Peja Stojakovic is giving the Hornets solid offensive play. He also has become a good team player as he has settled into his job as the third option behind Chris Paul and David West on offense. Stojakovic has now played in 28 games this season for the Hornets and he is averaging 32.5 minutes, 14.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He has also shot pretty well this season as he is hitting 41.8% from the floor, 43.4% from three point range and 95.3% from the free throw line. The Hornets need Stojakovic to stay healthy if they want to have a nice seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Tyson Chandler is proving that last season was not a fluke as he’s dominating the paint once again. Chandler has played in 20 games this season and he has averaged 33.1 minutes, 11.5 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Chandler is a intimidating force at both ends of the basketball court as he’s turning into one of the best centers in the NBA.

Chris Paul is the unquestioned leader of the Hornets and they need him to stay healthy if they want to reach their full potential as a team. Paul has played in 14 games this season for the Hornets and he has averaged 35.9 minutes, 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 3.0 steals per game. Paul will drive his team to the playoffs and himself to the All-Star game this season as long as he stays in one piece.

The Hornets stuggled last season because of injuries, including the one that kept David West out of 30 games last season.  In 52 games, West averaged 36.5 minutes, 18.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.  West also shot really well as he hit 47.6% from the floor and 82.4% from the free throw line.  West probably shouldn’t shoot too many threes as he only hit 32% from that range. 

West’s career numbers have been climbing because of him playing a lot more minutes than he used to.  In 227 career games, West has averaged 26.0 minutes, 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  His shooting has also been pretty consistent as he’s hit 48.9% from the floor, 30.2% from 3-point range and 80.4% from the free throw line.  Look for West’s numbers to continue to rise as he’s improved every season in the NBA so far in his career.

With Desmond Mason out for the season the Hornets needed someone to step up, and Butler is doing exactly that again.  In his last 7 games, Butler is averaging 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.  He also has hit 18 of 39 (46.2%) of his three-point shots in those 7 games.  Butler is a very valuable player for the Hornets as he stepped up his game earlier in the season when the Hornets really needed him to and he’s doing it again.