The Charlotte Hornets are going to run this season under new coach Allan Bristow. The big question, though, is whether they`ll be running to an early defeat.
”I`ll tell you one thing,” says former Nuggets coach and Bristow mentor Doug Moe, ”Allan will run the ball down people`s throats. Now when teams come in there, they`ll have to be ready to play every night. This is going to give them (Charlotte) a better chance of winning.”
Apparently, that`s why Bristow moved from the front office to the sideline for head coach and former Bulls assistant Gene Littles.
There were rumors of a rift after Littles talked openly about the need to draft Billy Owens before the team selected Larry Johnson, who became a training-camp holdout.
But a franchise-record 26 wins, good for last in the Central Division, was enough for management to apparently urge Bristow to take control.
”When I was asked to do this,” says Bristow, ”it took a while to ponder. But my blood was racing by the time I made the decision.” And the decision for the young talent of the Hornets apparently was to get them racing up and down the court.
Bristow also brought in former Nuggets Bill Hanzlik and T.R. Dunn as assistants to teach the Denver motion and defense game.
”We`ll pressure on defense to create turnovers and fast break,” says Bristow. ”We feel we have the team suited for that anchored with veterans like Mike Gminski and Johnny Newman.” They`ll be in there for some scoring with Gminski more of a high-post center, anyway.
But Bristow says the littlest guys will be the key. ”(Muggsy) Bogues gives us the speed, that jet point guard who gives us momentum on the passing and fast break,” he says.
Bristow also says he`ll move guard Dell Curry to forward to try to play him like the Nuggets used Walter Davis, and he`ll keep Illinois` Kendall Gill starting at point guard, even though that`s not his best position, until Bogues comes in.
”Kendall`s strength is shooting,” agrees Bristow, ”his ability to get open off picks. But he can also play point guard.”
But there remain plenty of questions. Can the 6-6 Johnson guard the bigger forwards? What`s going to become of J.R. Reid? ”The pressure`s on J.R.,” admits Bristow. And with a new contract, is Rex Chapman going to play like an experienced veteran?
