It's no question that the Hornets have been a big surprise this NBA season. Chris Paul is continuing to lap the field as frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year. The Jason Kidd-like abilities (16.3 ppg, 7.8 apg, 5.7 rpg) of the point guard have coach Byron Scott reliving some of the better times in New Jersey.
However, this news of success has a bittersweet taste written all over it. While the stingers have seemingly returned to the franchise for the first time since moving to the Western Conference, the nest isn't in its usual location. Mother Nature played the exterminator when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans last September, sending its pro sports teams into upheaval.
Oklahoma City opened up its doors to the idea of hosting an NBA organization. Even with a quick notice, the Ford Center has averaged well over 18,000 fans for each Hornets game. That's a 34% (or 4,700 person) increase from the first 21 home contests in '04-'05.
Sure, a lot of it has to do with the novelty factors for this certain situation (i.e. no history of pro sports, a more competitive team, a larger capacity arena, etc.). However, this season, seats are being filled at about a 95% rate, compared to around 84% in the team's first season in the Big Easy three years ago.
This all may be good news to Hornets officials, but that air can't be shared right now by some people who really need it — the residents of New Orleans. The justice scales aren't tipping in their direction. For example, let's take a look back earlier in the year. The squad had planned to play six games in Baton Rouge this season, but things went (even further) south fairly quickly.
After shabby attendance during their December 16th loss to Phoenix, Scott talked to the uppers about shifting more of the scheduled Louisiana games back to Oklahoma. Then, he had the nerve to say to the press that there would be understanding because he didn't "think the fan base is there right now for (the) basketball team."
Listen, I know that you are trying to conduct business as normal and keep your squad in the playoff hunt. However, you also have to know the situation, coach. The people of New Orleans needed to have something to look forward to sports-wise. There were no football games to speak of. The Saints were a whirling dervish, Tulane played every contest on the road, the Sugar Bowl ended up in Atlanta, and no bands from Grambling or Southern got to play in the Bayou.
The Green Wave and other city college basketball teams are showing the way as they have taken back their home courts, and, hopefully, the Hornets can now keep their promise to play at New Orleans Arena for three scheduled dates in March. What about the next 12-15 months, though?
The Saints are looking to get back home for the upcoming NFL season, but there's still no word on whether the Superdome will be ready in time. And the Hornets have already agreed to play most of the '06-'07 season in Oklahoma City, with only six contests scheduled for the Big Easy.
It's been a rough few months for a city that's provided a lot of us with a good time. Maybe they can take some solace in knowing one of their symbols is hanging in. And possibly the Hornets could give to those devoted fans by taking a sooner rather than later approach to playing amongst the partygoers.
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