By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The New Orleans Hornets shocked the entire NBA Sunday by beating the Los Angeles Lakers, very heavy favorites, in the opening game of their best-of-seven series.

Despite starting the playoffs on such a good note, respondents to last week’s online poll question, “How far do you think the team will make it in the postseason?”, still do not have high hopes for the Hornets’ postseason play.

More than half said they thought the team would lose in the first round, and nearly another quarter said the Hornets would not make it out of the second round.

Just a combined 20 percent of respondent had higher expectations of the team, but less than half of those thought the hornets would make it to the final series.

A full breakdown of results follows:

• 23 percent of respondents chose “They will get past the first round, but no further.”

• 11 percent of respondents chose “They will reach the Western Conference finals.”

• 6 percent of respondents chose “They will get to the NBA finals.”

• 3 percent of respondents chose “They will reign as NBA champions.”

• 57 percent of respondents chose “They will lose in the opening round.”