Bill Kostroun / Associated Press

Chris Paul is an essential part of fans' high expectations for this season.

Not too long ago, the New Orleans Hornets were bottom feeders, the team bringing up the rear of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.

And then the 2007-2008 season happened.

And now the Hornets are bottom feeders no longer, picked to contend for the Western Conference and Southwest Division title.

That happens when you pick up a franchise-record 56 wins and grab the hearts of basketball fans throughout the Gulf South and country with a gritty brand of basketball.

"It's alright that people are putting that type of faith in us," New Orleans forward David West said Friday during the team's media day at the New Orleans Arena. "But we know that's not going to get us anywhere. We have to approach this next month, this next two months with the right state of mind."

New Orleans begins training camp Saturday, its first practice since falling in Game 7 in the conference semifinals to San Antonio in May.

The Hornets will play seven preseason games, two of which come in Europe against Washington (one in Barcelona, Spain; the other in Berlin, Germany).

It's the next step for a franchise that exploded onto the scene a season ago. With questions about whether the Hornets could survive in post-Katrina New Orleans, head coach Byron Scott and his cast of characters won the hearts of the city.

New Orleans repaid the franchise by setting a franchise-record for season tickets sold at more than 10,000.

And now the Hornets must play with the weight of expectations on their shoulders.

"I don't think there's anymore pressure," center Tyson Chandler said. "Every year going in, the goal should be winning the championship. The pressure doesn't rise above that."

Gold medalist, MVP-candidate and All-Star forward Chris Paul returns, as do West, Chandler, guard Morris Peterson and forward Peja Stojakovic.

That makes up the same starting five that took the Hornets into the postseason. Though Jannero Pargo and Bonzi Wells are gone, New Orleans brought in a bevy of talent to replace them.

Included in that group is forward James Posey, a nine-year veteran who has won NBA titles in two of the past three seasons.

Scott has been ready for the season to start for the past few weeks, getting revved up by watching old Hornets games on CST.

"For the past three weeks, I've been biting at the bit," Scott said. "The excitement of having these guys and the expectations we read out there – our expectations are pretty high. Everybody is eager to start."

Added Paul, "We expect a lot out of ourselves. We felt like we had a great season last year. Lost a few key components to our success last year, but we added some great players. Me, I'm a little biased, but I think this team has what it takes to get to the next level."