So it looks like Tyson Chandler is the popular pick as Hornets MVP this season. Thanks to everyone for your comments on that one. We'll keep it rolling with some contenders for Game of the Year.
So, in which of the 82 this season do you think the team played their best? Which game made you most proud to be a Hornets fan? Which result had you running down the street in an alcohol-enhanched state of bliss, wearing only your teal body paint and Marc Jackson's game-worn headband, lungs pouring out something that sounded like Tina Turner's best?
Or was that just me?
- Nov 5th vs. Houston: The home opener in New Orleans, and the Hornets improved to 3-0 with a 96-90 over their divison rivals. Everyone filled their role to perfection: D-West scored (22 points), CP dished (16 dimes), Tyson took care of the boards (11 rebounds), Peja knocked down 5-of-8 from deep, and the bench chipped in with 30 points. Hannibal always loved it when a plan came together.
- Nov 15th @ Detroit: The Hornets were playing the second game of a back-to-back, on the road, against a team that would finish as the top seed in the East. Byron Scott started Brandon Bass and Hilton Armstrong, and gave Cedric Simmons 19 minutes of burn off the bench. Despite all that, the Hornets prevailed, 100-99, thanks largely to young Hilt the Stilt having himself a night to remember.
- Nov 21st vs. Miami: Shaq may have been chilling, but beating the defending champs by 15 points and improving to a fabulous 8-3 on the season was just way fucking cool. Byron Scott was so euphoric that he gave everyone in uniform some PT.
- Jan 12th vs. Washington: With Chris Paul, David West and the bearded foreign guy all out with injuries, the Hornets had snapped a five-game losing streak two days earlier in Atlanta. However, these Wizards were a Playoff-bound ballclub boasting a pair of All-Stars. Seven Hornets saw action, six scored in double figures, and Darnell Mayberry's favorite team left Oklahoma City with a stinging defeat.
- Jan 20th vs. Lakers: The Lakers came to OKC with a nice and shiny 26-14 record. Rasual Butler, Devin Brown et al held Kobe Bryant to 23 points, while David West went off for 26 and 12 in just his second game back from injury. It all added up to a 113-103 Hornets victory.
- Feb 7th @ Denver: Desmond Mason was the hero in this one, sticking back a Chris Paul misfire as the clock expired in overtime. The bucket gave Mason 23 points and the Hornets the unlikely W. What made this one even sweeter was JR Smith playing his first game against his former team and shooting just 3-of-13 from the field. All in all, a good day in the life of me.
- Feb 21st @ New Jersey: The Hornets were down by seven with nine minutes left, but poured in 27 points thereafter to beat the Nets 111-107. We might have had a blowout win if not for Vince Carter going off for 46 points. David West was nice with 32 points of his own. The dub put the Hornets within three games of .500 and into a tie with the Gun Shot Wounds for the eighth and final Playoff spot.
- Mar 25th vs. Houston: The Hornets were suffering through a brutal month and had the Rockets, Mavs and Spurs all lined up next. The Rocks came to town with a five game winning streak, a 44-25 record, and a big tall Chinese dude. Chris Paul poured in 28 points and Tyson Chandler held the aforementioned big tall Chinese dude in check, as the Hornets came away with a 106-94 win.
- Apr 10th vs. Clippers: It was an absolute must-win for the Hornets, and they delivered with a 103-100 overtime victory against a Clipper team who were also fighting for their Playoff lives. Seven of David West's 33 came in the extra session, Devin Brown chipped in with perhaps his best game of the season (25 points, 9 boards) and Chris Paul was three rebounds shy of a triple double. We lived to fight another day.
That's it. Go duke it out in the comments. If there's any game you think we missed, feel free to suggest that one, too.
(Also, Clark Matthews posted his own awards over at HornetsCentral.com, so go check them out.)