Chris Paul's emergence makes Hornets dangerous

SEATTLE (AP) -- David West understands the assumption. Following an 18-64 season, it's natural for teams to consider the New Orleans Hornets nothing more than a speed bump.
But with talented rookie Chris Paul, that premise could be changing.
"We figure when everybody sees us on the schedule they figure they have a win," West said. "This is a different set of guys, a different mind-set. We don't have anything to lose. We're just going out there and playing hard."
Displaced to Oklahoma City by Hurricane Katrina, the Hornets are showing a new level of resilience, absent in their dismal 2004-05 season.
After dropping four straight, and on the verge of falling into a pattern similar to last year, the Hornets have responded by winning four of their last five.
Last week, the Hornets beat Atlanta and Orlando, the first time they had won consecutive games in two years. After a loss to Philadelphia, the Hornets rebounded with back-to-back wins over Minnesota and a 105-99 road win over Seattle on Saturday.