Swarmin’ The Links 27/03: Los Angeles Lakers Await Hornets In First Round

The playoffs are around the corner, and Chris Paul has to get there by himself

Well it appears that a potential matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round is inevitable for the New Orleans Hornets. Today’s game will be a preview of what is to come, but down David West the Hornets are going to be very susceptible along the front-line. So instead of dwelling on the beat-down that will be, let’s fire some links at you.

• Trevor Ariza returns home to Los Angeles where he played High School basketball (and played for the Lakers, winning a ring). He has fond memories and it’s a good read.
• A fantasy take for all those out there one who you should pick up, Emeka Okafor or Trevor Ariza?
• Phil Jackson opened his big ‘ole yap again to tell it how it is. He dislikes the Kings move to Anaheim and had yet another snark remark about the New Orleans Hornets…

Jackson envisioned a scenario in which the vote would be split and ultimately decided by what direction the New Orleans Hornets lean. The Hornets, of course, were purchased by the NBA in late December from majority owner George Shinn and minority owner Gary Chouest in hopes that the league could find them a new ownership group.

“What does the league feel about it?” Jackson said. “How is New Orleans going to vote?”

League-appointed Hornets governor Jac Sperling will cast New Orleans’ vote.

• Tom Ziller on SB Nation addresses how the Hornets will fill the production left by David West at the power-forward position. It’s a nice short read that looks at varying rotations (such as small-ball lineups etc).
• Oklahoma City wants the Hornets in the first round. The article is a decent read assessing how teams (like NOLA) could move up into the fifth spot, but it does a terrible job of explaining why the Thunder would want the matchup other than just the fact David West is injured. Sure the Hornets best scorer is gone, but that’s not a big reason to think the Hornets don’t match up well against the Thunder.
• Aussie_Hornet writes that the Hornets should use this adversity to their advantage, us Australians think a like.

So boys and girls those are your links, our schedule is looking more daunting than ever, brace for impact against these Lakers…