Ask Charlotte Hornets players or coach Paul Silas about tonight?s 8 p.m. home game against Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards and you?ll get a smile.
It?s certainly not excitement over playing the league?s hottest team.
It?s just that it?s been so long since these Hornets have played in front of a sellout crowd at home, they?re excited about the prospect.
In fact, when asked about playing against Jordan the day after Christmas, it was their first thought.
"It?s going to be our first sellout," guard David Wesley said. "At this point, you don?t even care why they?re here. Just get them in here."
Silas agreed.
"Just to play in front of a sellout crowd will be great, even if most of them are here rooting for him," Silas said. "But if we can have a good showing, they?ll come to our side."
For a team that has a 3-7 home record and averages barely more than 10,000 fans per game, having a good showing would certainly appear to be a challenge.
Especially when Washington?s nine-game winning streak is currently the longest in the NBA.
"Well," Silas said, "they?re really playing well."
That can hardly be said of the Hornets.
The 3-7 home record ties the team-worst 19-win 1989-90 season for worst start in the franchise?s 14-year history. Plus, Charlotte has lost four of its past five and two straight to fall to 12-15 overall.
Not having Jamal Mashburn (strained abdominal) and George Lynch (broken left foot) has limited some of the team?s options for change.
But Silas has been reluctant to use the injuries as an excuse.
"We?re really not concentrating as we should to win," Silas said. "When you?re short-handed, you have to play near-perfect basketball. We?re obviously not doing that."
Having Jordan and the Wizards on the menu tonight certainly won?t make things easier.
And given Washington?s recent success, the situation will be far different than the first Hornets-Wizards meeting in Washington, which Charlotte won 95-88.
"I think, early on, they were deferring so much to Mike," Silas said. "And now all of them are making plays."
Wesley and forward Lee Nailon will share the defensive chores on Jordan.
"To me, it?s another challenge against another good player in the league," Wesley said of guarding Jordan. "Even though he?s the best who?s ever played the game, he?s just not at that level now."
For Nailon, it?ll be his second game against Jordan.
"That first time was such an honor," Nailon said of playing against Jordan, who scored 30 points on 13 of 23 shooting in his first game against Charlotte this year. "But once you step on the court against him, it?s just another guy in another game."
However, Nailon and the rest of the Hornets will notice a change, if for no other reason than the fan reaction.
"It?s not surprising that fans would be here to see him," Nailon said. "Because guys haven?t achieved what he?s achieved. He should get cheers wherever he goes."