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According to Wikipedia, which obviously is the end-all source on everything, the Hornets don't have a rival. That makes me remarkably sad considering the deep seeded mild anger that I feel toward opposing ball clubs. If we don't have a rival, how will anyone know which games matter most at the beginning of the season? Sure every game matters, but there is something to be said for manufacturing drama, especially on a sports blog.

Since the dawn of sports, long term rivalries have existed for a number of reasons, including...

• The two teams that are competing have fan bases that are in close geographical proximity to one another, often leading for fans to root for one or the other.
• The teams are thrust into competing in crucial games year after year in which only one can prevail
• Both teams have an excellent player whose accomplishments for whatever reason are always compared to those of another team's excellent player.
• They are a great marketing tool for teams to entice fans to come to the arena, even if a season isn't going quite as planned.
  
• The media needs stuff to write about, and the fans want a reason to care more.
  

Frankly I don't want to start a discussion about who Hornets fans like the least, but that's exactly what needs to happen to determine a rival. Lot's of teams have angered the Bees over the years, and it's time fans let them know exactly how they feel.

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It's playoff prediction time here at Hornets247. No, the Bees won't be part in the postseason, but that doesn't mean that we can't have some fun talking about the 16 teams that have earned a shot to compete for the title. The seeding is set, players and coaches are preparing, and we're predicting.

Ryan Schwan: If ever there was a time when seeding was unimportant, it was this year in the Western Conference.  Seven games difference between the 1 seed and the 8 seed?  Point differentials that only vary by 2.6?  Crazy place, the Western Conference.

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The Hornets are back home at last and ready to take on the Mavericks tonight at 7 Central. It will be a game-time decision as to whether Chris Paul will play.

The Mavericks are 46-23 on the season, 22-12 on the road, and had won 13 straight before dropping two of their last three. On Saturday they fell to the Celtics in Dallas, 93-102, despite 28 points from Dirk Nowitzki. Erick Dampier returned from injury a week ago, but has since seen limited minutes and has struggled somewhat.

The Mavs are currently a half game behind the Denver Nuggets for the 2-seed in the West, looking to snatch that and avoid the Lakers for as long as possible in the playoffs.

The 33-38 Hornets are coming off that 1-4 road trip and are just 8-17 since Chris Paul got injured. David West was ejected from Saturday's game against the Jazz for a hard foul on Kyle Korver, but upon review the NBA has downgraded the foul from a flagrant 2 to a flagrant 1.

This the fourth and final meeting between the Hornets and Mavs this season. Dallas leads the season series 2-1. The Hornets lone win came in overtime back on November 4, thanks in large part to the Mavs missing a bunch of free throws. In their most recent showdown on February 28, Darren Collison poured in 35 points, but Nowitzki scored 36 of his own and had more help en route to a 108-100 Mavs win.

Numbers:

Pace: Mavericks 94.7 (17th), Hornets 95.0 (15th)
Offensive Efficiency: Mavericks 106.8 (10th), Hornets 104.3 (18th)
Defensive Efficiency: Mavericks 103.6 (12th), Hornets 106.6 (21st)

Linkage:

• Earlier on the blog: Chris Paul returns this week
• Journals: An Appetizing Offseason
• Rival bloggers: Mavs Moneyball | The Two Man Game (THN)
  

(Many thanks to Dariusz for today's banner featuring Chris Paul. Be sure to check out more of Dariusz's designs in our Wallpapers vault.)

The Hornets fell into their patented hole again tonight, watching the Mavericks click on all cylinders and go up by as much as 25 points in the third quarter. Luckily, New Orleans also seems to have a patent on unlikely resurrections, as they fought hard to get the Dallas lead down to 4 points with 2:45 left on the clock. It seemed Hornets fans might be in for their second incredible comeback of the weekend, but alas, Dirk Nowitzki was sipping the unstoppable and dropped in enough turnaround jumpers over James Posey to seal the deal for the bad guys.

108-100 the final score. Some quick game notes before the full moon takes me...

Okafor anyone?

If any one guy turned this game around for the Hornets, it was Emeka Okafor. I've been down on his performance the past few weeks, but in that third quarter he was playing all kinds of great defense. His numbers for the period: 4 points, 9 rebounds (3 offensive), 4 steals and 2 blocks. He was that guy the Hornets desperately needed to step up and make a defensive stand after the Mavs had poured in 69 points on 67 percent shooting in the first half. Okafor was quick with his outlets too, hurrying the ball into Marcus Thornton's hands and allowing the rookie to unleash some of that funky fury on the break.

Okafor started the fourth quarter making the same impact, grabbing three rebounds (two offensive) in two minutes. And then... he was gone: benched in favor of James Posey for the rest of the game, a move brought to you by the letters W, T and F.

Now we've seen Jeff Bower keep Okafor off the floor down the stretch several times already this season, and much more often than not there has been a good reason for such a move. (Usually it's because Okafor is having trouble defending the high pick and roll.) But tonight, I can't for the life of me see the logic in it. The Mavs weren't dragging Okafor out high. He was being left under the basket and happily doing his shot-blocking, pass-deflecting, glass-cleaning thang.

It's not like Posey was on some superstar ish either, since Dirk was quite content to back him down, turn and fire home clutch jumpers. Granted, not much any defender can do about that, but I would have loved to have seen David West trying to handle Dirk down the stretch while Okafor was reinserted into the middle to do more goodness. If that had happened, you know Brendan Haywood would have been less likely to get those two back-breaking offensive rebounds.

SMH, as Julian Wright would tweet.

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The Hornets just got done knocking off the mighty Magic on ESPN on Friday, and tonight they'll look to slay another formidable foe on national TV. Game tips at 8:30 Central, and you can watch it online via ESPN360. There's also the Daily Dime chat, where Joe will be talking Hornets during the game.

The Mavericks come in riding a season-high six-game win streak, which puts them at 38-21 on the season, 19-9 at home. They've beaten the Magic, Lakers and Hawks during their streak and are getting great play from the likes of Dirk Nowitzki (27.7ppg in his last seven), Jason Kidd (19, 17 and 16 vs. the Hawks on Friday) and Brendan Haywood.

Haywood joined the Mavs as part of the Josh-Howard-for-Caron-Butler swap at the trade deadline and has filled in brilliantly for the injured Erick Dampier, averaging 11 points, 11 boards and 3 blocks for Dallas. But Aaron Gray ain't scurred.

The Hornets and Mavericks have met twice already this season. The Hornets won a thriller in overtime in New Orleans back in November, but the Mavs got revenge in Dallas with a 94-90 win in mid-December. Nowitzki was unusually ineffective in both those meetings, scoring a total of 22 points on 31 percent shooting.

Injuries:

Dampier will be out for a few weeks with a dislocated finger, while Caron Butler has missed the past two games "due to a negative reaction to medication he takes for his knee." Sounds like Butler will play tonight though. As for the Hornets, Chris Paul (knee surgery) and Darius Songaila (ankle) remain sidelined.

Numbers:

Pace: Mavericks 94.4 (20th), Hornets 94.7 (17th)
Offensive Efficiency: Mavericks 106.1 (10th), Hornets 104.5 (13th)
Defensive Efficiency: Mavericks 102.9 (12th), Hornets 105.4 (18th)

Linkage:

• Standings: Hornets 2.5 games behind the Blazers for the 8th spot. No game for Portland tonight.
  
• Rival bloggers: Mavs Moneyball | The Two Man Game (THN)
  

(Many thanks to Dariusz for today's banner featuring Peja Stojakovic. Be sure to check out more of Dariusz's designs in our Wallpapers vault.)