That's Going to Sting

Can New Orleans catch a break?

Everything was going so well. The Saints have had a magical run to the Super Bowl, the Colts best defensive player is very questionable for Sunday's game and people are talking about the city again without thinking of devastation.

But apparently the universe needed to drop a reality check on Who Dat Nation and make sure the city's All-Star point guard sits out the next couple of months on the sidelines. This of course comes after the universe teased Hornets fans by having them play their way back into the No. 8 seed after being in the basement of the conference.

So what should Hornets fans expect now that Chris Paul can no longer carry the weight of the team with a meniscus tear in his left knee?

To put it into current terms: The exact opposite of what the city's football team did.

Optimists will point to rookie point guard Darren Collision. The young, standout guard has had a great season and led the team to a 4-4 record while averaging 15.1 points and 7.7 assists per game when he started in place of Paul earlier in the season.

But when you compare that record to the 13 victories Paul has led the Hornets to in their last 17 games, it no longer seems so impressive. Add to that the Hornets just dumped a serviceable guard in Devin Brown for a scrub center in Aaron Gray and now the team is looking at some serious problems.

The Hornets now only have one true point guard in Collison with 6'7" Morris Peterson and rookie Marcus Thornton serving as backups.

Clearly it's decision time for the Hornets.

They worked hard to get into the eighth seed and it would be sad to watch them squander all hope, but if they don't make a trade, that is exactly what they are doing. If the Hornets want to make a push for the playoffs, they have two trade pieces on their roster:

James Posey and Julian Wright.

No one would want Stojakovic's $13 million contract and David West to good to let go. But Wright has upside and Posey is a good pickup at $6 million for the defense and outside threat he brings.

There are a few guards the Hornets could push for. Kyle Lowry, Steve Blake and Jason Williams are some that come to mind. Williams has been playing especially well for the Magic this season, but with the team missing that spark, a trade may be in the works.

Lowry is a good player stuck behind a better one and Blake is becoming more and more of an afterthought in Portland with Miller's stellar play recently and Jerryd Bayless' continuing improvement.

Unfortunately, there is no easy answer or move for the Hornets to make here, but staying stagnant would drop them out of the playoffs after all the hard work they put in to get back.

Hey, but who am I to rain on a New Orleans parade — that city has a Super Bowl to bring home.