I think you are both wrong. If anything holds them back its the other teams in the west. Their core is not more talented then Utahs, LAs,and SAs IMO. Houston needs one half way decent piece and I'd give them the nod as having a better core.
Tyson Chandler is solid on the glass but he looks much much better then he really is thanks to CP3. People forget he is very limited offensively on his own.
Scott would have at least one title as a coach under his belt if not for the same reason I'm saying above...he flat out hit much better teams in the finals (LA and SA). Its not like his coaching lost the finals for them. They were outmatched. Same applies here. In fact I'd actually say the Nets core of Jefferson, a healthy Kenyon Martin, and JK in his prime was better then this Hornets core.