Hornets Must Use Adversity To Their Advantage

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Published: March 26, 2011

It’s been arguably the most tumultuous season in Hornets in franchise history. So much has gone on in 2010/11, but it’s only when you list them all together that you realize just how insane this season really has been.

Chris Paul trade rumors – are we losing our star player?
New Rookie GM & Coach
Risk of losing team to another city, required to meet attendance benchmark
NBA taking over ownership
Chris Paul knee injury + widespread worry that he’ll never truly return ala B.Roy
Traded away fan favorite Marcus Thornton
And now David West’s Season ending ACL tear

This is obviously an excessive amount of disruption and adversity for one team to deal with in a single season. Despite all that however, the resilient Hornets have a 42-31 record, are sitting in the 7th spot in the west and look likely to figure in playoff action.

The Hornet must use this adversity as motivation. They need to have the mentality of: “Yes, all this s**t has happened, but we are still standing”. Instead of letting their trails and tribulations hurt them, they must embrace them. Instead of scuttling off the floor in the playoffs with their tails between their legs due to adversity overload, they must use it to fuel their fire.

At the start of the season in Cleveland, the Cavs got off to a 7-9 start which was much better than what anyone expected of them. Despite having one of the least talented teams in the league they were competing above most peoples expectations. Ofcourse, eventually that “us against the world” mentality wore off and the depression of the post-Lebron era took it place. While in a different situation, the Hornets face the same principle, needing to using adversity to ones advantage. The Hornets, however, aren’t lacking in talent like Cleveland and with the playoffs fast approaching, there should be no lack of motivation to keep the “us against the world” mentality.

Despite not having West in uniform, the Hornets still have what it takes to make post season noise. When the Hornets are firing on all cylinders, there’s something scary about them, and I mean scary good. When Paul is driving and dishing, Okafor is clogging the lane, Landry is hustling, Ariza is shutting down his man, Belinelli is knocking down treys, this isn’t an easy team to beat, West or no West. Yes, no West makes the task a much tougher one, but if the Hornets come to play and show enough heart they are still capable of achieving something special.  

Not to mention if the Hornets can achieve success in the post season, it will be even sweeter after all the front office, players and fans have gone through this season.

The Hornets have surprised before. They surprised in 07/08. They surprised this regular season. It’s time to surprise once again this post season.

4 Comments

  1. Pingback: Swarmin’ The Links 27/03: Los Angeles Lakers Await Hornets In First Round « Swarm & Sting | A New Orleans Hornets Blog

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