xpectations are the highest they've ever been in the Charlotte Hornets' 12-year history, and no one's shying away
from the possibilities.
"I love that. I love being the team to beat in the East," swingman Eddie Jones said. "That makes
everybody step up and work even harder, knowing that the team you are facing is going to come out with everything and that's when you learn that you're growing as a team, when you can fight
through it and win with all the expectations."
Hornets coach Paul Silas gets to run his own training camp as head coach for the first time since he led the Los Angeles Clippers in 1986.
Now he has a roster loaded with talent and ready to win now.
"You're talking about expectations, there weren't any expectations (in Los Angeles), so I'd
rather have it this way than the other way," he said. "The thing that I like the most is that we do have a lot more talent than I had then, so I do have the chance to do well this year. I just
like the fact that now I can implement my system. we're going to try and play up-tempo."
Two national magazines picked the Hornets to win the Eastern Conference. By finishing
26-24 in a lockout-shortened season, including 14-4 in their last 18 games, Charlotte is expected to compete in the East, where there is no clear-cut favorite. How far Charlotte goes
will be as a favorite rather than underdog.
"That's totally up to us," power forward Anthony Mason said. "On paper, you say we are
(talented) but on paper you say the Lakers were. On paper you say this and that, we've got to come work hard, act like you're the underdog, act like you're losing every game and come
out on the court with that attitude."
It's hard to think of the Hornets as an underdog with four returning starters, plus Mason, who
missed all last season with a torn biceps. Twelve players are under contract, an indication of the depth assembled by general manager Bob Bass and Silas.
"There's other teams that have 12 roster spots signed but we definitely have 12 guys that can play at any given point and that's what makes it so good," guard Bobby Phills said. "It may
make it scary to some people but I think if there's an injury or whatever, or God forbid, if anything happens to any particular person, someone can step in and fill that role."
Keeping everyone happy with playing time is going to be a tough task for Silas, but it's a challenge he's looking forward to. Mason wants to start at power forward, but so does
Derrick Coleman. Will Mason be a distraction if he doesn't get enough minutes?
"We've got a lot of talent and we're going to have to find a common point," Mason said. "All
egos should be put aside so we can dome down to the same level and take it out on other teams."
