<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 1 - As J. R. Smith punctuated his breakaway with a reverse jam to give the Hornets a 20-point lead over the Sacramento Kings in the third quarter, the capacity crowd jumped from its seats and let loose a rim-rattling yell that had been building for weeks, if not years. Never has there been so much genuine enthusiasm - or so much noise - for an N.B.A. team that won just 18 games in its previous season. For six weeks since Oklahoma City secured the right to provide a temporary home for the New Orleans Hornets, who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina, the mayor, the city's business leaders, and the fans who had bought 10,000 season tickets kept telling their guests, "Welcome!" Wearing white home jerseys with the name Hornets on them, the team returned the favor on this electric Tuesday night at the Ford Center. A city that is unfortunately best known for the 1995 terrorist bombing that claimed 168 lives, and one that is currently the nation's 45th-largest television market, became major league when the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets shocked the ragged Kings, 93-67. "The least we could do is go out and play as hard as we can," the rookie point guard Chris Paul said after pushing a relentless pace all game. "We feel like we owe a lot to this city and the state of Oklahoma for accepting us."</div> New York Times I think their 26-point blowout victory is due to the team being excited to kick off the season in Oklahoma rather than them being a surprise team. I didn't think they'll have too much homecourt advantage, but it looks like the people of Oklahoma gave them more support than the fans of New Orleans! I wonder what's going to happen for the rest of the season.
It seems like both the New Orleans teams ( Saints and Hornets) have fond a great deal of support in there new homes. I don’t think the Hornets will stay in Oklahoma city permanently simply because the NBA likes to have teams in big markets. They have been trying to get a team in Las Vegas for a while now this might be just the excuse they need to move the Hornets there. Also another reason for the support might be that it was the first NBA game ever played in that city.
