<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">NEW ORLEANS -- Dallas guard Darrell Armstrong might have a difficult time recognizing his former team when the Mavericks play the Hornets at 7 p.m. today in the New Orleans Arena. New Orleans began a drastic youth movement on Dec. 3 when it traded the 36-year-old Armstrong to the Mavericks for 26-year-old Dan Dickau and a second-round draft choice. After two more trades, five players scheduled to suit up for the Hornets tonight weren't with the team for Armstrong's last game. The Hornets are thinking long term with their roster overhaul, yet they have reaped some short-term dividends. They were 1-13 when they made the first trade, then went on to lose 16 of their next 17. At 2-29, New Orleans was on pace to break the NBA record for futility, the 9-73 record of the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers. But the Hornets have gone 6-7 in their last 13 games and seem on their way to putting the 76ers in their rearview mirror before the All-Star Break. After starting 1-12 at home New Orleans has won five of its last seven home games, although it lost at home to Memphis, 98-91, Monday. "Our guys feel comfortable and our crowds have been great," coach Byron Scott said. "I think the support of the fans has been fantastic. I think our guys see that they're into it and they're screaming and yelling. That's the number one thing I talked about with our guys when I got here -- you've got to establish home.</div> Source
