http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1083662750260510.xml No more technical difficulty Hornets vow to keep their cool against Heat in tonight's Game 7 Tuesday, May 04, 2004 By John Reid Staff writer It didn't take Hornets forward Robert Traylor long to attract the attention of game officials Sunday. Physical play has been a trademark of the Hornets-Miami Heat playoff series. And in Game 6, Traylor kept it going during the 16 minutes he played, banging his 284-pound body into any Heat player standing in his way in the post. But, with 5:11 remaining in the game, Traylor took matters a step too far. As Heat guard Eddie Jones attempted a driving shot, Traylor not only collided with him as he blocked the shot, but pushed Jones down. After a shouting match with Heat players, Traylor was ejected. For most of the series, there's been trash talk, hard bumps and knockdowns. Some players have had to be separated to avoid a scuffle. Since Game 1, 15 technical fouls have been called. In Game 6, which the Hornets won to tie the series at 3, six technicals were called, five of them on Hornets players. "Guys get tired of seeing each other in a seven-game series, and I think it goes both ways," said Hornets coach Tim Floyd, whose team will meet Miami in Game 7 tonight. The winner advances to face top-seeded Indiana in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "It's one of those series where they want to win and we want the same thing, and guys from both sides are willing to do whatever it takes," Traylor said. "I've got to play aggressive, but, at the same time, I have to make sure I don't get any more technicals." Even Hornets forward P.J. Brown, who earned the league's sportsmanship award last month, has not backed down from confrontations. Trash talking went on between Brown and the Heat's Lamar Odom on Sunday. And on one play in the second half, Brown stared down Heat rookie Dwyane Wade after colliding with him. "I'm not one to pick fights. I'm more a laid-backed guy, and I don't say much," Brown said. "But, when somebody says something to me, hey, I'm going to step up and talk back, and that's about it." The Heat had a lot to say about the Hornets after their 89-83 loss in Game 6. "That's the way they play, and some people will classify it as dirty, some people will classify it as playoff basketball," Heat backup guard Rafer Alston said. "When Dwyane goes to the lane and shoots his pull-up or shoots a layup, right before he lands someone is under him or someone is hitting him." In Game 5, Alston intentionally hit Hornets guard David Wesley in the groin after Wesley pushed his hand away on a hand check. Another heated moment came during the final two minutes Sunday when Hornets point guard Baron Davis boldly walked into the Heat's huddle just before a timeout and had to be told to move by official Sean Corbin. "(Miami coach Stan Van Gundy) was drawing a play up, and it wasn't a timeout, and you can't have any secrets," Davis said Monday after practice. "He can't be telling those dudes the play and I'm standing right there. But they blocked me out and said they were going to kick my (butt) if I didn't get out of their huddle. But it doesn't matter, because none of them are going to do it." Most of the Hornets players said they can't afford to lose their poise tonight like they did at times Sunday. The Heat has a 15-game home winning streak, and neither team has lost a home game in the series yet. "It's going to be a loud and intense atmosphere, and I expect that it's going to get loud and hostile from the fans and players," Hornets center Jamaal Magloire said. "Everybody knows what they have to do. . . . Sometimes technicals changes the momentum of the game, so we just have to play smart and aggressive." . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. --

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