In 2008, today's New Orleans Pelicans were the New Orleans Hornets. And before everything blew up, they were a really well put together team led by coach Bryon Scott and the two-headed monster of Chris Paul and David West.

Paul and West combined for 41.7 points per game and were accompanied by sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic. For those reasons, the Hornets were the league's fifth-most efficient offense and won 56 games for a nERD of 68.1. Nevertheless, after one playoff series win, they just couldn't get past the powerhouse Spurs in the second round.