Hornets make fast change at coach

Scott's firing comes 9 games into season

By: JournalNow Staff | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 13, 2009

WESTWEGO, La. --

The New Orleans Hornets fired Byron Scott only nine games into the season yesterday and replaced him with General Manager Jeff Bower, hoping the man who built the roster can get solid play on the court.

"I told Jeff, ‘The genie's out of the bottle,' " said Hugh Weber, the Hornets' chief operating officer. "Nobody can say he doesn't have the right players. ... Jeff has hand selected this team, and we like the idea that now he'll be held accountable for the results.

"Our expectations are high. Our sense of urgency is high. Our patience is low and we hope that translates into results quickly."

Scott, who two seasons ago was NBA coach of the year, was fired one day after a 124-104 loss at Phoenix .

Bower, who will remain general manager, immediately moved to name Tim Floyd his top assistant. Floyd, a former Hornets head coach, had more recently coached at Southern California. He led Southern Cal to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, then resigned last June amid reports that he paid to have O.J. Mayo play for the Trojans. An NCAA investigation is ongoing.

Bower was Floyd's assistant coach with the Hornets in the 2003-04 season.

"I have a high comfort level with Tim, who has proven himself to be a quality coach, who has proven himself to have some very specific areas that he's outstanding in," Bower said.

The Hornets were 41-41 in Floyd's one season, losing in a seven-game series to Miami and then-rookie Dwyane Wade in the first round of the playoffs.

The only player left on the Hornets' roster from that season is David West, a rookie then who has since become an All-Star. West said he respected Scott but understood the rationale behind making a change.

"The good thing is we're 3-6, so getting back to .500 and getting going in the right direction isn't something that's out of the realm of possibility," West said. "With Jeff coming in, bringing in Tim, for guys who've only played for Coach Scott, it will be a dramatic difference."

Chris Paul wasn't available after players gathered at the team's training center. Paul and Scott played golf together, and Paul once called Scott a father figure who was closer to him than many of his own relatives.