It’s no secret now that people know the Hornets are for real, both locally and nationally. Locally, people are enthusiastic and amped that they’re hearing the words New Orleans and 1st place in the same breath. Nationally, analysts and coaches alike are giving the bees their due respect. The question remains, however: Are Hornets’ fans grasping the significance of the situation yet? Has it really hit everyone?
Many people have often described New Orleans and Southern Louisiana as “football country.” Even when New Orleans was making a push to land the Hornets back in 2001, detractors were saying, “they won’t succeed here” “this isn’t a basketball town.” It appears now that those detractors are being proven wrong.
Nothing against the Saints, I’m a die hard and always will be; but there currently should be many more people on the Hornets’ bandwagon than were on that thing Coach Payton had constructed and tactfully placed in the Saints indoor practice facility. Bandwagon is often used as a term to describe fickle fans; but in this case the bandwagon is the first step in establishing fan loyalty to a team that, before this season, had not truly experienced it.
The Hornets’ success developed so quickly that it has left fans in a near state of shock. It seemed as though one minute we were rooting half-heartedly for a team that was halfway across the country; the next minute the team is back home and off to one of the best starts in franchise history. Then, all of a sudden, we have the best record in the conference at the All Star break, at which point fans finally seemed to realize, “hey our team’s pretty good, why don’t we start showing up at the arena to see them play?” Consequently, the Hornets won 12 out of their next 14 home games and, despite losing it shortly after the break, once again own the best record in the conference.
The whirlwind/shock & awe manner in which the Hornets have found their stride is pertinent because it has left fans unaware of the broad significance of their situation, a situation that we, as New Orleans sports fans, must relish in (we know all to well that we have not been in this situation very often at all, if ever). If it helps to understand it, the 2006 Saints were the only New Orleans team to even approach the type of success the Hornets are currently having.
But, even they didn’t have the complete personnel package or regular season success that the Hornets currently have. The Hornets have a frontrunner for the MVP award in Chris Paul, who is also on the verge of completing one of the best seasons for a point guard in NBA history. They also have a supporting cast that not only compliments him extremely well, but consistently steps up in key situations. Not to mention, this New Orleans team can actually play defense.
The fact of the matter is that the Hornets are entering unfamiliar territory for a professional franchise in the Big Easy. With 10 games remaining they have a good chance of finishing the season atop their conference, which would grant them home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, something a New Orelans sports franchise has not previously experienced. They have consistently performed well against the very best the NBA has to offer, having beaten all top 5 teams from the West and best team from East. The Hornets have great potential to make a deep run in the playoffs and possibly bring a championship to the Crescent City.
I know what you’re thinking. Nothing, short of a Super Bowl, could be better than the Saints run of 2006; but, to put it in perspective, this could be. Hornets’ fans, new or old, should take a step back to take in the situation because one day everyone will look back and realize it was one of the best in New Orleans sports history.
