As the Hornets return home to New Orleans, are they finally ready to play with the big boys in the playoffs? Such are the expectations for Chris Paul, Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic.

Team Strength: Rebounding

The Hornets were extremely good on the boards last season and figure to be one of the best again. While they don't give the impression of a big, physical team, they ranked fourth in the league in combined rebound rate -- the average of their offensive and defensive numbers -- at 51.9.

Obviously Tyson Chandler is a huge reason, but he's far from the only one. The guards are unusually helpful on the glass, with Chris Paul and Bobby Jackson ranking in the top 15 in rebound rate at point guard and shooting guard, respectively, despite both being undersized. Though not a physical player, David West also did a solid job from the power forward spot.

Additionally, the newcomers figure to improve things. Desmond Mason and Rasual Butler were both below-average rebounders last season; Morris Peterson had a better rebound rate than both and Wright should be worlds better based on his college stats. Peja Stojakovic should also make a contribution too -- he's one of the league's biggest small forwards at 6-10 and ought to be a major improvement on the Butler-Mason combo.