NBA

Owner not optimistic about New Orleans

By TIMES WIRES
Published May 9, 2006

OKLAHOMA CITY - New Orleans is making discouragingly slow progress toward showing it can support the Hornets, owner George Shinn said Monday.

The Hornets plan to honor their lease at the New Orleans Arena, Shinn said, but added that many "question marks" remain before he can determine whether that's a sound option.

"I've been back to New Orleans probably a half-dozen times since the storm, and each time we go back, I have a car there and we go back through the areas," Shinn said. "I hear all the politicians talk about all the great things that's happening: "We'll be back in a year. We'll be back in five months.' You know, crazy stuff.

"I have seen virtually very, very little improvement, and it's very discouraging and very depressing."

Shinn spoke of visiting areas of New Orleans that do not have grocery stores open, which in turn creates long lines at the stores that are open. On Monday, the city opened a portion of the Lower Ninth Ward for the first time - a 10-block area that has had water, electricity and sewage services restored. The rest of the area, which was the hardest hit by Katrina, remains closed.

"It's very difficult to try to live there because with the traffic the way it is and because the areas that are damaged and destroyed, people just don't go through there," Shinn said. "Stop lights don't work. They don't have electricity there."

After averaging 18,717 fans at their home games in Oklahoma City this season, the Hornets will play 35 games in the city next season. In the meantime, Shinn said the Hornets will try to determine whether people are interested in the team returning to New Orleans by taking 25 percent deposits toward 41-game season-ticket plans for 2007-08.

"That's going to tell us a lot," Shinn said.

Even before Katrina hit in August, the Hornets averaged a league-low 14,221 fans in 2004-05 as the team went 18-64. When the team made the playoffs the year before, the Hornets average attendance was 14,332.

The Phil and Kobe reunion worked out well, with no apparent glitches. And outside of an ugly finish, so did the Lakers' season.

"We were all about getting to the playoffs and make some noise in the playoffs. We met our goal," coach Phil Jackson said during a break from conducting exit interviews with his players.

The Lakers went 45-37 for an 11-game improvement over the previous season, and took a 3-1 lead over the Suns before losing the last three games to be ousted in the first round of the playoffs.

"We're pleased. We maintained from day one that was achievable," general manager Mitch Kupchak said of a return to the postseason.

But Game 7 was ugly from start to finish - a 121-90 victory by the Suns.

"They're holding themselves responsible," Jackson said of his players. "I have to make them let go of that."

Hornets point guard Chris Paul, who led all first-year players in points, assists and steals, will be named the award winner, according to the Associated Press. The official announcement is set for Wednesday.

Ben Wallace strengthened the argument that he's one of the best defenders in league history. As expected, the Pistons center became the first player to win the award four times in a five-year span.

[Last modified May 9, 2006, 00:42:06]