It began with a pitiful performance in the 2009 NBA playoffs.It has continued into the 2009-10 regular season.The New Orleans Hornets were embarrassed last spring when the Denver Nuggets eliminated them, 4-1, in the Western Conference quarterfinals. The series was never really competitive and included a 121-63 loss in the New Orleans Arena.But the Hornets did make the postseason, and many preseason prognostications predicted another trip to the playoffs this season.Unfortunately, barring an unexpected turn for the better, the analysts seem to have made a mistake.Through Dec. 2, the Hornets were off to a 7-11 start and are 6 1/2 games behind the Southwest Division leader, the Dallas Mavericks. The Hornets are also just a half-game from being in last place in the division. The main struggle has been when the Hornets hit the road, where they are a dismal 1-9.But the Hornets have suffered crucial injuries along the way as well. The most devastating blow came on Nov. 13 when franchise player and point guard Chris Paul injured his ankle in an 86-78 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Paul has not yet returned from the injury, and it is unknown when he will be back in action.Though the loss of Paul leaves New Orleans without its star performer, international business junior Andrew Kohler said he believes the injury to Paul will help the team in the long run.”With [Paul] on the bench, it lets a lot of the young guys get some experience,” Kohler said. “And I think after they get some experience, when Paul comes back they’ll have more of a defined role coming off the bench and will give [the Hornets] a deeper bench.”But by far the largest shock of the season came on Nov. 12 when the Hornets fired head coach Byron Scott after nine games.Despite Scott being named NBA Coach of the Year for the 2007-08 season, a 3-6 start and rumors of frustration from Paul led to Scott’s dismissal.Ryan Bloss, accounting junior, said he saw the change coming but is not convinced it was the right move.”I don’t really think it was fair because it was so early in the season,” Bloss said. “But they must have been thinking about this for some time.”Kohler disagrees, saying Scott had to go.”I liked [the decision to fire Scott],” Kohler said. “People were questioning the trade for [center Emeka] Okafor, getting rid of [former center Tyson] Chandler, people didn’t like those moves. Add in the poor state and he didn’t use his top draft picks the way he should.”Hornets general manager Jeff Bower has taken over the reins temporarily as head coach. But rumors have swirled about former Dallas Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson becoming the next head man in New Orleans.Both Bloss and Kohler say they believe Johnson is the right man for the job.”Maybe they could hire Avery Johnson,” Bloss said. “He’s from the New Orleans area — he went to St. Augustine High School. And he was a point guard, so I know Chris Paul would probably love to play for the guy.”Despite the ugly start, the Hornets can still salvage a season that is only 18 games old.”To improve, the new guys just need to mesh together,” Kohler said. “The more the young guys play, the more confident they will get.” —-Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]