2008 Outlook

The New Orleans struggled for the three previous season, but broke out to take the first place in the Southwest Division and second seed in the challenging Western Conference. The team rode the incredible play of point guard Chris Paul to a 56-26 record. Paul, in only his second year, averaged over 20 points and 10 assists. His deep penetration into the lane sets up Peja Stojakovic and Morris Peterson for the outside shot or David West and Tyson Chandler for thunderous dunks. The team played tough defense on the way to the turn around season.

Team History

The New Orleans Hornets started out in Charlotte as an NBA expansion team in 1988. The first years were tough as the club spent four years in the cellar, but the addition of Larry Johnson in 1991 and Alonzo Mourning 1992 created a talented young roster that made the playoffs for the first time in Mourning’s second season.

Those teams had problems though, failing to make it past the Conference Semifinals and losing in the first round five times. The Hornets tried to improve there team several times over that period, trading All Star guard Glen Rice and power forward Anthony Mason. With talent like Eddie Jones, Elden Campbell, Derrick Coleman, Baron Davis, Jamal Mashburn, and P.J. Brown the Hornets remained competitive, but could not sustain deep playoff runs.

The Hornets traded Mourning in the offseason and acquired Glen Rice, Matt Geiger, and Khalid Reeves. The team struggled in the 1993-94 season to play together and missed the playoffs. The next season began the next season with newly acquired Anthony Mason and Vlade Divac. The 1994-95 season began a run of eight playoff appearances in ten years.

Those teams had problems though, failing to make it past the Conference Semifinals and losing in the first round five times. The Hornets tried to improve there team several times over that period, trading All Star guard Glen Rice and power forward Anthony Mason. With talent like Eddie Jones, Elden Campbell, Derrick Coleman, Baron Davis, Jamal Mashburn, and P.J. Brown the Hornets remained competitive, but could not sustain deep playoff runs.

The Hornets could keep the attendance up despite consistently making the playoffs and moved to New Orleans in 2002. The move did bring success on the court, as the Hornets waded through a rebuilding effort and through Hurricane Katrina’s ravaging of New Orleans. The team found a new point guard in Chris Paul, a good coach in Byron Scott, and key additions in Tyson Chandler, David West, and Peja Stojakovic to field one of the best young teams in the league playing in a new home, New Orleans Arena. See the non-stop action live with New Orleans tickets from The Seats, the best Internet resource for tickets.