Commentary

Debate: Biggest surprise of 2010-11

Both the Hornets and Clippers have a lot to look forward to this season

Updated: September 30, 2010, 2:33 PM ET

By Chris Broussard and Ric Bucher | ESPN The Magazine

The only thing Ric Bucher and Chris Broussard like to do more than report on the NBA is argue about the NBA. So we decided to combine those two skills for Insider's weekly One-on-One series, in which they'll debate the hottest topics in the Association.

Question: Which team will be the biggest surprise this season?

BROUSSARD: In most NBA seasons, a team comes out of nowhere to surprise everyone. Last season, the Milwaukee Bucks and even the Oklahoma City Thunder did much better than most expected. This year, my surprise team is the New Orleans Hornets, who I think will reach the Western Conference playoffs.

BUCHER: That would be a surprise, but I'm going to go with the team that everyone loves to discount, including their own fans: the Los Angeles Clippers. The world has seemingly forgotten just how good Blake Griffin can be. Put him with a healthy, happy and newly married Chris Kaman as well as Eric Gordon and you have one of the best young nuclei in the league.

To see why Chris Broussard believes the return of Chris Paul will catapult New Orleans into the playoffs, while Ric Bucher contends L.A.'s young talent will finally come together this season, you must be an ESPN Insider.