The New Orleans Hornets left their March 18 showdown against the Denver Nuggets as losers of eight straight games as they fell victim to a 109-94 loss. The Hornets’ 32-33 record (after a win against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday) lags behind the Kings’ for the final Western Conference playoff spot.
Rookie sensation Chris Paul and forwards Rasual Butler and Linton Johnson III of the Hornets spoke to The Maroon about the losing funk they’re mired in and New Orleans.
Chris PaulPoint guard Chris Paul is the front-runner for this season’s NBA Rookie of the Year. He averages 16.2 points and eight assists per game.
MAROON: What does this losing streak do to you as a competitor?
CP: It hurts. I’ve never experienced anything like this. You try to get it fixed as quickly as you can. It’s just not happening for us right now.
Rasual ButlerSmall forward Rasual Butler started his first game for the Hornets (replacing injured starter Desmond Mason) against the Denver Nuggets. He performed sluggishly, scoring four points.
M: What’s the hardest part of this losing skid?
RB: Losing our playoff position. All we’ve focused on is trying to get ourselves back in the hunt. That’s what we wanted most from tonight.
M: Do you approach your role in a game – in terms of intensity and shooting – differently as a starter?
RB: A little different. Unfortunately for me, I had a tough offensive night. You’re going to have off-nights in this league – it’s a long season. Unfortunately, it’ll be magnified because it was my first start this season and for this team.
M: You’re one of the few whose gone on record and stated that you believe New Orleans deserves a chance at its team again. Do you look forward to returning in 2007-08?
RB: It’s a great city to live in. I would love to be re-signed (contract expires after 2006-07) and see what this city is about. I’ve heard it’s a world-class life here. I haven’t had the chance to get to know it yet, and I’m anxious to do that.
Linton Johnson IIILinton Johnson III, former standout for the Tulane Green Wave, had the tall order of coming off the bench and defending superstar Carmelo Anthony (who scored as many points as the entire Hornets starting lineup did in the first quarter). He hit a 3-pointer and scored 11 points before fouling out.
Johnson won an NBA championship last season with the San Antonio Spurs and entered the league as an undrafted free agent after earning a finance degree at Tulane.
M: How’s it like playing professionally for the city of your college life?
LJ: It’s shocking. My plan to make it into the league was to finish my fifth year at school, and then I’d joke that I’d try out for the Hornets. It’s very rare to enter undrafted like that, but everyone has dreams. I was shown nothing but love when I went to school here. I just am glad I’m in a position to help. I accomplished one goal by winning an NBA championship; now I’ve accomplished another by playing for New Orleans.
M: Where was your favorite after-school, after-practice hangout?
LJ: The Boot, baby! It was my spot freshman year. No matter what I did, I always ended up there.
M: Did you look forward to playing Loyola?
LJ: Oh yeah. We wouldn’t play them; we’d kill them. It was like, whenever we needed our confidence up, we could count on them. We’d be excited, we’d be like, ‘Time to get our averages up!’
Ramon Vargas can be reached at [email protected].
