text: Can the Hornets Conquer the West? (Reuters) Reuters - The New Orleans Hornets are\going to have their work cut out for them in the 2004-05\season. When the NBA approved its realignment plan, the Hornets\became the newest member of the Western Conference as the\expansion Charlotte Bobcats were placed in the East, giving\each conference 15 clubs comprised of three divisions of five\teams.