Trumpeting their success
New Orleans getting jazzed up for Hornets
The New Orleans Hornets had barely finished upsetting the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs when my cellphone started buzzing like crazy.
There was a text message from my aunt, a voice message from my mom, and texts from other friends also from New Orleans. Oh, yeah, there was also a text message from Berklee College of Music jazz legend Branford Marsalis. All the messages basically asked me the same thing.
Do you believe in the Hornets yet?
"I believe because of our defense and offense," wrote Marsalis, a New Orleans native. "And [coach] Byron [Scott] is as smart as they come."
Sorry, New Orleans. I don't believe yet. But I'm almost there, and if the Hornets can win Game 4 of their second-round series on the road tonight against the reigning NBA champion Spurs to take a 3-1 series lead, I might have to believe.
"I know nobody expects us [to win]," said Hornets center Tyson Chandler. "But we don't expect to lose. We have the exact opposite expectations of everyone else in the world."
The Hornets entered this season just hoping to make the playoffs. Sure, they knew point guard Chris Paul was a future superstar and forward David West was a 20-points-per-game scorer. Also, Chandler and sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic entered the season healthy.
But in a deep and talented conference, I just expected the Hornets to continue moving their franchise in the right direction, getting their feet wet, at best, in the first round.
While the players and coaching staff won't say it publicly, there is no way they thought they'd be this good. The suddenly faithful Hornets fans - my family included - didn't believe, either, as New Orleans Arena stayed half-empty much of the first half of the season, despite the cheapest tickets in the league.
But come the All-Star break, there the Hornets were, still in first place not only in the brutal Southwest Division, but in the West. Paul and West were All-Stars, and Scott earned the honor of coaching in that game.
During an All-Star party, Marsalis and I debated the surprising Hornets. He loved them and swore by them. As much as I loved Paul's game, I continued to raise an eyebrow. I knew he was thinking and speaking with his Big Easy heart instead of being realistic.
As much as Marsalis and New Orleans love the Hornets now, they couldn't have projected a 56-win regular season and a Southwest Division title.
The team's latest achievement was putting the Spurs on their heels by winning the first two games at home before losing Game 3 in San Antonio.
The Hornets respect the Spurs, but New Orleans also has a swagger now.
"There are a lot of players I respect in this league, but there are only a few teams that I respect," Chandler said. "This is one of them. They play like champions. You can't do nothing but respect that."
A big road win today in San Antonio and the Hornets just have to win one of three games - two of which would be in New Orleans - to make it to the West finals. A win today and there will be a lot more believers in the Hornets.
"It will be absolutely big for us," said Chandler. "We'd feel like any team in this league would be [beatable]. If we can get Sunday night's game, it will be a big victory for us."
I'll need New Orleans to finish the Spurs off before jumping on the bandwagon. But the thought of having a bowl of gumbo, a plate of char-grilled oysters, and going to Preservation Hall to listen to some real old-school jazz in June doesn't sound bad. On second thought, "Geaux Hornets," as they say in N'awlins.
"I feel like we are a great team," Chandler said. "I really do. We are able to accomplish big things."
A mission for Cape crusaders
Ex-Celtics sharpshooter Dana Barros is considering making a comeback at 41. No, not in the NBA, but in an Olympic qualifier with the Cape Verde team.
Barros's father is Cape Verdean and his mother is African-American. Barros's cousin, former UMass-Boston star Tony Barros, plays for Cape Verde and approached Dana about playing this summer. Cape Verde has reached the final Olympic qualifying tournament in Athens in July.
"I'm a little excited about looking into it," said Barros, now the Celtics' director of player development. "I'm going to definitely look into it and see if it can work out."
Cape Verde is expected to begin practicing for the qualifier in early June. Although Barros has been working on bringing basketball camps to Cape Verde, he has never visited the country. The 15-year NBA veteran said his parents would be very proud if he played.
"It would be great for them," said Barros. "Growing up in Boston, I'm proud of my Cape Verdean and black heritage."
Barros said he's in great shape and plays three to four times a week now.
Timberwolves forward Ryan Gomes is also Cape Verdean, and while the ex-Celtic was considering playing for the country, impending fatherhood led him to decline the invitation.
"My goal is to definitely play for the team in 2012 and hopefully qualify for the Olympics," said Gomes. "It's an honor to have been asked to play for the team and represent where my family and I are from."
Cape Verde also could be looking at Northeastern freshman forward Vinny Lima.
Coach Richardson has the final say this time around
Ex-NBA star Micheal Ray Richardson overcame yet another hurdle when he recently became a champion as a coach.
The four-time NBA All-Star overcame a drug addiction after being kicked out of the league in 1986 and has had a lifetime battle with stuttering. His life was once the subject of a TNT documentary narrated by Chris Rock. And last year he was suspended while coaching Albany during the CBA Finals after he was accused of making anti-Semitic statements to the Albany Times Union.
The newspaper reported that Richardson said Jews were "crafty [because] they are hated worldwide," and that Israel has "the best security system in the world." With Richardson suspended, the Patroons lost in the Finals to Yakima and his contract wasn't renewed.
Richardson says the Times Union misrepresented his remarks. Moreover, Richardson has a daughter from a Jewish ex-wife and played in Israel. NBA commissioner David Stern, who is Jewish, also has voiced support for Richardson.
"When I said they were crafty, I meant very intelligent," Richardson said. "I said they have the best security in the world in Israel, which is true because I lived there and I saw it myself.
"I have a 22-year-old daughter who is half-Jewish. My ex-wife is Jewish. How can they fix their mouth to say I'm anti-Semitic? It doesn't add up."
Otis Birdsong, an ex-teammate of Richardson's with the Nets and now the general manager of the CBA's Oklahoma team, hired him as coach last year. And in his first season, Richardson coached the Cavalry to a CBA title over Minot.
"That was redemption," said Richardson. "Last year I was so close and this year I came back and won, so that speaks for itself."
Richardson is slated to coach Oklahoma next season, but he aspires to be a coach or scout in the NBA.
"I have a lot to offer on and off the court," he said. "I understand the game very well. I played eight seasons in the NBA and 12 in Europe. There are a lot of international players in the NBA. Even if I'm not a coach, I could go overseas to be a scout."
Etc.
Double dribbling
Word is, Boston entertainment prince Patrick Lyons might have played a role in the Celtics' blowout Game 7 win over the Hawks a week ago that vaulted them to the second round. The Hawks stayed at the Liberty Hotel May 3 in Cambridge before playing the Celtics. A league source said Lyons, who operates the Alibi Lounge in the hotel, instructed his bar staff to give anyone affiliated with the Hawks a double shot in any alcoholic beverage they ordered.
Message from Michael
NBA sources said Michael Jordan would often send suggestions to rookie Bobcats coach Sam Vincent this season to try to help him. The ex-Celtics guard was fired after only one season as coach of the injury-riddled team. It's safe to say Jordan, the Bobcats' managing member of basketball operations, won't be sending similar messages to Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, who was hired as Vincent's successor April 29.
Some will get the Denver boot
With a projected payroll of $80 million next season and oft-criticized coach George Karl keeping his job, word is the Nuggets are expected to have a major roster overhaul this summer after not advancing out of the first round for the fifth straight season. Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, and Nene are all available.
Glass houses
An NBA executive said ex-Dallas coach Avery Johnson recently hired Keith Glass to be his agent. Glass also represents new Milwaukee coach Scott Skiles and is the son of Brown's agent, Joe Glass.
Stay or go?
Former American International College star Mario Elie has been asked to stay on the Mavericks' coaching staff as an assistant under soon-to-be-named head coach Rick Carlisle. Expected Carlisle assistants include former NBA head coaches Terry Stotts and Dwane Casey. Elie, however, could have the option of coaching under Johnson at his next stop. Johnson's Dallas assistants - Elie, Popeye Jones, Paul Westphal, and Joe Prunty - all have a year left on their Mavs contracts.
Back to school
So what do rookie sensations Kevin Durant of the Sonics and Al Horford of Atlanta plan on doing now that their seasons are over? Durant will be going to summer school back at Texas while Horford will be back at Florida. Durant's classes will end before tryouts for the US Olympic team begin in late June in Las Vegas. While USA Basketball officials probably prefer that he wait for the 2012 Olympic team, he plans on getting back in the gym this week in preparation to make a strong push for a roster spot.
Singing James's praises
In case you missed it, rapper Jay-Z recently put out a song called "Blow The Whistle," in which he dissed Washington guard DeShawn Stevenson, who said LeBron James was overrated. Jay-Z and James are close friends. Lost in the hip-hop drama was the fact that Jay-Z is a minority owner of the Nets, who are rumored to have their sights on James if he becomes a free agent in 2010 when the team moves to Brooklyn.
Getting up to speed
Bobcats guard Adam Morrison is ahead of schedule in his recovery after missing the season because of surgery on his right knee. The ex-Gonzaga star is back on the floor running, shooting, and doing light basketball drills. He is expected to play for Charlotte's summer league team.
Clock watching
Don't blame the Pistons for the game-clock error before halftime in Game 2 of their second-round series against Orlando. The home team never operates the game clock during the playoffs. In fact, word is the guest clock operator is from a Northwest Division team. The NBA was expected to consider changing the rule that referees can't review such an error on video replay, even before the Detroit incident even happened.
A dressing-down
Paul Pierce is known for taking some fashion chances. During a game in Miami Jan. 29, he wore a blazer that had "P2," for "Paul Pierce squared," stitched on it. Prior to Game 2 against Cleveland, a teammate took Pierce's black blazer with a silver lapel out of his locker and put it on a chair in the middle of the locker room. P.J. Brown told Pierce that the team described it as a "prom jacket." "Oh, they hatin' on my jacket," said Pierce, when he first noticed it on the chair.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com
