The 2008–09 New Orleans Hornets season was the 7th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association .
The regular season was marred by injuries, with only Rasual Butler playing in all games. The remaining four starters missed a combined 68 games, of whom center Tyson Chandler missed 37 games. Even when not on the injured list, Chandler's season was sub-par. Perhaps partly as a result of this, on February 18 Chandler was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forwards Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox . Despite the less than stellar season, this was generally perceived as a payroll-shedding move. However, within a day, the trade was rescinded due to concerns regarding Chandlers turf toe , which curiously, according to Chandler and the Hornet organization was not the reason for his stints on the injury list.
Battling these issues for much of the season, the Hornets finished the season with a record of 49–33, 7 games off the franchise best record of the previous season. This meant that the Hornets only finished 4th in the Southwest Division and 7th in the Western Conference . In the 2009 NBA Playoffs , the Hornets lost 1–4 in the first round to the second seeded Denver Nuggets . All four losses were severe, with the worst being a 58–point drubbing at home in Game 4, losing 63–121, which tied for the most lopsided loss in NBA Playoff history.[1] Naturally lamented by fans and media alike, the embarrassing performance can at least be partly explained by the health situation of the players, with arguably the top 5 Hornets ailing to varying injuries.[2]
Key dates Offseason On July 9 the Hornets announced they had signed their All Star point guard Chris Paul to a contract extension.[3] Hornets owner George Shinn saying ''Chris is the face of our franchise and a leader both on and off the court...Getting him signed to an extension was our number one priority...'' On July 23 it was announced the Hornets had acquired free agent forward James Posey .[4] Posey, a member of the 2008 Boston Celtics team that won the championship said ''I am excited to be a Hornet, it was a coveted destination for me...''
Draft picks Trades All Stars For the second year in a row the Hornets were represented with two players at the NBA All Star Game as Chris Paul was voted in by the fans as a starter, and David West was selected as a reserve by the NBA coaches.
Roster 2008–09 New Orleans Hornets roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 12 Armstrong, Hilton 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)235 lb (107 kg) 1984-11-11 Connecticut SF 40 Bowen, Ryan 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) 1975-11-20 Iowa SG 23 Brown, Devin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)220 lb (100 kg) 1978-12-30 Texas–San Antonio SF 45 Butler, Rasual 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)215 lb (98 kg) 1979-05-23 La Salle C 6 Chandler, Tyson 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)240 lb (109 kg) 1982-10-02 Dominguez HS (CA) PG 50 Daniels, Antonio 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) 1975-03-19 Bowling Green C 33 Ely, Melvin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)260 lb (118 kg) 1978-05-02 Fresno State C 4 Marks, Sean 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)250 lb (113 kg) 1975-08-23 California PG 3 Paul, Chris 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg) 1985-05-06 Wake Forest SG 9 Peterson, Morris 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)220 lb (100 kg) 1977-08-26 Michigan State SG 41 Posey, James 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)217 lb (98 kg) 1977-01-13 Xavier SF 16 Stojaković, Peja 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)229 lb (104 kg) 1977-06-09 Serbia PF 30 West, David 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)240 lb (109 kg) 1980-08-29 Xavier SF 32 Wright, Julian 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg) 1987-05-20 Kansas
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(DL) On assignment to D-League affiliate InjuredRoster Last transaction: December 10, 2008
Regular season Standings Game log 2008–09 game log October: 2–0 (home: 0–0; road: 2–0)
November: 7–6 (home: 4–3; road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 3 November 1 Cleveland W 104–92 David West (25)James Posey (6)Chris Paul (15)New Orleans Arena 18,1503–0 4 November 5 Atlanta L 79–87 Chris Paul (22)David West , Tyson Chandler (7)Chris Paul (11)New Orleans Arena 16,030 3–1 5 November 7 @ Charlotte L 89–92 Predrag Stojaković , Chris Paul (20)Predrag Stojaković , Tyson Chandler (7)Chris Paul (10)Time Warner Cable Arena 13,4353–2 6 November 8 Miami W 100–89 David West , Chris Paul (21)Tyson Chandler (10)Chris Paul (13)New Orleans Arena 17,701 4–2 7 November 12 L.A. Lakers L 86–93 Chris Paul (30)David West (12)Chris Paul (13)New Orleans Arena 18,239 4–3 8 November 14 Portland W 87–82 David West (18)Tyson Chandler (7)Chris Paul (9)New Orleans Arena 16,071 5–3 9 November 15 @ Houston L 82–91 David West (18)David West (10)Chris Paul (12)Toyota Center 18,3035–4 10 November 19 Sacramento L 96–105 David West (22)Tyson Chandler (10)Chris Paul (15)New Orleans Arena 15,533 5–5 11 November 21 @ Oklahoma City W 105–80 David West (19)David West (8)Chris Paul (6)Ford Center 19,1366–5 12 November 22 Oklahoma City W 109–97 David West (33)Chris Paul (10)Chris Paul (16)New Orleans Arena 16,023 7–5 13 November 24 @ L.A. Clippers W 99–87 David West (27)Chris Paul (10)Chris Paul (17)Staples Center 14,9568–5 14 November 27 @ Denver W 105–101 Chris Paul (22)David West (8)Chris Paul (10)Pepsi Center 15,5639–5 15 November 28 @ Portland L 86–101 Predrag Stojaković (21)Chris Paul , Tyson Chandler (6)Chris Paul (6)Rose Garden 20,6389–6
December: 10–3 (home: 7–1; road: 3–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 16 December 3 Phoenix W 104–91 Predrag Stojaković , Chris Paul (24)David West (14)Chris Paul (15)New Orleans Arena 15,80410–6 17 December 6 Memphis W 106–87 Chris Paul (21)James Posey (7)Chris Paul (11)New Orleans Arena 16,822 11–6 18 December 10 Charlotte W 105–89 David West , Predrag Stojaković (17)Tyson Chandler (11)Chris Paul (15)New Orleans Arena 15,750 12–6 19 December 12 @ Boston L 82–94 David West (23)David West (14)Chris Paul (14)TD Banknorth Garden 18,62412–7 20 December 14 @ Toronto W 99–91 David West (29)James Posey (10)Chris Paul (12)Air Canada Centre 18,53713–7 21 December 16 @ Memphis W 91–84 David West , Chris Paul (18)Tyson Chandler (6)Chris Paul (9)FedExForum 10,23114–7 22 December 17 San Antonio W 90–83 David West (21)Tyson Chandler (11)Chris Paul (12)New Orleans Arena 16,593 15–7 23 December 20 Sacramento W 99–90 Chris Paul (34)Tyson Chandler (8)Chris Paul (9)New Orleans Arena 16,869 16–7 24 December 23 L.A. Lakers L 87–100 Rasual Butler , Chris Paul (17)Tyson Chandler (10)Chris Paul (10)New Orleans Arena 18,405 16–8 25 December 25 @ Orlando L 68–88 David West (13)David West (7)Chris Paul (4)Amway Arena 17,46116–9 26 December 26 Houston W 88–79 Chris Paul (26)Tyson Chandler (12)Chris Paul (10)New Orleans Arena 18,326 17–9 27 December 28 @ Indiana W 105–103 James Posey , Chris Paul (19)David West (10)Chris Paul (12)Conseco Fieldhouse 14,37418–9 28 December 30 Washington W 97–85 Rasual Butler (21)Tyson Chandler (11)Chris Paul (16)New Orleans Arena 18,021 19–9
January: 9–7 (home: 5–2; road: 4–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 29 January 2 @ Portland W 92–77 David West (25)James Posey (9)Chris Paul (11)Rose Garden 20,70820–9 30 January 3 @ Denver L 100–105 Chris Paul (30)David West (8)Chris Paul (11)Pepsi Center 19,61420–10 31 January 6 @ L.A. Lakers W 116–105 David West (40)David West (11)Chris Paul (15)Staples Center 18,99721–10 32 January 7 @ Utah L 90–116 Chris Paul (26)David West (6)Chris Paul (7)EnergySolutions Arena 19,91121–11 33 January 9 L.A. Clippers W 107–80 Rasual Butler (27)Tyson Chandler (11)Chris Paul (7)New Orleans Arena 17,81522–11 34 January 12 New York L 95–101 David West (25)David West (14)Chris Paul (7)New Orleans Arena 16,177 22–12 35 January 14 @ Dallas W 104–97 Chris Paul (33)Tyson Chandler (14)Chris Paul (11)American Airlines Center 19,94723–12 36 January 16 @ Cleveland L 78–92 David West (23)Tyson Chandler (9)Chris Paul (6)Quicken Loans Arena 20,56223–13 37 January 17 @ Detroit W 91–85 Chris Paul (23)Tyson Chandler (11)Chris Paul (14)The Palace of Auburn Hills 22,07624–13 38 January 19 Indiana W 103–100 Chris Paul (27)Melvin Ely (6)Chris Paul (9)New Orleans Arena 17,237 25–13 39 January 21 New Jersey W 102–92 Chris Paul (29)Predrag Stojaković (10)Chris Paul (8)New Orleans Arena 14,748 26–13 40 January 23 @ Minnesota L 108–116 James Posey (24)Sean Marks (7)Chris Paul (12)Target Center 18,22426–14 41 January 26 Philadelphia W 101–86 Chris Paul (27)Chris Paul (10)Chris Paul (15)New Orleans Arena 16,131 27–14 42 January 28 Denver W 94–81 Predrag Stojaković (26)James Posey (9)Chris Paul (10)New Orleans Arena 15,792 28–14 43 January 30 Golden State L 87–91 Chris Paul (31)David West (15)Chris Paul (8)New Orleans Arena 17,738 28–15 44 January 31 @ San Antonio L 93–106 Chris Paul (38)David West (10)Chris Paul (4)AT&T Center 18,79728–16
February: 7–6 (home: 5–3; road: 2–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 45 February 2 Portland L 89–97 David West (25)David West (8)Chris Paul (13)New Orleans Arena 14,78128–17 46 February 4 Chicago L 93–107 Predrag Stojaković , David West (24)David West (14)Devin Brown (7)New Orleans Arena 16,270 28–18 47 February 6 Toronto W 101–92 Predrag Stojaković (28)David West (10)David West , Antonio Daniels (6)New Orleans Arena 17,319 29–18 48 February 8 Minnesota W 101–97 Rasual Butler (23)Rasual Butler (8)Antonio Daniels (7)New Orleans Arena 16,046 30–18 49 February 9 @ Memphis L 80–85 Predrag Stojaković (23)Devin Brown (9)Antonio Daniels (4)FedExForum 10,89630–19 50 February 11 Boston L 77–89 David West (15)David West (8)Antonio Daniels , Chris Paul (5)New Orleans Arena 18,080 30–20 51 February 17 @ Oklahoma City W 100–98 David West (37)David West (13)Chris Paul (8)Ford Center 18,59331–20 52 February 18 Orlando W 117–85 Chris Paul (36)Melvin Ely , Rasual Butler (8)Chris Paul (10)New Orleans Arena 16,651 32–20 53 February 20 @ L.A. Lakers L 111–115 (OT) Rasual Butler (31)David West (16)Chris Paul (16)Staples Center 18,99732–21 54 February 21 @ Utah L 88–102 Chris Paul (24)Predrag Stojaković (11)Chris Paul (7)EnergySolutions Arena 19,91132–22 55 February 23 @ Sacramento W 112–105 Chris Paul (27)Tyson Chandler (10)Chris Paul (13)ARCO Arena 11,63333–22 56 February 25 Detroit W 90–87 David West (30)Tyson Chandler (17)Chris Paul (13)New Orleans Arena 17,215 34–22 57 February 27 Milwaukee W 95–94 David West (28)David West (12)Chris Paul (20)New Orleans Arena 17,621 35–22
March: 11–5 (home: 6–2; road: 5–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 58 March 1 @ New Jersey W 99–96 David West (32)Tyson Chandler (12)Chris Paul (9)Izod Center 15,50936–22 59 March 2 @ Philadelphia W 98–91 David West (30)James Posey (12)Chris Paul (12)Wachovia Center 14,29937–22 60 March 5 Dallas W 104–88 Chris Paul (27)Tyson Chandler (11)Chris Paul (15)New Orleans Arena 17,23038–22 61 March 7 Oklahoma City W 108–90 Chris Paul (21)David West (12)Chris Paul (14)New Orleans Arena 18,114 39–22 62 March 9 @ Atlanta L 79–89 Chris Paul (24)David West (20)Chris Paul (10)Philips Arena 14,20439–23 63 March 11 @ Washington W 109–98 Chris Paul (30)Chris Paul , Tyson Chandler (10)Chris Paul (13)Verizon Center 15,25540–23 64 March 13 @ Milwaukee W 95–86 Chris Paul (30)Tyson Chandler (17)Chris Paul (9)Bradley Center 15,70141–23 65 March 14 @ Chicago L 79–97 Chris Paul (29)Tyson Chandler (9)Chris Paul (6)United Center 22,13541–24 66 March 16 Houston L 84–95 Chris Paul (29)David West (13)Chris Paul (11)New Orleans Arena 17,723 41–25 67 March 18 Minnesota W 94–93 Chris Paul (26)David West , Hilton Armstrong (8)Chris Paul (10)New Orleans Arena 17,253 42–25 68 March 20 Memphis W 96–84 Chris Paul (32)James Posey (8)Chris Paul (9)New Orleans Arena 17,837 43–25 69 March 22 Golden State W 99–89 Chris Paul (27)Hilton Armstrong (11)Chris Paul (8)New Orleans Arena 16,351 44–25 70 March 25 Denver L 88–101 Chris Paul (19)David West (8)Chris Paul (13)New Orleans Arena 17,274 44–26 71 March 27 @ New York L 93–103 David West (29)Julian Wright (14)Chris Paul (10)Madison Square Garden 19,76344–27 72 March 29 San Antonio W 90–86 Chris Paul (26)David West (16)Chris Paul (9)New Orleans Arena 18,204 45–27 73 March 31 @ Sacramento W 111–110 David West (40)David West (9)Chris Paul (15)ARCO Arena 17,31746–27
April: 3–6 (home: 1–2; road: 2–4)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 74 April 1 @ L.A. Clippers W 104–98 Chris Paul (30)Julian Wright (9)Chris Paul (14)Staples Center 19,06047–27 75 April 3 @ Golden State L 103–111 Chris Paul (43)David West (14)Chris Paul (9)Oracle Arena 19,59647–28 76 April 5 Utah L 94–108 David West (23)David West (12)Chris Paul (12)New Orleans Arena 17,36247–29 77 April 7 @ Miami W 93–87 (OT) Chris Paul (26)Chris Paul (9)Chris Paul (9)American Airlines Arena 19,60048–29 78 April 8 Phoenix L 100–105 Chris Paul (29)David West (12)Chris Paul (16)New Orleans Arena 17,781 48–30 79 April 10 @ Dallas L 92–100 Chris Paul (42)David West (14)Chris Paul (7)American Airlines Center 20,37048–31 80 April 12 Dallas W 102–92 David West , Chris Paul (31)Chris Paul (9)Chris Paul (17)New Orleans Arena 16,640 49–31 81 April 13 @ Houston L 66–86 David West (14)David West (10)Chris Paul (7)Toyota Center 18,40949–32 82 April 15 @ San Antonio L 98–105 (OT) David West (34)Paul , West (7)Chris Paul (14)AT&T Center 18,79749–33
2015–16 season schedule
Playoffs 2009 playoff game log First Round: 1–4 (home: 1–1; road: 0–3)
2009 schedule
Player statistics Season Playoffs Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Awards and records Transactions See also References