It was barely nine months ago the Lakers opened preseason training camp, but they've managed to put themselves and their fans through a couple seasons' worth of crises since then. Another could be upon us tonight if the Lake Show can't put away the 5-11 Hornets. As they stand today the Lakers are the 12th seed in the West, and it's not like their losses are coming against the NBA's best. The Rockets, the Magic, the Pacers, the Kings... these are dates on the schedule you count on to be W's, but the Lakers have been squandering their chances. It's still early, yes - but every game counts when it comes to playoff seeding, and the purple and gold have already dug themselves a nice little hole.

New Orleans will be without Anthony Davis, who's missed the last eight contests with a bum ankle. Eric Gordon, who's rehabbing a knee and hasn't played yet this season, is out too.