Feb 8, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; New Orleans Hornets shooting guard Eric Gordon (10) in action against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

The Hornets have won two straight to pull out of last place in the Western Conference, but their record probably does not do them justice.

Star guard Eric Gordon is back and playing in his 18th game of the season. In the 17 games he’s played, the Hornets are 10-7. The former 7th-overall draft pick is leading the Hornets with 17 points in 30 minutes per game, while shooting 41% from the field.

Other major contributors in the Hornets’ offense are Greivis Vasquez and Ryan Anderson. Vasquez, a third-year guard out of Maryland, is putting up elite numbers now that he has a secure starting job: 14 points and 9.4 assists in 34 minutes per game. He’s also grabbing 4.5 boards a game, which has Andrea Bargnani beat.

Anderson, meanwhile, is draining a career-high three 3-pointers a game this season, good for 2nd in the league behind Stephen Curry. He’s also shooting a very respectable 40% clip from beyond the arc. The Hornets also boast the 2012 first-overall draft pick Anthony Davis. Davis is averaging 12 points, 7 rebounds and one unibrow in his first season out of Kentucky.

For the Raptors, it appears Rudy Gay will continue to sink or save the offense. Gay has attempted 22 field goals per game in his first four games as a Raptor, en route to an average of 24 points. Andrea Bargnani has been very solid in his first two games back, shooting a combined 12-for-20.

The Raptors are 7.5 games behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference.

Casey Sherman is a staff writer for Raptors Rapture. “Like” Raptors Rapture on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @RaptorsRapture for all the latest news and updates about the best damn NBA team from Canada.

More songs about buildings and food “The Talking Heads”, 1978 [photomosaic album cover conceived by David Byrne and executed by artist Jimmy De Sana]

To me, that’s the epitome of silliness. Ever wonder why Los Angeles has the Lakers?  The Minneapolis (“Minnesota – Land of 10,000 Lakes”) team moved there in 1960 – now you know.

I’ve disliked the name “Raptors” since it was made official. For my taste, a team name should have an association with its city or province, be alliterative, work well when abbreviated or chanted, and evoke a powerful image in the mind’s eye. By those standards, the name “Raptors” is an air ball, so let’s consider some options.

• Towers. Whether we’re talking specifically about the CN Tower, which dominates our skyline, or generically about the condo towers which have sprung up throughout Toronto’s bursting downtown, this name evokes the city. Happily, it’s alliterative, and of course basketball players are towering people. On the down side, the thought of cheering for Towers doesn’t float my boat. Here’s a new rule – a team name has to be about people or animals. No weather (Miami Heat) or gratuitous brown-nosing (Orlando Magic) names need apply.
• Titans. Again, the check boxes for alliteration and height are filled, and there’s a superhuman connotation. There’s no Toronto or Ontario association, but we could do worse.
• Canadians. We’re dropping local, and going national. Do the cheers become “let’s go C’s”?
• Moose. Large northern creatures, usually peaceful unless threatened, in which case you better find a tree, fast. A workable image for a pro hoops team.
• Grizzlies. I’m serious. These beasts are denizens of Canada, and I’m willing to wager the folks in Tennessee would be happy to find a more suitable team name.

Do you like any of these options, or is Raptors still your favourite? Do you have a new team name you’d like to tell us about? Please drop a comment.

FYI: Here are the finalists from the naming contest of ’93-’94 -  Beavers, Bobcats, Dragons, Grizzlies, Hogs, Raptors, Scorpions, T-Rex, Tarantulas, and Terriers. It’s hard to take most of these seriously (Scorpions???), but  if you can build a case, I’m all ears eyes.