The Hornets better watch out.

All three teams who were down 2-0 won last night. Washington and Toronto did it at home. Houston took a rare one on the road in Utah (but then, Utah had already won a rare two on the road in Houston, so it’s proving to be a weird series). The Hornets have looked impressive in the first two games in the series, but tonight is going to be huge. If Dallas takes one back, it’s a new series.

We’re going to find out who this team is tonight.

Speaking of this team, has anyone noticed that ESPN has been dispensing mad Hornet love lately?

* This article finally praised the Hornets, maybe overmuch, calling them “the most complete team left in the NBA.”

* John Hollinger gives the team almost daily attention.

* David West, Chris Paul, and Josh Howard talk about the influence of their shared college coach, the late Skip Prosser.

Meanwhile, the good ol’ boys who “played in the ’80’s, man” on TNT keep talking Mavs, Mavs, Mavs. Charles Barkley jumped on the CP3 bandwagon briefly a couple of weeks back, then promptly changed his mind and jumped back off. Never mind his ignorant “the Hornets play in a mausoleum” comment, which by the way, was immortalized by our favorite hometown signmakers, Apple and Larry, at the Arena.

So we’ve got the beginning signs of ESPN playing themselves off the $#*t List. And we’ve got TNT sinking deeper and deeper into the mire of Hornets hate…

Speaking of crowds, who caught the Toronto game? Wow. They’re so coordinated. Not only did they manage to all be wearing the proper color t-shirt, but they managed to coherently sing an entire “Ole.” The Hornets crowd is like a disorganized mob in comparison. It’s loud… but it needs work on its cheer coordination.

Finally, there’s a watch party tonight starting at 6:30 at Gordon Biersch, which is sort of the Official Bar of the New Orleans Hornets– if you didn’t know, they broadcast the Hornets postgame call-in show from G.B. after games, plus there’s a discount if you bring your program. You can also ask Joe Block a question on the air. I’m sort of ambivalent on watch parties, since the Hornets are 0-4 this year in games with an official watch party. I don’t know if it’s a good idea to drag my superstitious ass down there.

But then again, everything starts fresh in the playoffs! You should come on down and say hi. I’ll be the one wearing who’s a girl.

The Hornets website broke out some new wallpapers today for the playoffs. (What? You needed a reason other than ME ON THE FRONT PAGE to visit their site? We are not speaking.) They have this one, and one for each of the five starters. I’d totally snag one, if not for the fact that my desktop is Tyson Chandler doing the Birdman in his Southwest Division Champions t-shirt. And well. Y’all know how I feel about Tyson.

Also, don’t forget the pep rally from 6-9 PM tonight on Fulton St. This blog will be there!

Now that’s some hot 5:00 shadow action… Is it me, or does the Peja Stojakovic bobblehead look remarkably like Peja? This thing kills me.

The only thing I find to criticize about it is… why is it running? For a guy whose sole job on offense consists of planting himself in his special magic spot in the corner outside the 3 point line, it’s just funny. They should have made it with its arms stretched over its head, looking down to check its feet.

The PejaHead: Tonight only at New Orleans Arena!

Also featuring: $1 beers outside starting at 5:30, the Free Agent Brass Band, and the Utah Jazz’ abysmal 16-22 road record.

I would give you a photo of what the CP3 for MVP t-shirt giveaway looks like, but that thing is so X-Large that if I put it back on, I’m not sure I’ll be able to find my way out of it again… I kid, I kid. That’s it on the left.

We were also (barely) able to score our Chris Paul bobbleheads. They passed out cards with “CP3 MVP” on one side and “GEAUX HORNETS” on the other. I thought they could have done a better job of coordinating that stuff via the PA announcer, but whatever. The fans more or less did all right with it. Chris Paul’s bobblehead doesn’t really look like Chris Paul, but it does have one yellow bracelet and one white. Cute! Just like the real Chris Paul.

As for the game, let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up:

Ric Flair was there to personally do the “WHOO!” Hornets fell behind early, then blasted their way through the 2nd quarter to take the lead. Hornets and Warriors exchanged runs throughout the second half. CP3 had a triple double on national TV, and really, though it was a rather quiet game for him (SEE? HOW SPOILED ARE WE??? You want to trade your guy’s night for our guy’s quiet 16 pts, 13 ast, 10 reb, and 5 steals? Oh, too bad. You can’t have him), might have just sealed up the MVP right there. Jannero Pargo took over the 2nd quarter and scored 15 points off the bench. David West started out limited but finished strong. Bonzi Wells lounged on the bench and drank Red Bull, while still managing to be great in that strange Bonzi way. Peja was Peja. Hornets rolled 108-96, picking up win #54 and a 2 game cushion for the #1 seed in the West.

Notes on ABC’s coverage:

We DVRed this game just because we had to see for ourselves whether any shitlistings would be imminent. But it’s okay, ABC’s safe. It was probably some of the nicest coverage the Hornets have had recently. (And you think by “nicest,” I mean they talked about us the most. No. I don’t think people who live in other cities truly understand the number of ill-informed cheap shots taken at the city of New Orleans and the team during regular coverage of these games. It’s still happening, and it’s really annoying. So I really do mean “nicest” as in, they were nice.)

• I guess, cool as the Hornets are, they aren’t as cool as Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns, because we never get the parking garage shot of them walking past their expensive black cars into the arena. You know you’ve made it when you get a parking garage shot.
• At the beginning of the game, they did a close-up on Chris Paul stretching, and he started coughing and had to get up because the smoke was in his face.
• There was a massive MVP chant for Chris Paul in the 4th quarter, but they went to commercial break.
• Announcers loved Tyson, called D-West “well, I hesitate to say this, but one of the great players in this league,” and said Peja was back in old-school form.
• ABC agreed with us on the quality of the officiating.
• Pargo got interviewed at halftime. I don’t think they knew where Pargo came from.
• We got to go inside the locker room and hear both coaches discussing their game plan for the second half. Nelson: “We aren’t sticking to the plan. We have to get back to the plan.” What was the Warriors’ plan? … Jacking up threes. No, I’m not kidding. That was it. Now, if you look back to the home game the Hornets lost to the Warriors, you can see why that was the whole plan. But still. That’s it, guys? That’s all ya got? Too bad Golden State was 3 for 29. I don’t know, at some point, I’d have been thinking about… maybe… changing the plan.
• Chris Paul is a bossy little mofo on those Wired segments, isn’t he? “Hey, Coach, please, I gotta play, I swear I’ll take myself out if I need to come out, please!… Coach, D-West and Peja! Why’re they on the bench?” Haha!
• Halftime feature on David West, plus earlier we also got footage of CP’s high school game where he scored 61 points in honor of his grandfather. Then we had Peja’s Fave Five three point shooters. I said, “Is he allowed to say himself?” Wonder no more, because Peja’s Fave Five were Larry Bird, Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Dirk Nowitzki, and indeed, himself. LOL. Guess so.
• Said they definitely think there’ll be a home advantage come playoff time. Said the city of New Orleans has always brought it for the Saints, and they have no doubt they’ll bring it for the Hornets, because they know how to bring the party.

HypeMeter: ABC figures, the Hornets haven’t dropped out of #1 when everyone thought they would, so why not? Yes! You know you want to throw in with us. Hornets, Hornets, Hornets! We can’t wait to see what happens next, either.

CrowdWatch: 17,809, another sellout, and if it’s good enough for ABC, it’s good enough for me.

Not that we haven’t had our own version for months, but at the Golden State game on Sunday, everyone at the arena is going to get a CP MVP shirt! And the game’s nationally televised on ABC.

That place is going to look amazing.

And our Hornets are finally back on Friday.

BEST. WEEKEND. EVER.

….

Oh, and by the way, people keep telling me how awesome it was at the airport last night. Melvin Ely, Jannero Pargo, AND Chris Paul getting out and taking pics and signing autographs? I almost died this morning when I saw what we missed. I swear I will go every single time for the rest of the season. Believe me, I so wanted to go. And I get up at 5:30 AM every day of the week. It took an official evaluation BY THE STATE OF LOUISIANA at work today to keep me from going last night. Otherwise, to hell with 5 AM, I’d have been so there.

Damn you, State of Louisiana. Just kidding.

I have decided to be positive following last night’s loss to the Celtics. The Hornets are 2-1 on the road trip, and are tied with San Antonio for first place (though ahead percentage-wise). The Lakers suffered another egregious loss to a subpar team, which means we can all make ourselves feel a little bit better by laughing at them, because at least we lost to Boston.

Anyway, going back to the title of this post, I love things that are free. Man. I really do. Ask my boyfriend. We had this discussion during the Hornets’ recent homestand.

ticktock6: We have to remember to bring our free appetizer coupon for Gordon Biersch.

mW: I thought you said you weren’t hungry.

ticktock6: Well, yeah, but it’s free.

mW: That has nothing to do with anything. If you’re not hungry, then you don’t need to eat.

ticktock6: But it’s free.

mW: I will never understand how you weigh what you do.

ticktock6: Look, no. I don’t think you are really understanding the concept here. IT’S. FREE. If we go to Gordon Biersch, we will absolutely buy two beers. That will cost $10. If you spend $10 you get a free appetizer if you bring your program. Why would we not get it? It’s a waste of free food not to get it. Freeeeeee!

mW: Because you’re not hungry?

ticktock6: I’m hungry if it’s free.

mW: …..

We have four home games left in the regular season. I can’t believe I just typed that. But. There’s some pretty cool stuff coming up on the promotional schedule, if you’re a local fan and you want to score free Hornets loot. Check it out:

April 4th Hornets vs. Knicks: Honeybee night. Everyone gets a free Honeybee poster. Me? I give this one a big huge WHAT-EV (hey, how about Tyson Chandler posters for all the ladies in attendance, am I right? am I right?), but I’m sure there are people who care. (Dude. Fantastic moment of last night’s watch party at Bruno’s. The Honeybee throws Hornets beads to everyone on the right side of me. Then she stops at me, the only girl at the table. THEN she turns around, opens another bag, and tosses them to the rest of our table, starting with mW on the left side of me. OK, Honeybees, it may be true that I am slightly cuter than some of you, but believe me, I am not competition. If you saw me dance, you would know this is a fact.)

April 6th Hornets vs. Warriors: Chris Paul bobblehead (first 10,000 fans). Look, I don’t know about you guys, but I am willing to forgo the free beer to get this bobblehead.

April 8th Hornets vs. Jazz: Peja Stojakovic bobblehead (first 8,000 fans) And then I can put him next to Tyson and CP3 on my mantelpiece and arrange tastefully themed decorations around them and place them in entertaining poses together and they will look happy and my life will be much enriched. MUST HAVE.

April 15th Hornets vs. Clippers: Team poster to everyone in attendance.

Also, there are Buzzfests for all four home games left on the schedule. Yes, even the Sunday 4/6 game that got moved to noon, for which the beer is going to start at 10:00 AM, so come ready with your drinking hat on. I don’t really have a drinking hat, but you know, just in case you do…

Here are the beads they’re giving out tonight. First 8,000 fans through the door!

The game is at 2:30 against the Bucks. Kids get in free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Click here to get the coupon.

Plus WWL is still offering free tickets for the Portland game 1/23.

There appear to be FREE Hornets tickets available! Click here!

Also, have you voted for the Hornets All Stars today? Only 8 days left.

The Saints have Who Dat? I think Hornets fans need a catch phrase. Maybe even a secret one, so if people see it around town, they’ll be like, “Huh? What’s that? Clearly it must be some super amazingly cool thing that I am missing out on.” I don’t know what it is yet. But when I find it, I’m thinking of putting it on stickers and flyers and going viral with it. That’s what the Hornets need: viral grassroots marketing.