Man, I'm pumped.

The Hornets get the real season rolling this evening when they take on the Sacramento Kings at the Arena in sweet home New Orleans. Methinks it's gonna be the best damn game of basketball in the history of the universe.

There's already been a bunch of previews done elsewhere for this game, so I won't be staying long. Here's just a few things worth noting…

• The Hornets look to be at full health save for David West's left ankle. He seems confident that he can play this evening, but Byron might sit him just to be safe. If West does take the night off, Ryan Bowen could start at the 4.
• As for the Kings, they're pretty depleted. Mike Bibby (purple-nurple), Ron Artest (suspension) and rookie Spencer Hawes (too tall) are all out. Also, Brad Miller was suffering from a back strain, but it says here that he practiced yesterday and should play today.
• The Kings are led by first-year coach Reggie Theus who inspires players and fans alike by saying stuff like this…

  "There's really only one way to play the game, and that's up and down."

  Something only a former NBA player could know.

• Theus replaces Eric Musselman, who lasted just one season as head coach in Sacto. He managed a 33-49 record with the Kings last year, including a 1-3 record against the Hornets.
• The Kings were 3-5 in the preseason.
• As Ryan Schwan points out in his game preview, Kevin Martin is the main man in Sacramento right now. The 24-year old averaged 20.2 points and 4.3 rebounds last season and was rewarded with a five-year, $55m contract last summer. You could buy a lot of seat belts with that kind of money.
• Check the HR boards to find out how you can listen to and watch Hornets vs. Kings online this evening.
• David Stern will be in attendance this evening, most likely not in costume. Right about the time I'm writing this, he's making official announcement regarding the NBA's initiative to perform more than 30,000 hours of hands-on community service in New Orleans over the course of the season. Right on.

Game time this evening is set for7pm Central. I'm thinking that there's no way the Hornets can lose this one. They have a team at close to full strength, facing a crippled opponent, in a city that's bound to be rocking. Then again, anything can happen in the NBA. I hope I'm back here tomorrow writing about Peja's 40-points, Tyson's 20 rebounds and Chris Paul's triple-dip.

Oh, and a W.

… 

Bonus linkage:

• Sactown Royalty
  
• AP Game preview
• Kings preseason stats
  
• YouTube: Kevin Martin mix