ESPN's Marc Stein reports that the New Orleans Hornets have fired head coach Byron Scott after the team's 3-6 start to the season. The Hornets have not announced who will replace Scott.
Hornets Give Byron Scott The Ax
The Hornets were blown out Wednesday night by the resurgent Phoenix Suns, losing 124-104, in what was apparently the final straw for Scott. After the game, Steve Nash said he thought the Hornets missed the “energy, spirit...and belief that they had last year” -- and apparently the Hornets management agreed.
Despite Chris Paul’s historically good start -- he is shooting over 62% from the field and on pace for the greatest single-season in NBA history -- the Hornets have stumbled out of the gate, getting outscored by 5.1 points per game this season. Scott had been the focus of fan animosity after last year’s disappointing regular season, and it was somewhat of a surprise that the Hornets decided to bring him back for the 2009-10 season.
Scott was the 2007-08 NBA Coach of the Year after shepherding the Hornets to a surprising division title. Before joining the Hornets organization in 2005, Scott coached the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back Finals appearances.
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