Will It Continue to Last?

Astonishingly, my New Orleans Hornets currently sit atop the Western Conference. Yes, the NBA Western Conference that has been rough on many, many teams over the past decade. At 29-12, the Hornets are easily off the best start in franchise history, going back to the Charlotte days. While many people might be surprised by this recent surge, it should not come as a surprise at all to Hornet fans. Last year, the Hornets got off to a blazing start (9-3 or something) before injuries to their top 4 players (Peja Stojakovic, Chris Paul, David West, and Tyson Chandler) crushed their playoff hopes as they ended the season at 39-43. This year, they got off to that blazing start again...and have stayed healthy. The Hornets have an incredibly deep roster and one of the last 'high school to NBAers' Tyson Chandler is developing into and incredible force at center. CP3 is easily one of the (if not the) best PG in the West, Peja is continuing to hit his 3s, and David West another double-double machine at PF. Being able to call guys like Bobby Jackson and Jannero Pargo off the bench and watching them score in the double digits night after night is certainly a comforting thing for all Hornet fans. If this team stays healthy, the sky is the limit.

Not only do they look good next year, if they can keep the core of this team together, the Hornets will be force to be reckoned with for years to come. Chandler is 25, Chris Paul is 22, David West is 27 and even Peja isn't that old at 30 (it seems like he has been playing for years and years).

Chris Paul leading the Hornets up the court against the Bobcats on Jan. 18, 2008

I (and other PSUers down in New Orleans for the American Meteorological Society Conference) had the pleasure of attending a Hornets game on Friday (Jan 18). For me, this was incredibly exciting as I have never seen the Hornets play a home game. I have seen them play at Madison Square Garden and in New Jersey...I even saw their last game ever played as the Charlotte Hornets (they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Semis @NJ in 2002). Finally seeing them at home was a treat. Seeing them annihilate their former namesake, the Charlotte Bobcats, was even more entertaining.

The Hornets watching yet another basket go in during a 112-84 drubbing of the Bobcats

The beatdown got so bad that the Hornets barely played any starters (if any at all) during the 4th quarter and virtually turned the game into a slam dunk contest. While it has been smooth sailing for the Hornets of late (14 wins in their last 16 games including 6 in a row), they will be tested this weekend. On Saturday, they travel to division rival San Antonio for what promises to be an exciting game. After that, they have home dates against Denver and Golden State before traveling to face Utah and current Western #2, Phoenix.

Go Hornets. Keep it up.

(Knocking on wood to avoid jinxing them like I did earlier this season)

All Photos taken by me (E)