New Orleans Hornets fire Coach Byron Scott

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The New Orleans Hornets announced the firing of Coach Byron Scott after the team's disappointing 3-6 start.

The record included a 124-104 loss Wednesday at Phoenix, a contest in which the Hornets trailed by as many as 29 points in the fourth period.

"I hate losing more than I like winning," star guard Chris Paul recently told the (New Orleans) Times Picayune newspaper.

Scott, a shooting guard with the Los Angeles Lakers in his playing career, was the Hornets' coach the last five seasons.

Last season, New Orleans compiled a 56-26 regular-season record, beat the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, then lost to San Antonio in seven games in the conference semifinals.

"I think we got to the point to where things we were doing just weren't effective," forward David West said at a news conference. "I think we got to the point to where things we were doing just weren't effective."

General Manager Jeff Bower will replace Scott, with former head Coach Tim Floyd as an assistant coach.

"What I'm not going to do is turn away from things that have been successful," Bower said.