment. The Hornets slipped to 21st in the league, allowing 102.7 points per game. New Orleans had been known in the past as a tough defensive team but that was not the case last season. Williams should be able to improve those numbers. New Orleans was led in scoring last season by David West who averaged 19 points per game. Paul led the team in assists at 10.7 per game while Emeka Okafor led the team in rebounding.