NBA Playoffs Return to NOLA

It was an exciting NBA season, earlier this month I took a look back at the 2010-2011 NBA regular season for the New Orleans Hornets, now unfortunately following an elimination at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers its time to look back at the Hornets playoff run.

I guess it is hard to be too disappointed the Hornets really gave it everything they had and left nothing on the court, in the end the Lakers were just too much for the Hornets to match in a seven game series, but it was an exciting series filled with memorable images, some of which I’m going to share with you now.

The playoffs kicked off in New Orleans on April 22, 2011 for game three against the L.A. Lakers and Hornets fans were worked up into a frenzy, the Hornets had already pulled off a major upset in Los Angeles in game one and played a tough game in the second match in L.A. bring the series to New Orleans tied 1-1.

Excited fans arrived early and partied outside before entering the New Orleans Arena as seen in the photo below.

April 22, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; A general view outside before game three of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs between the New Orleans Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

Inside waiting for the fans were 17,000+ gold “I’m In” t-shirts, a shirt for every fan at the sold-out New Orleans Arena.

April 22, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets I’m In t-shirts await fans in the stands before game three of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

A sea of gold dotted the landscape of the New Orleans Arena during player introductions and the crowd erupted in cheers with the announcement of #3 Chris Paul.

April 22, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; A general view during player introductions for Hornets guard Chris Paul (3) before tip off of game three of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs between the New Orleans Hornets and the Los Angeles Lakers at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

Once the game began the Hornets defense closed in tight on Lakers guard Kobe Bryant.

April 22, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) is defended by New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Willie Green (33) and power forward Carl Landry (24) during the second quarter in game three of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

While Bryant struggled offensively early, he came up with a big first quarter block that would be my shot of the night and a photo that received a lot of usages later that night from S.I., ESPN, CBS Sports, Fox Sports and others as the Lakers went on to take game one 100-86.

It wasn’t a great night for New Orleans at the Hive, the Honeybees dance team is the best highlight can offer from the game.

April 22, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets Honeybees dancers perform during the second half in game three of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at the New Orleans Arena. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 100-86. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

The Hornets would bounce back two days later with a stunner at home in game four 93-88 over the Lakers.

Early in the game I saw someone I recognized sitting courtside behind the Lakers bench, former Alabama Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram the best running back available in NFL Draft who had been doing his personal workouts in New Orleans was in attendance, I snapped a few photos like the one below. Little did I know, that the following week Ingram would become a New Orleans Saints player when he was taken with the 28th overall selection a steal of a pick consider Ingram rated as a top-15 overall player. Pending the outcome of the NFL Lockout, I’m looking forward to getting to shoot Ingram in the Black & Gold later this year.

Back to action on the court, Chris Paul was “on” scoring 27 points (eight more than anyone else), he recorded 15 assists and 13 rebounds, which accounted for four more than anyone and the same as Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum combined. The triple-double by Paul propelled the Hornets to the win and tied the series at 2-2, the Hornets were proving to be a tough match for the Lakers.

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul (3) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) and point guard Derek Fisher (2) during the first quarter in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul (3) is guarded by Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the second quarter in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul (3) reacts to Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the second quarter in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul (3) reacts after scoring during the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Lakers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

Paul wasn’t the only player turning in a stand out performance, Trevor Ariza chipped in 19-points one of his best offensive performances of the series.

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets small forward Trevor Ariza (1) is called for a offensive foul against Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) during the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Lakers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

The performances by Paul and Ariza didn’t seem to make Lakers guard Kobe Bryant very happy.

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) against the New Orleans Hornets during the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Lakers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

A jump shot by Jarrett Jack late in the fourth quarter all but sealed a win by the Hornets leading Jack to celebrate.

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets point guard Jarrett Jack (2) reacts after hitting a jump shot late in the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Lakers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

Following a Lakers timeout, the crowd got rowdy as they began to celebrate the impending victory over the Lakers, in the photo below the Honeybees perform during the timeout wearing “Beat L.A.” t-shirts.

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets Honeybees perform in the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Lakers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

As the Hornets took a few free throws to seal the win, I looked at Kobe Bryant and got this great reaction shot, I mean what a face!

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts during the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs against the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Lakers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

As the buzzer sounded the celebration began, I liked a couple of photos from after the game, one of mascot Hugo celebrating with a sign, the other Chris Paul walking off the court after evening the playoff series 2-2, sending the series back to Los Angeles for game five.

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets mascot Hugo celebrate following a win over the Los Angeles Lakers in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Lakers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 24, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul (3) walks off the court following a win over the Los Angeles Lakers in game four of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Lakers 93-88. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

Following the game I shooting a few quick shots of the Honeybees celebrating after the game, when a few of the ladies noticed me, they got together for a quick impromptu team shot.

In game five the Lakers pulled out a win, while the Hornets played tough in the first half the team faced several controversial calls by officials and the Hornets returned to New Orleans for game six facing elimination from the Playoffs.

Game six like game five in Los Angeles would stay close early, but the Lakers would be too much in the end as they pulled away in the fourth quarter eliminating the Hornets from the NBA Playoffs. Below a few of my best shots from game six.

A few shots below taken with a remote camera mounted high on the post.

April 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul (3) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) during the first quarter in game six of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 98-80 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) shoots between New Orleans Hornets power forward Carl Landry (24) and small forward Trevor Ariza (1) and center D.J. Mbenga (28) during the third quarter in game six of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 98-80 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum (17) dunks over New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Marco Belinelli (8) and power forward Carl Landry (24) during the first quarter in game six of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) reacts after being fouled during the first quarter in game six of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs against the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets center Emeka Okafor (50) and Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum (17) battle for possession during the second quarter in game six of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets power forward Carl Landry (24) dunks over Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) during the fourth quarter in game six of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 98-80 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) gestures quiet to the crowd during the third quarter in game six of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs against the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) applauds after being fouled during the third quarter in game six of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs against the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Hornets head coach Monty Williams and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson talk following game six of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 98-80 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle

April 28, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) celebrates following a win over the New Orleans Hornets in game six of the first round of the 2011 NBA playoffs at the New Orleans Arena. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 98-80 to advance to the second round of the playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle