NBA : NOTES : Scott is fired; Floyd to help

The New Orleans Hornets fired Byron Scott only nine games into the season Thursday and replaced him with General Manager Jeff Bower, hoping the man who put the current roster together can get more out of it on the court.

“I told Jeff, ‘The genie’s out of the bottle,’ ” Hornets Chief Operating Officer Hugh Weber said. “Nobody can say he doesn’t have the right players. . . . Jeff has hand-selected this team, and we like the idea that now he’ll be held accountable for the results.”

Scott, who two seasons ago was the NBA coach of the year, was fired one day after a 124-104 loss at Phoenix dropped New Orleans to 3-6.

Bower, who will remain general manager while in his first head coaching job, immediately moved to name former USC coach Tim Floyd his top assistant and said other assistants will be retained as well. Floyd, a former Chicago Bulls and Hornets head coach, led USC to three straight NCAA tournament appearances, then resigned in June.

Bower was Floyd’s assistant coach with the Hornets during the 2003-04 season, and the two are still friends.

Chris Paul, who has not played for any NBA coach but Scott, was not available after players gathered at the club’s training center. Paul once referred to Scott as a father figure who was closer to him than many of his relatives.

Etc.

Minnesota center Al Jefferson will miss two games because of an illness in his family.