Rookie Diary: Simmons Debut
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Hornets rookie Cedric Simmons drained a key jumper with 1:02 remaining in regulation, helping the hosts defeat Dallas by an 84-81 count.
Layne Murdoch/Getty Images/NBAE
October 11, 2006
Periodically throughout the 2006-07 season, Hornets.com will chat with Hornets first-round draft picks Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons, to get their thoughts on what life is like as an NBA rookie, both on and off the floor.
Armstrong and Simmons made their NBA preseason debuts on Tuesday evening against the Dallas Mavericks, with mixed results. Armstrong played just seven minutes against the defending Western Conference champions before being sidelined due to bruised ribs. The 6-foot-11 Connecticut alum wasn’t expected to miss Friday’s game vs. Orlando.
Meanwhile, Simmons missed his first four shots from the field Tuesday en route to a 2-for-8, four-point showing offensively. On the plus side, the North Carolina State product blocked two shots and grabbed five rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
As it turned out, the last of Simmons’ five rebounds was cause for some personal embarrassment – with the Hornets leading 84-81 and less than five seconds remaining, Simmons pulled in an offensive board, but instead of trying to run out the clock, he immediately lofted a shot at the basket. Simmons’ miss was grabbed by Dallas, giving the Mavericks a chance to forcing overtime, but their desperation 3-point heave fell short. New Orleans/Oklahoma City prevailed by the 84-81 margin.
Minutes after the Hornets’ preseason opener in Oklahoma City, Simmons good-naturedly discussed his initial exhibition game, his late-game mental mistake and the “rookie treatment” he may already be getting from the referees.
Cedric Simmons
My first preseason game was really fun, and it kind of reminded me of college. You know, at some NBA games, the crowd doesn’t really cheer at all, but the crowd was into the game tonight and stayed for most of the game. It was a really good atmosphere.
For the most part, even though it was only a preseason game, it was still pretty intense on the court – a lot more intense than what I saw at (Las Vegas) summer league. Guys wanted to win and show that this team is better than last year.
I think I did pretty well, but I could have done a better job rebounding. As far as the last shot of the game that I took, I felt so dumb. I just wanted to hide my head and find a hole to climb into somewhere. Coach Scott told me ‘Young fella, just hold the ball! There’s only four seconds left on the clock.’ I told him that I had no idea how much time there was on the clock.
I’m glad we are playing games now and that the first part of training camp (consisting of intense and physical daily practices) is over. I think the (Hornets’) veterans were ready for the rookies to come in. They were licking their chops [grins]. The practices we had in New Orleans kind of reminded me of my first college practices. Everything was happening so fast, and it was over before I knew it.
I definitely felt like a rookie a couple times tonight. There was one play when I was under the basket and trying to box out (Dallas 11th-year veteran center) Erick Dampier, but he just grabbed me and threw me out of the way. The referee who was standing right there saw the play and said, ‘Hey Damp, take it easy.’ I was thinking, ‘You mean that wasn’t a foul (on Dampier)?’ But the ref didn’t call anything. He just told (Dampier) to take it easy! [laughs]
Periodically throughout the 2006-07 season, Hornets.com will chat with Hornets first-round draft picks Hilton Armstrong and Cedric Simmons, to get their thoughts on what life is like as an NBA rookie, both on and off the floor.
Armstrong and Simmons made their NBA preseason debuts on Tuesday evening against the Dallas Mavericks, with mixed results. Armstrong played just seven minutes against the defending Western Conference champions before being sidelined due to bruised ribs. The 6-foot-11 Connecticut alum wasn’t expected to miss Friday’s game vs. Orlando.
Meanwhile, Simmons missed his first four shots from the field Tuesday en route to a 2-for-8, four-point showing offensively. On the plus side, the North Carolina State product blocked two shots and grabbed five rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
As it turned out, the last of Simmons’ five rebounds was cause for some personal embarrassment – with the Hornets leading 84-81 and less than five seconds remaining, Simmons pulled in an offensive board, but instead of trying to run out the clock, he immediately lofted a shot at the basket. Simmons’ miss was grabbed by Dallas, giving the Mavericks a chance to forcing overtime, but their desperation 3-point heave fell short. New Orleans/Oklahoma City prevailed by the 84-81 margin.
Minutes after the Hornets’ preseason opener in Oklahoma City, Simmons good-naturedly discussed his initial exhibition game, his late-game mental mistake and the “rookie treatment” he may already be getting from the referees.
Cedric Simmons
My first preseason game was really fun, and it kind of reminded me of college. You know, at some NBA games, the crowd doesn’t really cheer at all, but the crowd was into the game tonight and stayed for most of the game. It was a really good atmosphere.
For the most part, even though it was only a preseason game, it was still pretty intense on the court – a lot more intense than what I saw at (Las Vegas) summer league. Guys wanted to win and show that this team is better than last year.
I think I did pretty well, but I could have done a better job rebounding. As far as the last shot of the game that I took, I felt so dumb. I just wanted to hide my head and find a hole to climb into somewhere. Coach Scott told me ‘Young fella, just hold the ball! There’s only four seconds left on the clock.’ I told him that I had no idea how much time there was on the clock.
I’m glad we are playing games now and that the first part of training camp (consisting of intense and physical daily practices) is over. I think the (Hornets’) veterans were ready for the rookies to come in. They were licking their chops [grins]. The practices we had in New Orleans kind of reminded me of my first college practices. Everything was happening so fast, and it was over before I knew it.
I definitely felt like a rookie a couple times tonight. There was one play when I was under the basket and trying to box out (Dallas 11th-year veteran center) Erick Dampier, but he just grabbed me and threw me out of the way. The referee who was standing right there saw the play and said, ‘Hey Damp, take it easy.’ I was thinking, ‘You mean that wasn’t a foul (on Dampier)?’ But the ref didn’t call anything. He just told (Dampier) to take it easy! [laughs]
