March 3, 2008

Hornets.com caught up with ESPN color commentator Hubie Brown for a second time this season, prior to Friday’s game against the Utah Jazz. Brown addressed a wide range of team- and league-related topics during the chat. Long noted as one of the most knowledgeable commentators in the sport, prior to every game he broadcasts, Brown watches the previous two games played by both teams.

ESPN analyst Hubie Brown calls the Hornets’ trade that landed Bonzi Wells (pictured) and Mike James “a major plus” for New Orleans.

Hornets.com: What was your opinion of the Hornets’ trade with Houston that added Bonzi Wells and Mike James to the roster?
Brown: I think it’s a major plus. Because you’re getting two people who are playoff-experienced guys and can score at playoff time. Both of these guys can do that. There is a big difference between scoring in the postseason the regular season.

You gave up Bobby Jackson, but Jannero Pargo is playing extremely well right now. With Pargo and James, you’re going to have a solid group to back up your starters.

Hornets.com: How realistic are Chris Paul’s chances of winning MVP this season?
Brown: He’s in the top three or four guys and should not take a backseat to anyone as of today. He could very easily be the MVP and everyone would say that’s a great pick, because of what he has done here for this team. Not just by being a 20-10 (points and assists) point guard; it’s also what he does for the other players. He makes everyone a better player. And he can take care of the tempo and make sure that the majority of the nights, the tempo is where you want it to be.

Hornets.com: With Nate McMillan’s Portland team returning to near-.500 status, is it fair to say that Byron Scott has become the leading candidate for Coach of the Year?
Brown: I think there are a lot of people who could be up for that. Byron Scott will be one of them, as long as the Hornets continue to excel. Fortunately for them, what they have in their favor is the schedule, because they only have 12 games left against the West. Everyone else has a lot of games vs. the West. That’s where they cannot let up – they have to go into the East and knock those teams out. If they take care of business, they’re going to be in great shape.

Hornets.com: Who’s the favorite in the Western Conference?
Brown: I don’t think there is any knockout favorite. I disagree with the Lakers being it, because everyone is assuming that Andrew Bynum is coming back at 100 percent. But they are now saying that his return is going to be delayed, and he still has swelling. He’s far from being ready, and when he does come back, everyone is expecting him to produce 13 (points), 10 (rebounds) and three blocks, but it’s going to take him time to get in shape. And when he comes back, Pau Gasol is going to have to move out of the post and play on the perimeter. So they’re going to have some adjustments to make. Before the season, I picked San Antonio, and I’m not changing. By picking up Kurt Thomas and now getting Brent Barry back, that will help them no matter who they match up against. If you want to play small, they can play small. If you want to play a power style, they can match up that way. And they have such great three-point shooting, along with their defense, which is their heart and soul. You can never discount the Spurs.

It’s going to probably the greatest playoffs in the history of the Western Conference. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

Hornets.com: How do you rate Houston’s chances of making the playoffs now that Yao Ming is out for the season?
Brown: That injury is a disaster. All the people who say it’s not a disaster, that’s because you’ve never had a center that good. Plus, he’s a good person and he works very hard, and he’s an 80 percent foul shooter. When you put (Dikembe) Mutombo in there, you’re not going to get the points. You’ll get the rebounding and shot-blocking, but he can’t make a foul shot.

That’s going to put pressure on (rookie Carl) Landry to be the backup, because they do not have many people of size at backup forward or center, other than Mutombo. They’re going to be hurting.

Hornets.com: How many wins do you think it will take to get into the postseason in the West? Maybe 50?
Brown: I don’t want to say no to that, because at the rate they are going, it could be. But some of these teams could level off, because many of them are almost finished playing against the East. Now they are going to start playing one another more, and that’s going to be the determining factor in who finishes where.

That’s why I brought out the point earlier that (the Hornets) have the best schedule of anyone (in the West) from now to the end of the season, because they aren’t playing as many West opponents.

Hornets.com: During your years in the NBA, have you ever seen a conference as closely packed this late in the season as the 2007-08 West?
Brown: Well, if we started the playoffs today as you and I are talking, Utah is fourth and Denver is ninth, but Denver is only two games back on the loss side behind Utah. We still have 25 games to go and have no idea of what’s going to happen. I’m interested to see how some of the teams who have been feasting on the East are going to fare.

It’s staggering to see the (discrepancy in) records of some of the teams, and Phoenix is the perfect example. Phoenix’s record against the East is incredible, but they are one over .500 against the West, and against the eight West playoff teams, they are horrible.