January 6
New Orleans Times-Picayune
"
Again it's those arrogant, talented guys bearing uniforms with an incongruous nickname, the club most Western Conference opponents love to dislike. For the hoping-to-contend Hornets, tonight's game at the Staples Center against the conference-leading Lakers, named when the team resided in Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes, provides the third test this season against the best not only in the West but, arguably, in the NBA. New Orleans has failed the first two exams at the New Orleans Arena, but the Hornets know precisely the reasons for their miserable efforts: The Lakers, led by defending league MVP Kobe Bryant, are loaded. "The better teams in this league have guys like (Pau) Gasol, who ..."
January 5
New Orleans Times-Picayune
"
He emerged from the outback and is a class of one, the only man from New Zealand to play in the NBA, all because of a 30-minute, once-weekly highlight show that brought the athletic spectacle of pro basketball to his television set. The Hornets' Sean Marks was drawn in by 1980s superstars such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, which caused him to eschew the scrums of his country's national sport for one with more grace and less grit. "Basketball is not a huge sport there," said the 6-foot-10 forward. "Kids are definitely excited about it, but it's a small country where rugby is definitely the main sport, and you've only got 4 million people in the country, and they really get behind ..."
January 4
New Orleans Times-Picayune
"
The NBA suspended Hornets center Tyson Chandler for Saturday night's game against the Nuggets for striking Portland backup center Joe Przybilla in the neck with an elbow during Friday's game at The Rose Garden. In addition, the league fined Przybilla $7,500 for his role in the incident, and he was assessed a Flagrant Foul One penalty for hitting Chandler with a forearm to the chest. Under league rules, Chandler was not allowed to travel with the team to Pepsi Center for the game. Hornets Coach Byron Scott said Chandler stayed behind at the team hotel. The confrontation began Friday night during the third quarter after Chandler slapped Przybilla's hand away. Przybilla responded by ..."
January 3
New Orleans Times-Picayune
"
With just more than six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Hornets starting center Tyson Chandler's night was finished. Just like last season when the Hornets lost their first game of the season at The Rose Garden, Chandler lost his composure and was ejected. This time it came after Chandler slapped Joel Pryzbilla's hand away from him. When Pryzbilla responded with an elbow, Chandler retaliated by throwing a punch. But the Hornets withstood not having Chandler with productive play from David West, James Posey, Chris Paul and Hilton Armstrong to carry them to a 92-77 victory Friday night. It was the first of a tough four-game road trip that resumes in Denver tonight. The Hornets ..."
January 2
New Orleans Times-Picayune
"
With a difficult four-game road trip starting tonight at Portland, Hornets center Tyson Chandler has been urged to play aggressively but stay out of foul trouble. Although Coach Byron Scott said solid performances must come from all of his players, he emphasized it for Chandler, who struggled in recent games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic. "Like I told Tyson, a couple of his fouls have been because of bad positioning," Scott said. "Guys all of a sudden catch him out of position and flash in front of him. Like many great defenders in our league, most of them think they c