HORNETS BACK IN THE BIG EASY, BUT DO THE FANS CARE?: Someone forgot to tell the good people of New Orleans that the Hornets aren’t in Oklahoma City anymore:

The TIMES-PICAYUNE bounces news that pro basketball in the Bayou is having the same troubles with attendance as the NHL squads.Only 9,187 souls showed up for last Friday’s contest vs. the Oden-less Portland Trail Blazers, setting a new record for smallest attendance at a New Orleans Hornets home game.

The tiny crowd at the 18,000-seat New Orleans Arena was the lowest in the Hornets’ six-year stay on the banks of the Mississippi.

But coach Byron Scott isn’t going to let a little thing like empty seats spoil his fun: “The thing I love about this team is they play for each other. They were on the bench standing and cheering for each other. We’re going to create our own enthusiasm as much as we can.”There’s an idea - maybe if fans were offered some roster spots, more people would show up.

In the meantime, what’s Hornets owner George Shinn to do? Well, we hear there’s a space in Seattle opening up. And don’t think Georgie wouldn’t buzz out of town, since he’s done it once before.