NBA Roundup: They'll Always Be The NOOCH To Us

Notes on Monday's games in the National Basketball Association ...

• It's Rasual Monday. Even though they are pretty much officially the New Orleans Hornets now, we'll always remember their short time in Oklahoma City fondly, when they were the NOOCH, scourge of the midwest. The Hornets will be in New Orleans full time next season, when, incidentally, they should probably be a force to reckon with in the playoffs. For now they'll settle for just getting there; the Hornets are 30-37, 1 1/2 games behind Golden State for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference. On Monday, Rasual Butler (18 points) and Tyson Chandler (16) led New Orleans to a 106-88 win over the Celtics. Goodbye, NOOCH. We'll always have throwback jersey day.

• Southern Comfort. The Atlanta Hawks are living on borrowed time, 4 1/2 games back of Indiana for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. But Josh Childress wishes to keep the faith. The Stanford product scored 25 points to lead Atlanta past Sacramento 99-76 ... and my, haven't he Kings tanked since Artest's little domestic problem?

• Hey, Abbott!. Look, it's the TrueHoop soft launch on ESPN. Remember your training, Anakin. Beware the Dark Side.