Byron Scott, coach of the New Orleans Hornets, had asked Chris Paul to evaluate the Hornets’ second season, and Paul, a star point guard, began talking about goals that were or weren’t achieved. The point he made was that the Hornets didn’t make the playoffs.
In the last two years, the Hornets played most of their home games in Oklahoma City, but failed to make the postseason, being eliminated from playoff contention in the final weeks of both years.
In Paul’s rookie year, when he won Rookie of the Year, the Hornets didn’t know what to expect after an 18-win season and then suddenly moving to Oklahoma after Hurricane Katrina hit. Under those circumstances, they were happy to win 38 games.
However, expectations this season were different after the Hornets acquired Peja Stojakovic, Tyson Chandler and Bobby Jackson in the offseason. However, the Hornets won just one more game than the previous season.
Scott said he was happy with the way his team played considering the injuries, but was disappointed they didn’t make the playoffs.
All five starters have undergone surgery since the start of the season. Chandler was the last to undergo surgery to repair an injury to the big toe of his left foot. He missed the last seven games of the regular season. While Paul had a screw inserted in his left foot to help heal a stress reaction.
In early April 2007, Desmond Mason underwent surgery after breaking bones in his nose and cheek. In December 2006, David West underwent surgery on his right elbow and Stojakovic had a fragmented disc removed from his lower back.
When West, Paul and Stojakovic were out with injuries, the Hornets finished 4-19. Paul was out for a month, West for two and Stojakovic for six.
However, after the All-Star break, the Hornets moved into the top eight in the Western Conference, but were unable to keep up the momentum. They lost six games in a row in early March. This ended the Hornets’ search for a playoff opportunity. They finished three games behind the Golden State Warriors for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.