SCOTT-Free — Byron Scott Fired

It’s over.

The Byron Scott era in New Orleans has gone the way of the dodo and Bo Bice’s career — extinct.  Finished.  Kaput.

On Thursday, the New Orleans Hornets fired head coach Byron Scott, and welcomed in the Jeff Bower agenda.  Bower, the Hornets’ general manager, is apparently getting some help from former Big Easy head man Tim Floyd, who retired from the same position at USC before the season started.

The Hornets stumbled to 3-6 this season after dropping another lopsided contest last night to Phoenix 124-104.  Of course, Scott was named coach of the year as recently as 2008, and more than a few fans seem to think that the axing came too hastily.  Scott brought the best years the Hornets have enjoyed during their stay in south Louisiana, and with 73 games left I’m not sure this was the best move.

Owner George Shinn said in a statement that the move gives the Hornets the best opportunity “to reach our goals this season.”

Really?  Look, the Hornets have been flailing, and they’re 6-12 since April of this year, but is it really Scott’s fault?  The names are nearly the same, minus Tyson Chandler.  Does anyone really believe that Bower can do any better, with or without Floyd perched on his shoulder?

Here’s the deal, the games like the one we lost last night aren’t okay to lose.  Phoenix could have been a perfect salve for the Hornets — a good enough team to count as an impressive win on the short way back to respectability; yet not a team so good that winning was anywhere close to out of reach.  But it didn’t work out that way.  Same thing happened against Boston, San Antonio, Los Angeles, etc.  But nine games into the season? Come on.

Is this just a white flag?  A give up move?  I’ll be pulling for CP3, and Bower, and hell even Floyd for the rest of the season, but even with a 33% winning percentage through nine games I still believe Scott gave the Hornets a better chance to win.  This is a guy that’s being mentioned as the likely replacement for Phil Jackson.  Phil Freakin Jackson.

And somehow, a general manager and a career ex-coach are supposed to be able to squeeze more juice out of this hive?

I’m sure there will be a hurricane or two poured out for Coach Scott tonight, and deservedly so.  Thanks for the good years, and good luck.

Still, it’s a long season, and the best has to be yet to come.  No way a 111-117 loss to the Knick can be any team’s peak.  Listening Jeff?