Historical Moments:
2002/03: Almost 25 years after the Jazz left for Utah the NBA returned to New Orleans as the Hornets dissatisfied with Charlotte
moved to the Crescent City. Ironically when the Hornets played their first
game in New Orleans on October 30th their opponents were the Utah Jazz. With
Baron Davis scoring 21 points with 10 rebounds it would be a successful debut
for the Hornets who won 100-75. The Hornets took a quick liking to their new
surrounding as they won their first 10 games at home on the way to a 16-7 start.
However the Hornets would be slowed by a midseason injury to Baron Davis as they
went 3-13 from mid December to mid January. At the trade deadline the Hornets
would acquire Kenny Anderson from the Seattle Supersonics to help take pressure
off Davis who was hampered all season with a back injury. With the added help
the Hornets were able to end the season on a strong note winning 7 of their
last 10 on the way to finishing in 2nd place with a strong record of 47-35. However,
just as the playoffs were starting Baron Davis back would act up again. Making
matters worse Jamal Mashburn would suffer a dislocated finger in Game 2,
as the Philadelphia 76ers raced out to a 3-1 series lead. The Hornets would force
a 6th game, but in the end the injuries to Davis and Mashburn who played but
were clearly not a 100% would take their toll as the 76ers won in 6 games. After
the season the Hornets would stun their fans and most experts by firing Coach
Paul Silas.
2003/04: In their second season under new Coach Tim Floyd the Hornets got off to a string
start despite missing Jamal Mashburn for the first 44 games, as they won 9 of their
first 12 games. The Hornets continued to play good ball for most of the first
half as they held a 20-12 record at the end of December. However as the New
Year began the Hornets began to struggle as they posted a losing record in January
and only managed to play .500 ball in February. The Hornets struggles would
take a turn for the worse in March as Mashburn who played in just 19 games was
reinjured while the Hornets won just 5 of 16 games. The Hornets would rebound
in April winning 4 of 7 as they made the playoffs, while finishing in 3rd place
with a 41-41 record. In the playoffs the Hornets would face the Miami Heat, where
they would find themselves in an early hole losing the first 2 games on the
road. However as the series shifted to New Orleans the Hornets would rebound
winning both led by the strong play of Baron Davis. After losing Game 5 in Miami
the Hornets again won at home to send the series to a 7th game. However the trend
continued with the home team winning every game as the Heat advanced to the
2nd round with an 85-77 win. Following the season the Hornets would make another
change at the top as Tim Floyd was fired after just one season as coach being
replaced by Byron Scott, as the Hornets were relocated to the Southwest Division
in the Western Conference as the NBA realigned.
2004/05: As the Hornets moved to the Southwest Division in the Western Conference they had
a Coach Byron Scott at the helm, but were already hurting as Jamal Mashburn was
out for the whole season, and possibly leaning toward retirement. To say the
Hornets got off to a slow start would be an understatement as they lost their first
8 games on the way to a horrendous 1-19 start topped with a loss to the expansion
Charlotte Bobcats. The losing would continue well into January as they
were 3-29 on January 8th. The Hornets would not be as bad the rest of the way as
they retooled their roster trading Baron Davis to the Golden State Warriors for
Speedy Claxton, while giving young players like Rookie J.R. Smith loads of playing
time, as they ended the season in last place with a 18-64 record.
2005/06: Even before the Hornets reported to training camp their lives and the future were
thrown up into the air as was the rest of the City of New Orleans when Hurricane
Katrina left the low lying city flooded, in the worst Natural Disaster in US
History. With the New Orleans Arena partly damaged and the city's infrastructure
in need of repair the Hornets would sign a deal to play most of their games
in Oklahoma City, becoming the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets for the season.
In Oklahoma City the Hornets would be welcomed with open arms as they enjoyed
sell out crowds at the Ford Center. With the addition of Chris Paul was picked
with the 4th overall pick the Hornets were clearly a much better team then they
were the year before as they started the season with a 93-67 win against the
Sacramento Kings, as the played .500 ball the first month of the season. After
struggling with a 5-10 December the Hornets came out strong in the New Year climbing
above .500 and into playoff contention with winning records in January and
February despite losing Chris Andersen to a two year suspension for illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, Rookie Point Guard Chris Paul showed the poise and play making
skills of a veteran finishing second in steals and seventh in assists as he posted
a terrific 3.34 assist to turnover ration, while leading all rookies with
16.1 ppg. On March 8th the Hornets returned to New Orleans with a near sell out
crowd on hand to watch the Hornets lose to the Los Angeles Lakers 113-107, as
March saw the Hornets hit a wall and go into a tail spin winning just 3 of 14 games.
The Hornets who played 6 of their last 12 home games in New Orleans would
go on to finish in 4th place with a 38-44 record, as Paul was named Rookie of
the Year.
2006/07: With New Orleans still not fully recovered from Hurricane Katrina the Hornets decided
to stay in Oklahoma City another season, playing six games in New Orleans,
as they promised to return fulltime to the crescent city in the 2007/08 season,
as they were awarded the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. The Hornets would start there
second season in Oklahoma City on fire winning their first four games. However,
the inconsistency that would plague them all season showed its head early as
they lost their next three games. After winning another four in a row the Hornets
again lost five in a row. Things would get tougher in December as injuries
to key players like Chris Paul had the Hornets struggling all month as they entered
the New Year with a record of 12-18. Chris Paul would return in February but
the Hornets were in a big hole, as winning 9 of 13 games would only lift the
Hornets to 28-30, as the playoffs were still out of reach. The Hornets would once
again struggle in March as their playoff hopes were all but erased with a six
game losing streak. They would go on to finish the season with a 39-43 record.
2007/08: After spending much of two seasons in Oklahoma City, the Hornets returned to New
Orleans full-time. On the court there were no major changes, other then the addition
of Morris Peterson. However, in the year the Hornets were too host the All-Star
Game, no star shined brighter then Chris Paul, who became the elite point
guard in the NBA with 19.7 ppg, and 11.9 assists per game, as the Hornets came
flying out of the gate with a 20-11 record in the first two months. The Hornets
would play even better in the New Year, posting a 12-2 record, as they were
the best team in the Western Conference at the All-Star Break, with Coach Byron
Nelson coaching the Western All-Stars at New Orleans Arena. Down the stretch the
Hornets made a trade at the deadline acquiring Bonzi Wells and Mike James, from
the Houston Rockets for Bobby Jackson. The Hornets continued to play solid
basketball in the second half as they battled for the top overall seed in the West.
In the end the Hornets would settle for second overall, as they won their
first ever division title, with a franchise best record of 56-26. For his strong
season, and the Hornets resurgence, Chris Paul would finish second in MVP voting,
while Byron Scott was named Coach of the Year. Facing the playoff tested Dallas
Mavericks in the first round; the Hornets won the first two games surprisingly
easily as Chris Paul and 35 points and 10 assists in Game 1, and added 32
points with 17 assists in Game 2. After dropping Game 3 in Dallas, the Hornets
won their first game in Dallas in a decade as David West scored 24 points with
9 rebounds to lead the Hornets to a 97-84 win to take a 3-1 series lead. The Hornets
would go on to close the series in five games with a 99-94 win. In the second
round the Hornets faced the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, who they
battled all season for the Southwest Division Championship. As they had against
the Mavericks, the Hornets won the first two games at home, as David West scored
30 in Game 1, while Chris Paul scored 30 in Game 2. However, when the series
shifted to San Antonito the Spurs showed their championship resolve winning
the next two games to even the series. Back in New Orleans for Game 5, the Hornets
regained control of the series behind David West who scored 38 points, with
14 rebound, and 5 assists to lead the Hornets to a 101-79 win. After losing Game
6 in San Antonito, the Hornets needed just another home win to advance to the
Western Conference Finals. However, beating the champions was easier said then
done, as the Spurs took control of the game early and never looked back eliminating
the Hornets with a 91-82 victory.
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