http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/108227888183080.xml Davis hoping for 'breakout series' Sunday, April 18, 2004 John Reid MIAMI -- Hornets point guard Baron Davis is striving to have a productive playoff series against the Miami Heat. What he wants to avoid is a repeat of last season, when he struggled to make an impact because of a bone bruise in his left knee that sapped his quickness. Davis averaged 20.4 points, but the Philadelphia 76ers eliminated the Hornets in six games. "I want to have a breakout series like I did against Orlando (2002)," Davis said. "I was hurt last year and wasn't able to do some of the things I wanted to do. All of that stuff still sticks with me every day. Now it's time to redeem myself." Davis has recovered from a sprained left ankle that caused him to miss nine of the final 11 regular-season games. He still has some soreness, but it's not expected to limit him. "It's do or die, either you want to play or you don't, that's it," Davis said of the effort level he thinks will be needed from his teammates. "It's all mental concentration and preparation. You've got to really believe you're going to win." The Heat won the regular-season series against the Hornets 3-1. The Heat also closed the regular season with 12 consecutive victories at American Airlines Arena. Overall, Miami won 17 of its final 21 games. ASSISTS MAN: Backup point guard Shammond Williams had 28 assists in the final three regular-season games. After his first 13 games with the Hornets, he had 24. A PLAYOFF MUST: When shooting guard David Wesley has a bad shooting game, the Hornets often struggle. The Hornets lost 14 of 18 games when Wesley scored fewer than 10 points. He scored in double figures in four of the final five games. COACH'S CORNER: One of Coach Tim Floyd's concerns is the Heat's ability to score in transition. "They are a terrific offensive transition team," Floyd said. "They're very athletic to take advantage of their fast-break situations. "When things break down, they're as good as any team in this league at driving the basketball. We need to get five guys to be prepared to guard the drive and screen-and-rolls." NOT ENOUGH POINTS: One trend the Hornets want to avoid is low-scoring quarters. In the regular season, the Hornets had 24 games in which they scored 15 points or fewer in a quarter. They were 6-18 in those games. EXPERIENCE EDGE: Center Jamaal Magloire said the Hornets plan to take advantage of their edge in playoff experience against Miami. The Hornets clinched their fifth consecutive playoff berth. The Heat is making its first appearance since 2001, when it was swept by the Hornets. "We understand what it takes to play in this type of setting," Magloire said. "Our guys have been doing it year in and year out. In this league, it's all about experience and knowing your opponent and what to take away. We're coming in with a new mind-set, a sense of urgency. I've seen it during the last two days of practice." FINAL TALLY: Floyd used 17 different lineups, mainly because of injuries. The team's projected lineup of Baron Davis, David Wesley, Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown and Jamaal Magloire was used for two games. The Hornets went 33-30 without Mashburn, 5-10 without Davis. Mashburn was not put on the team's playoff roster because of a bone bruise in his right knee. . . . Before Magloire was nominated for the All-Star Game in February, he was averaging 11.8 points and 9.4 points. Since playing in the game, he's averaged 16.4 points and 11.9 rebounds. . . . The Hornets went 15-21 when they shot more 3-pointers than free throws. . . . The Hornets went 3-13 when Stacey Augmon scored in double figures. UPCOMING: Game 2 between the Hornets and Heat is 7 p.m. Wednesday at Miami. The series resumes Saturday at noon in New Orleans Arena for Game 3. . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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