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Upstart Hornets get things started against Warriors

Oct 29, 2008 - 10:18 AM New Orleans at Golden State, 10:30 p.m. EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Two of the league's most high-powered offenses square off on Wednesday when the Golden State Warriors play host to the rising New Orleans Hornets in the teams' 2008-09 season opener.

Despite their offensive prowess, however, there is little similarity between the teams these days. While one has made additions to an already capable lineup, the other has seen its meal ticket sidelined until at least mid-December.

The Hornets, who advanced to the Western Conference semifinals last year and nearly toppled the San Antonio Spurs before being dispatched in seven games, went on the offensive during the offseason to try to add some experience and depth. What they found was a newly crowned NBA champion in forward James Posey, a clutch performer for the Boston Celtics during their title run.

He'll have one of the league's brightest stars running the show, as MVP runner-up Chris Paul returns from a whirlwind summer in Beijing - during which he helped the U.S. Olympic basketball team bring home the gold - to try to take the Hornets to the next level. The franchise, dating to its years in Charlotte, North Carolina has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs, but is a strong candidate to do that this season.

The Warriors, however, missed the playoffs in 2007-08 after capturing the league's imagination the season before with a first-round upset of the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks. Things went from disappointing to downright scary this offseason when their big investment for the future, combo guard Monta Ellis, went down with a torn ankle ligament after a moped accident.

He will miss at least the season's first 30 games - the length of the suspension the team handed down because his moped accident violated his newly signed contract.

The Warriors, who saw Baron Davis bolt for the Los Angeles Clippers in the offseason, are still searching for answers at point guard. The Hornets, naturally, aren't saddled with such a problem.

New Orleans also represents the antithesis of Golden State's approach, establishing things on the defensive end rather than the other way around. The Hornets allowed just 95.6 points per game last season - fifth-best in the league - while the Warriors yielded a league-worst 108.8. Paul, for his part, led the NBA with 2.7 steals per game.