The coastline of Louisiana didn’t just disappear one night. It’s taken decades for the wetlands to fade and New Orleans to become vulnerable to the destructive forces of Mother Nature. 

Steve Yeater / Associated Press

Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest, right, drives into New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, April 12, 2008. The Kings won 94-91.

Like coastal erosion, the Hornets defense, the last few weeks has crumbled slowly and now might be a fatal problem.

The bad defense started to really show at the beginning of the East coast road trip. The Hornets beat Indiana but gave up 106 points, beat Cleveland but allowed 99, lost to Boston as the Celtics scored 112, and beat Toronto but the Raptors scored 111.

That’s an average of 107 points or about a dozen more than the Hornets usually give up.

Throw in the 107 by the Lakers Friday and 110 by the Knicks and you can see why Byron Scott threw down the gauntlet saying in the Times Picayune, “If we didn't have urgency tonight (Saturday against the Kings), I don't see it changing a whole lot come Tuesday or Wednesday. We'll see. Maybe they'll shock me. But right now, I haven't seen it the last few games.'

Not exactly what you want to hear from the coach of the hometown team right before the playoffs start.

While the Hornets have played very well on defense this season they do it in a very unconventional way.

They don’t play incredibly physical like Detroit or San Antonio and they don’t have a great lock down defensive star player.

How the Hornets have done it is by not fouling (fewest in the NBA), not turning the ball over, and by contesting shots.

They haven’t started having turnover problems.

Fouls and contesting shots is another issue.

The Lakers shot 29 free throws compared to the Hornets 17. A fairly big difference in a close game and fouls lead to key players sitting on the bench.

Tyson Chandler probably would have helped on the defensive boards more in LA had he not been in foul trouble.

The one good piece of news on the Hornets committing fouls is they still aren’t letting teams into the penalty situation early in quarters which can lead to a lot of easy points.

The biggest issue I see is lack of focus early in games.

Even in the win at Minnesota , the Timberwolves Randy Foye had 16 points in the 1^st quarter but he had only four points the rest of the game.

Most of those came on wide open jump shots with hardly any defensive resistance. (I know I watched the game again.) You can get away with lack of focus early against Minnesota , against the Lakers not so much.

Since I won’t pretend to know much about NBA x’s and o’s I have no definite explanation for this.

It probably has something to with the Hornets not making the proper switches and rotations on defense because when NBA players say things like Chris Paul did, “We don’t trust each other on the defensive end of the court.”

That’s code for: Everyone is scared as hell to help each other on defense because we aren’t sure if anyone will cover my guy.

It’s simple really.

If I help you cover player A, somebody needs to defend my guy.

But what if I’m not sure anyone will cover my guy? I’ll just guard my guy and leave you all alone even if you need help.

That’s not how good defense is played because NBA teams can move the ball around and get easy shots but that’s where the Hornets are.

You can tell when this is happening because teams get wide open jump shots in the corner regularly and at key times (Ron Artest’s two dagger three point baskets Saturday night ring a bell?).

The only good news for the Hornets is the Rockets and Spurs both lost Sunday so the number two seed in the West is still solidly in their control.

If they don’t get it together on defense then everything the experts have been saying about them will come to pass about inexperience and a quick playoff exit.

The pressure is on and the only question is, “How will the Hornets respond?”

Hornets this week

Tuesday: Host the Los Angeles Clippers

If the Hornets don’t man up and handle their business in the home finale against the Clippers be afraid, be very afraid.  If the Rocket lose in Utah then a win by the Hornets wraps up the two seed.

I expect a very good effort from the Hornets here. It is the Clippers after all.

Wednesday: At the Dallas Mavericks

A likely playoff preview and for the record I fully expect every NBA talking head, columnist, and so-called expert to pick the Mavericks over the Hornets in the playoffs.

 I’m not ready to make that call just yet.

Ralph Malbrough is a Hornets fan living in Houston . He can be reached at ralphmalbrough@hotmail.com