Handwerger: Hornets appear to be buying into Bower

NEW ORLEANS – Maybe we all panicked too much too quickly.

Maybe Jeff Bower knew a little bit more than we all gave him credit for.

Maybe the Hornets aren’t just going to throw in the towel.

After Thursday night’s emphatic 110-103 win over the Western Division-leading Suns, it’s obvious that New Orleans might just be alright.

OK, the Suns might have been a paper giant, winning against more bad teams than good thus far into the season.

But you’ve got to love the resiliency of this team under Bower, a man who almost assuredly knows that his immediate future is tied to how this very version of the Hornets does.

The vets are buying into Bower and that’s now quite obvious.

“He took the team in a position where we’ve got to get better and we don’t have enough time to work on the things,” forward Peja Stojakovic said. “You’ve got to meet. You’ve got to talk. You’ve got to keep the team together. The good thing is we have a good chemistry on this team. That’s an important thing.

“When you have guys on the same page willing to go out there and play hard, I think it’s always a great chance for us to get out of that position.”

Prior to the past two games, the Hornets couldn’t outrebound a group of Audubon Charter School children on a playground.

Now look at these guys. They beat the Clippers on the boards by 15. Thursday night, it was a plus-18 margin in rebounds.

Prior to the past two games, New Orleans would have been outhustled by a group of school kids in an Easter egg hunt.

Now look at them. Hustling for rebounds and using a quick pace to keep opponents on their heels.

Yes, everybody is buying into what Bower is selling.

And it starts with the veterans.

“I think they’re helping Coach Bower right now,” rookie guard Darren Collison said. “Coach Bower is doing a good job of coaching. He hasn’t been a coach in a long time, so the things he needs help with, I think CP (Chris Paul) and David West and James Posey, they’re stepping in and trying to help where he needs help.”

And that’s the only place a turn around can start for this team.