http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/108486181062390.xml Former Nets coach is first candidate to meet with team Tuesday, May 18, 2004 By John Reid and Jimmy Smith Staff writers For nearly two hours, Hornets officials met with former New Jersey Nets coach Byron Scott in the team's first interview conducted to fill its head-coaching vacancy. Scott and Hornets majority owner George Shinn said they were pleased after their initial round of talks ended. "It went good," Scott said as he was leaving the Alario Center with assistant general manager Allan Bristow. No job offer was extended to Scott, but a team official said Scott told Shinn that if the job is offered, he would make a decision within two weeks. "Of course, I look at this as a positive, but this is just one step in the process," Shinn said. "Obviously, we were very impressed. I told Byron that we have a couple of other people that we're going to interview, and we want to make a decision quickly. We're just going to wait and evaluate the other guys and then make a decision." Last week Shinn identified Scott as one of the top candidates to replace Tim Floyd, who was fired May 7. Scott led the Nets to two consecutive berths in the NBA Finals and had a 149-139 record in 3 ½ seasons before he was fired in January. Jack Capella, the Hornets' executive vice president of basketball operations and chief operating officer, said Scott discussed thoroughly during the interview his offensive playing style and desire to have his players push the ball upcourt quickly. "He's all about running," Capella said. "He's pretty impressive." Scott will remain in New Orleans today and will take a tour of the team's private plane. Shinn said they will give him a complete rundown of how things are run in the organization. Shinn declined to say when the next phase of interviews will start with other candidates. A league source said the Hornets plan to interview former NBA coaches Mike Fratello, Brian Hill and George Karl. Shinn talked before and after Monday's interview with Scott, but the Hornets took unusual steps to make sure no media were present inside the Alario Center when they met with Scott. All the doors were locked. Photographers were allowed only to take photos of Scott entering and leaving the facility behind a fence that encloses the players' parking lot. No interviews were granted with Scott. Hornets point guard Baron Davis showed up at the Alario Center during the interview but said he didn't meet with Scott. But Davis jokingly said he had to plead the fifth. Davis and Scott left the Alario Center at the same time, but from different exits. "I grew up watching him play, and I like what he did in New Jersey," Davis said. "I know he's one of the top candidates. Seriously, whoever we get, it doesn't matter to me. I'm going to play hard and come back next season totally focused and concentrate on what I need to do make the team successful. "I know the staff, general manager and owners are going to do everything in the best interest of this team. I know Byron has a great record as well as the other guys they are considering." Scott arrived in New Orleans at 1:30 p.m. and was taken by Bristow for a tour of New Orleans Arena before meeting with executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager Bob Bass, Shinn and other team officials at the Alario Center. "We all asked questions," Shinn said. "He likes the city very much. He had a 21-year-old son who attended Xavier, and he said his wife likes the city better than he does. Of course, I look at that as a positive." . . . . . . . John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3405. Jimmy Smith can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3814. --

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