Anthony Davis.

Game Details

  • Tip Off: 7:30 PM PT
  • Television: CSN-BA

New Orleans Hornets Team Profile

  • Offensive Efficiency: 103.2 (tied for 14th in NBA)
  • Defensive Efficiency: 107.4 (28th in NBA)

Leaders

  • Points: Eric Gordon, 16.7 PPG
  • Rebounds: Anthony Davis, 8.0 RPG
  • Assists: Greivis Vasquez, 9.2 APG
  • Steals: Al-Farouq Aminu, 1.2 SPG
  • Blocks: Anthony Davis, 1.7 BPG
  • Field Goal Percentage: Robin Lopez, 53.4% FG
  • 3-Point Field Goal Percentage: Ryan Anderson, 38.9% 3PT FG

Scope the Opposition: Hornets 247.

Preview: There might not be a better time in the NBA season to look for truly professional athletes and teams.

With the end of the season nearing and multiple teams out of the playoff hunt, we now get a chance to watch teams go through the motions. For years, this was the case for the Golden State Warriors, but not in 2012-13.

Warriors fans now root for a winner.

The Dubs have not yet clinched a playoff spot but it’s practically a formality of sorts at this point in time. The Hornets on the other hand are where the Dubs have been as recently as last season.

They have a young team full of promise. A mix of veteran players coupled with younger ones that not only sell hope to fans but also look like a unit with serious growth potential.

Monty Williams probably doesn’t get enough credit for the job he’s done in New Orleans. His team is more often than not prepared for play and competes hard.

Despite facing an assortment of injuries throughout the season, the Nawlins group has always brought effort. That’s a great sign going forward for this unit.

They already have their franchise player and the core around him will develop at the same rate and give fans a team to root for in future seasons.

But until that time comes, this Hornets team must deal with the present.

They have eight games remaining on their schedule and it feels as though the Association knew something prior to the start of the season that we couldn’t possibly have foreseen. Indeed, five of their eight games are against teams in the Western Conference playoff race.

Here’s how their schedule breaks down:

  • April 3: at Golden State Warriors (currently sixth seed but has not clinched playoff spot)
  • April 5: at Utah Jazz (currently eighth seed but has not clinched playoff spot)
  • April7: at Phoenix Suns
  • April 9: at Los Angeles Lakers (currently ninth seed)
  • April 10: at Sacramento Kings
  • April 12: Los Angeles Clippers (clinched playoff spot but not seed)
  • April 14: Dallas Mavericks (currently 10th seed)
  • April 17: at Dallas Mavericks

In other words, the Hornets have one of two choices: serve as a red carpet for teams in the quest of a postseason berth or play spoiler and do their best to ensure some of these teams share their fate.

The natural thought process would have one believe that New Orleans will simply fold. Mind you, it’s worth pointing out they won three games in succession in late March against the Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets.

All of which are playoff teams.

Professionalism in this league can certainly take a team far. Let’s see how great of a distance it travels starting tonight at Oracle Arena.

Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them in the comments section or you can contact me by email at [email protected].