Bradley Handwerger / WWLTV.com Sports Reporter
Email: bhandwerger@wwltv.com | Twitter: @wwltvsports
Opinion/Analysis
NEW ORLEANS — For much of the past month, Monty Williams wore a forlorn look across his face.
The Hornets’ coach appeared beaten down by all the mistakes his team was making, all the missed opportunities it was letting slide by.
Friday night, even in a 94-86 loss to Portland, something was different.
He smiled. He laughed. He didn’t appear resigned to New Orleans’ 2011-12 fate.
“When I look at this game, I see guys who fought, who competed, who were put in a tough situation and battled all night,” Williams said. “Right now I’m proud to be around a group of guys who fight no matter what the situation.”
It’s called a silver lining and this season, Williams and Hornets fans will take what they can get.
New Orleans lost a game it could have won Friday night, no doubt about it.
But it also was a better barometer than Wednesday night’s drubbing at the hands of Chicago, the best team in the NBA.
In that game, New Orleans saw just how far away from championship-caliber it was.
Against Portland, the Hornets fought closely and until the end with a team that’s fighting for a playoff spot.
They were an inexperienced foul by Al-Farouq Aminu and inexperienced clock management by Greivis Vasquez away from possibly getting their fifth win.
After the game, Portland coach Nate McMillan admitted about Williams that he loves “him like a brother.”
The two have coached together in the past, building a relationship that on Friday night culminated with an extended hug after the final buzzer.
So McMillan knows what Williams’ character looks like, what his personality is and he sees it in the feisty Hornets.
“No question,” McMillan said. “You’re not going to dog it regardless of what the record is. You’re going to play for him. I didn’t expect anything less than that tonight.”
There’s no question that the Hornets aren’t good, that they’re not talented.
There’s also no question that they don’t look like a 4-23 team, that they don’t look like one of the NBA’s two-worst teams.
You can say what you want about the Hornets right now. For all the naysayers out there, Williams won’t listen, at least for one night.
He can see the forest through the trees and he likes what he sees.
“You can call it whatever you want to call it,” Williams said. “I think in order to get through and learn from those situations, you’ve got to be in them. You can watch it on TV and you can try to orchestrate it in practice, but until you’re out there, it’s the only way you’re going to grow.
“I think those guys learned a lot tonight. Sometimes you’ve got to hurt before you appreciate things and grow from it.
“This losing and this tough season has not only allowed them to grow, it has allowed me to grow. I certainly appreciate winning games. At the same time, I certainly appreciate those young who are getting an opportunity to get better.”
No one could have said it any better.
And for at least one night, Williams could retire the forlorn look.
