http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1082098663154870.xml MASH DECISION Because of injuries to forward Jamal Mashburn and Courtney Alexander, the Hornets did not place either on their playoff roster. Coach Tim Floyd said the team consulted with both players, and made the decision based solely on their health. Friday, April 16, 2004 By Jimmy Smith Staff writer The Hornets will go through the playoffs as they did during the regular season: minus nearly 30 points per game offensively, thanks to a couple of nagging injuries. The team did not place forward Jamal Mashburn or guard Courtney Alexander on the playoff roster Thursday, meaning neither player is eligible for the postseason, even if New Orleans advances past first-round opponent Miami. From Our Advertiser Mashburn, still bothered by a bone bruise in his right knee, and Alexander, not fully recovered from a ruptured right Achilles tendon, have missed a combined 145 games this season. Mashburn missed 63 games and Alexander 82. Mashburn averaged 21.6 points last season, Alexander 7.9. Because of injuries in the New Orleans backcourt to Baron Davis, Darrell Armstrong (each recovering from sprained ankles) and David Wesley (torn ligament in left big toe), the Hornets opted to place guard Maurice Carter on the playoff roster as insurance. "We had to make a decision, and based on the health of our three guards we made the decision to go with Mo," Hornets coach Tim Floyd said Thursday. "Mash is still not ready. "It doesn't change anything. It's who we've been here for an extended period of time. Our hope is Baron (Davis), Darrell (Armstrong) and David (Wesley) are ready to play a playoff series because we obviously need those guys to play on a high level. Hopefully we'll have a healthy unit ready to go." Mashburn, through a Hornets spokesman, declined comment Thursday as he left the Alario Center. Alexander, who has worked hard to rehab his surgically repaired Achilles in hopes he could return in time for the playoffs, was visibly dejected. "I don't think the word disappointed can capture how I feel," he said. "It's tough. I tried. I worked my tail off. I'll be able to sleep at night knowing I gave it what I could. I didn't do it for any other reason except that all I can remember is all the hard work I put into the season. I wanted to experience some of it." Hornets trainer Terry Kofler said the prudent choice was to be cautious about Alexander's future. "It's still early in the rehabilitative process," Kofler said, "and had he tried to go out and play on it he really would have put himself at very great risk of reinjuring it. He's got to think about himself for a change and not worry about the team, which is really unique in Courtney, because he's a great teammate to these guys." Floyd said the decision to keep both players off the roster was made in conjunction with them by executive vice president of basketball operations Bob Bass, and had nothing to do with perceived chemistry problems the team might have had when Mashburn first returned from injury after rehabbing at his Miami home. "Mash was a party to it," Floyd said, "and it was all about, 'Are you healthy enough to play?' We'd certainly love to have him, but you can only do what you can do." Floyd and Hornets players said Thursday they were looking forward to beginning the second season with a clean slate against the Heat on Sunday. "It doesn't matter who we play, as long as we concentrate on the things we have to do as a ballclub," Davis said. "I like our chances. I like my team. I know we have the talent and the veteran leadership and personality to play real well, no matter if we played Milwaukee, Miami or Detroit. I liked our chances from the beginning." NOTES: Tickets for the first two games of the series in New Orleans on April 24 and 27 are on sale at the New Orleans Arena box office, the NBA's toll-free ticket line (1-800-4NBA-TIX), the Internet at Hornets.com or at Ticketmaster locations, starting at $7 . . . . Cox Sports Television (Channel 37) will televise Games 2, 4 and 5 of the Miami series. Games 4 and 5 also will be televised nationally by TNT. . . . Hornets center Jamaal Magloire has been chosen Eastern Conference Player of the Month . . . . The Hornets did not practice Thursday, but begin preparations for the Heat today. . . . The Hornets lost a coin flip with Milwaukee and will select 18th in the NBA draft June 24. 簡單來說就是我們季後賽沒有怪獸了 也沒有Alexandar 考量到我們後衛群的傷勢的 關係. 大夥兒加油吧 我們這整個球季都是這樣贏球的不是嗎 ^^? Magloire~ 現在要更加倚靠你囉! 衝吧! 蜂群們~ Jimmy Smith can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3814. --

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