The Hornets play in New Orleans now?

How in the world are the defending NBA champions down 2-0 to the New Orleans Hornets? (Heck, there are a lot of writers and headline writers who still haven't realized the Hornets have moved from Charlotte!)
Same reason the Boston Celtics went seven games against the lowly Atlanta Hawks, I guess.
Home-court advantage has been huge in the playoffs this year, especially with all of the parity in the Association.
Just look at the conference semifinals.
Heading into tonight’s games, home teams are 8-0.
Vegas junkies know this, so bear with me if you’re reading Beau-C, but home-court advantage is worth about three points as far as the power ratings and spreads are concerned, which Jeff Sagarin notes on his NBA rankings.
But in the playoffs, when the crowds get even louder (New Orleans had as loud an arena as I've heard in the first two games against the Spurs) and the players get even more hyped, I’d argue the home crowd is worth at least two possessions.
Sagarin is mostly known for his college rankings, but you might check out his NBA rankings as well. They’re on target (which is more than LeBron could say in Game 1) and are a good tool for tools who like to gamble.
If the teams are close, go with the home team.
Visiting teams historically are at a disadvantage in the postseason. Especially in decisive Game 7 situations, where visiting teams have won just six times since 1995 when both Houston (at Phoenix) and Indiana (in your house at New York, Spike!) pulled it off.

5/9 update:
After Thursday night's games, home teams are now 10-0 in the second round of the playoffs. The Celtics went up 2-0 with another win over the Cavs, while the Spurs finally took a game from the Hornets. According to EastCoastSPN tonight, Teams that win the first two games in a series go on to win the series 94 percent of the time.

Then again, on this day in 1993, the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-104 in overtime to become the first NBA team to lose two playoff games at home and then come back to win three straight. So there's hope after all for your Spurs fans.