"It might be a gamble, but the decision could pay off hugely for the New Orleans Hornets if second-year guard Marcus Thornton can thrive coming off the bench along side Peja Stojakovic.

New Orleans' reserves, considered by many the weak link on this transformed roster, could be bolstered considerably by having two players who can score points in bunches coming into games this season off the bench.

In Saturday night's exhibition opener against the Memphis Grizzlies, it gave the Hornets their first opportunity to see what kind of punch Thornton – who last season set a team record for points in a quarter when he scored 23 in a game at Cleveland – and Stojakovic, one of the most feared shooters in the league, could provide.

And while Thornton (eight points on 2 of 12 shooting) and Stojakovic (scoreless in nine minutes) struggled, the possibilities remained potentially uplifting.

"Last year," Stojakovic said, "they gave me the same idea (of coming off the bench), and I don't have a problem with that. It's something new and it'll be a challenge. I'm ready to accept it and be as productive as I can. This is going to be up to us, how we're going to work, what kind of roles we're going to have. Coach is probably going to work on that and try to figure out where to play us in different positions and different lineups."

Yet while Coach Monty Williams said no lineup rotation is yet determined, he likes what he went with against the Grizzlies.

"I like Peja with Marcus," Williams said of his decision to start newly acquired off guard Marco Belinelli along with three-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul, leaving Thornton to come off the bench. "Chris can play with anybody. David (West) can play with anybody."