5 Key Goals for Monty Williams and New Orleans Hornets

These are several obvious signs that a team eliminated from playoff contention has essentially shut it down and is just playing out the string.

Blatant loafing and lackadaisical play on the court.

Little or no effort on defense.

Players chucking up ill-advised three-point shots early in the shot clock instead of running the offense.

Anyone who has watched NBA basketball long enough will recognize these tell-tale vestiges of a team who has quit on their coach and, frankly, their fans.

But—despite being eliminated early from any thought of playoff contention—you didn't see any of these symptoms with the