NBA Notebook
Hornets' West Back At Practice, May Play
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A hard shot to David West's ailing back finished him for the fourth quarter of the Hornets' loss at San Antonio in Game 6.
Game 7 tomorrow night in New Orleans is another matter.
One day of rest proved enough for the Hornets' all-star forward to get back on the court for yesterday's practice. That was a relief to teammates, who were concerned when West was facedown on the court in San Antonio on Thursday night, his left arm bent awkwardly over his lower back, after a hard screen set from behind by Spurs veteran Robert Horry.
"If you come to practice and one of your best players is hurt, and you see him out here getting some shots up, that's the sign of a warrior," teammate Morris Peterson said. "That's the kind of guy he is."
Horry was questioned yesterday about the hard foul that sent West to the locker room. Last year, Horry got thrown out of a playoff game for a hockey-style check that sent Suns G Steve Nash crashing into the scorer's table.
"If he would have got up, this question would be moot right now," Horry said. "It was just a regular back pick, he fell down and it hurt his back."
Hornets Coach Byron Scott said he was not surprised to see West back on the court.
"That's D-West," Scott said. "If he can get himself close to 100 percent for Game 7, then I think we're in good shape."
ยท SILAS MAY BE IN SUNS' MIX: If Phoenix hires a coach long on NBA experience but short on coaching chops -- be it Terry Porter, Elston Turner or Mark Jackson-- Paul Silas would relish the chance to play the role of mentor as a lead assistant.
Of course, if the opportunity to be the head man of what he termed would be "the most talented team I would have ever had" should present itself, Silas would likely box out for position as he did when he was one of the league's best rebounders during his 16-year career.
Silas had a 10-minute phone conversation with Suns GM Steve Kerr, and is hoping for more discussions this week.
"I don't want to rule anything out, but I would be comfortable as an assistant," said Silas, who played for the Suns from 1970-74 and was an assistant coach under Paul Westphal from 1995-97.
-- From News Services
