New Orleans went 2-1 this past week without its frontline of David West and Tyson Chandler and top backup center Hilton Armstrong.

And still those who rate the league week in, week out thought the Hornets played poorly enough to fall back a few spots.

ESPN.com even said the team is playing with Fat Lady Syndrome, or what it calls playing off of last season.

Eh, it happens. It's a long season.

ESPN.com has New Orleans at No. 8.

NBA.com has the Hornets at No. 9.

Then there's SI.com, which came out with some midseason grades. New Orleans came in with a B-. I think under the circumstances with injuries and a continued refusal to play with energy night in and night out, that's acceptable. Especially since the Hornets are fourth in the West right now.

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