January 4, 2006

Since opening the season with an impressive 8-3 mark, the Hornets have now dropped 17 of their last 21 games. The six-week stretch, which began with a defeat at Phoenix on Nov. 22, has been reminiscent of the 2004-05 season, when the Hornets finished 18-64 – the worst record in franchise history.

During his postgame press conference Thursday, Hornets third-year head coach Byron Scott told the media that the recent losing has been more difficult to accept, because the 2006-07 club held much higher expectations by comparison.

“Yes, (this season is tougher), because two years ago, I expected (a struggling team),” Scott said. “I didn’t expect this, this year. It’s tougher, because of all the guys we have hurt right now.

“Two years ago, we didn’t really have anyone hurt – we just weren’t very good. But we were trying to start over (and rebuild for the future).”

Scott acknowledged that Hornets such as Jannero Pargo, Rasual Butler and Marc Jackson – who were expected to be reserves but have been thrust into starting roles – have been put in uncomfortable roles.

“With everybody out, it puts a lot more pressure on a lot of guys to do things that they’re not accustomed to doing,” Scott described. “We brought most of these (role players) in to HELP us win games. We brought Peja (Stojakovic) and Bobby (Jackson) in to WIN games. Those two guys, along with Chris (Paul) and David (West), they win games for you. The other guys HELP you win games.

“We don’t have that guy who can take over games like we did earlier in the season (when the Hornets were at full strength).”

Emotional locker room
Scott spent a few minutes longer than normal talking to his team in the locker room after Thursday’s discouraging, 92-68 defeat to Detroit. Scott indicated that several Hornets players were upset with how the squad performed, after one of the team’s sloppiest showings of the campaign. New Orleans/Oklahoma City shot 33 percent from the field and totaled a season-low in points. Perhaps most galling to anyone watching the game, the Hornets botched a handful of two-on-one fast-break opportunities in the second half that normally result in easy baskets.
“We had some guys in there who were angry, screaming, shouting, crying,” Scott related. “A little bit of everything, emotional-wise, which I thought was good, because it showed me that we haven’t quit and that we still care. We can’t do it with one or two guys – we don’t have that type of team right now.
“Those one or two guys are sitting on the sideline,” Scott said, alluding to the Hornets’ injured stars, “so we have to do it collectively.”

Forgettable first half
The Hornets set the tone for their unsightly loss Thursday by allowing Detroit guard Richard Hamilton to get hot immediately, scoring 17 points in the opening quarter. The Pistons led 31-19 after a quarter and put the Hornets in a 58-32 hole by halftime.
“The first half was terrible,” Scott assessed. “I don’t think we came out with the effort and intensity that we needed. The one thing I said to the guys before we took the floor was, ‘Do not allow (Detroit) to play harder than we play.’ (But) we did. We allowed them to play harder and do whatever they wanted to do on both ends of the floor.”

B.Jackson return encouraging
Hornets reserve guard Bobby Jackson received a nice ovation upon entering the game Thursday. In his first action since Nov. 28 after sustaining a cracked-rib injury, the 6-foot-1, 10-year veteran logged 10 minutes and scored seven points.
“Bobby played about the (amount of) minutes we wanted him to play,” Scott said. “Right now we have to be very cautious with him, so we don’t re-aggravate that injury. But I like what I saw from him. He looked very good after being out a month. His aggressiveness is something that we need.”

Pargo adjusts to floor-general role
Over the first four seasons of his NBA career, Jannero Pargo has frequently been asked to come into games off the bench and spark his club with his explosive offensive game. His streak-shooting ability has often enabled the 6-foot-1 guard to score points in bunches.
However, partly due to his shoot-first tendencies, the Arkansas product has rarely served as what coaches describe as a “conventional” point guard in the mold of Chris Paul, a player who is experienced at setting up his teammates and effectively running an offense.
“We lost the two point guards (to injury) who we knew could handle (running the team),” Scott said. “Bobby Jackson, a veteran who has played that (role) for a long time. And CP is the glue of the team. He’s the conductor.
“When (Paul) went down after Bobby (was injured), it put (Pargo) in a position he hasn’t been used to. So he’s trying to learn how to run a basketball team. Sometimes that’s not natural for him, but he’s doing the best he can. That’s all I can ask of him. We are trying to put him in situations where he can be successful. He’s going to better for it.”

Coach Walker comeback?
While addressing a question on whether Scott is concerned about Jannero Pargo becoming fatigued due to Pargo’s expanded minutes and role, Scott explained that he has few other options at the position right now.
“The only other choice I have is to tell (assistant) coach (Darrell) Walker to suit up,” Scott joked, “but I know that’s a lost cause.”
Walker was a point guard during his 10-year NBA career, but he retired from the league in 1993 and will turn 46 on March 9.