http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/basketball/heat/ sfl-hornetsnote22apr22,0,2371218.story?coll=sfla-sports-heat Hornets vet remembers early days with Heat By Steve Gorten Staff Writer Posted April 22 2004 MIAMI -- New Orleans guard Steve Smith entered this first-round series against the Heat having appeared in 82 playoff games. While he is no longer a major contributor at this point of his 13-year career, Games 1 and 2 here have been special because they have evoked memories of his rookie season for the Heat (1991-92) when the franchise made the playoffs for the first time. "It's special to be back here playing because my first one was here," said Smith, who played for the Heat from '91-94. "None of the guys are here except for [guard] Bimbo Coles and the coaching staff, but it is special. "You can remember those Miami Heat teams being in the old arena. It's definitely not as luxurious as this one, but the atmosphere was unbelievable." There are "a lot of similarities" between this year's Heat team and that '91-92 team because its "pretty much built on small guys," Smith said. The Heat lost its first playoff series (3-0) to Chicago and lost to Atlanta in 1994, though Smith starred, scoring 22, 24 and 25 the first three games. With the Hornets, his fifth NBA team, Smith has averaged five points and 13 minutes. Hornets coach Tim Floyd said Wednesday Smith will "play some" in this series, but wouldn't specify how much. Smith played just the final 1.3 seconds in Game 1, but started the second half of Game 2. Smith played 14 minutes, went 2 for 9 with four points and six rebounds. "I'm OK with everything. As a true veteran, you don't come in and gripe," Smith said. "When the opportunity is there, I'll come in and provide a lift." As for when he'll retire, the 35-year-old Smith said he's not sure. "Everybody keeps asking me that, I'm going to try to catch [former Heat forward] Kevin Willis." Willis, still playing for San Antonio, is 41. XAVIER ALUMS Heat center Brian Grant is a veteran while Hornets forward/center David West is a rookie, but they share a distinction. Both played at Xavier. Floyd has been pleased with West's contributions off the bench this season. Asked to describe Heat rookie guard Dwyane Wade before Wednesday's game, Floyd said: "Just like our rookie David West, he's not intimidated, he's not afraid, he's got a lot of confidence and a lot of the right tools." READY OR NOT As expected, injured guard Baron Davis started Wednesday despite an ankle injury. Hornets guard Darrell Armstrong, whose ankle injury Floyd deemed "really severe," on Monday, played despite not practicing the past two days. Their inactivity in practice, along with lesser injuries to Jamaal Magloire and David Wesley, worried Floyd entering Game 2. "In two days prior to the playoffs, we were able to go 5-on-5 and create an intensity level we played at [Sunday]," Floyd said. "That's my biggest concern ... how intense we're going to play based on what we've not been able to do that last two days." The Hornets trailed 28-17 after the first quarter. NO EFFECT Teammates didn't seem bothered by not being told beforehand of the organization's decision to send home non-active forward Jamal Mashburn on Tuesday. "Why would they have to say that? If they sent Baron home, then that's something they'd need to tell us," Wesley said. "Mash is not playing, so what's the distraction? He's not even on the playoff roster, so we're not expecting him to play next week. So him going home it shouldn't be a distraction. Whatever's going on is unfortunate, but it doesn't affect us." Steve Gorten can be reached at [email protected]. Copyright c 2004, South Florida Sun-Sentinel --

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