The Hornets have won 7 of their last 10 games and sit at 25-28 at the end of the first half of the season.  They are only 1/2 a game behind the Minnesota Timberwolves for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.  The Hornets could have easily laid down when injuries took Peja Stojakovic, Chris Paul and David West away from them early in the season.  With West and Paul back the Hornets are surging towards the playoffs and it might be hard for the teams at the bottom of the playoff ladder to deny the Hornets.  Unsung heroes like Tyson Chandler, Devin Brown, Rasual Butler and Jannero Pargo kept the Hornets afloat until they got their big guns back.  Look out for the Hornets in the second half of the season.