The Hornets were blasted by the Denver Nuggets in game 1 of their best of seven series. Chauncy Billups was lights out from behind the three point line, but that's not what lost this game for New Orleans, perimeter defense has been an issue all season but they still managed to win lots of games. What was the real deciding factor is how soft the Hornets players really are.

Tyson Chandler has a built in excuse with the ankle injury, however this is playoff basketball, the NBA and he's a professional, so it's time to suck it up and play like he is payed. I can't count the number of times he gave no effort on the defensive side and just opted to make bad and/or weak fouls instead of attempting to block or foul hard, which was unlike what the Nuggets big men did. He also gave very little effort in trying to grab offensive rebounds, it seemed as if every time a Hornets player took a jump shot both he a David West were already headed down the court as if the shot was guaranteed to fall.


the faces of New Orleans Hornets Devin Brown and Tyson Chandler tell the story of the loss on Sunday.

Speaking of David West, I can't recall him ever having as bad a game as he did  yesterday. Just like Chandler he played soft as if this was a powder puff league, which Denver proved otherwise. The Nuggets big men, both Nene and Chris Birdman Anderson played physical and with lots of energy.

Other than Chris Paul  and  Rasual Butler nobody on the Hornets starting five played like they thought they could win or even cared if they did. Which brings me to coach Byron Scott who I feel shares in some of the blame here. Scott is a good coach with bad habits and after five years as the Hornets coach it's become very evident he has no patience with young players. Both J.R. Smith and Birdman were once Hornets players and Smith was a very promising young prospect. His true reasons for being traded are very unclear, other than he had a real bad attitude.

Birdmans demise as a Hornets player is much clearer because after being suspended for violating the NBA's drug policy he seemed to lose the trust of his teamates upon his return. These aren't the only two young players Byron Scott seemed to have no patience with, there is also Dallas Mav's PF Brandon Bass. A local player who was very well liked by the fans, Bass has become a very productive player since joining the Mav's.

The new fan favorite (not including CP3 who could run for mayor of N.O. and win in a landslide) Julian Wright better known as JuJu brings an energy and hustle to the Hornets that is sorely lacking. Instead Scott chooses to relegate (until the game is out of reach) him to the bench in favor of the often hurt and certainly old washed up player in Peja Stojakovic. Since returning from yet another back injury, Peja hasn't been his normal three point shooting self.

If the Hornets are to make a series out of this and not be swept, then the whole philosophy and attitude of this team needs to change. They must become more physical and play with some energy. Tyson Chandler either needs to get nasty or sit the bench because he's a liability if not. David West needs to realize that the Nuggets aren't going to let him play as he did all season by running the pick and pop with Paul. When he does brings it to the hole he needs to bring some nastiness with him. Byron Scott needs to realize Peja isn't the same Peja he traded for, his injuries have taken a toll.

Until some changes are made then we'll see much of the same as lastnight, a frustrated Chris Paul that has no answer for a much hungrier looking Denver team.

Side note: I've been to Denver more than once, great city with some really nice people. However during last nights game some fans showed just how classless they can be. With about 40 seconds remaining in the game, a bottle of beer flew past the New Orleans bench and landed on the floor, the second incident of an object being thrown at the Hornets during the game.

Paul was hit in the face by a towel thrown from a fan at halftime. It's also worth noting that other Nuggets fans called out this classless fool to be removed from the building.