Big Men A Big Problem For Hornets Charlotte Visits Seattle Supersonics With Three Key Players On Sidelines
The Hornets are in Seattle today, awaiting a matinee matchup with the Sonics this afternoon at KeyArena. That much coach Paul Silas knows.
It’s the injuries and uncertainty that have him concerned, though, as the 3:30 p.m. tip-off nears. Charlotte will be without starting center Elden Campbell and two key reserves, and Silas doesn’t know how soon they will be back.
The Hornets opened their six-game, 12-day trip to the West on Thursday and faced the Sacramento Kings without Campbell, backup center Jamaal Magloire and reserve forward Eddie Robinson. They could have used any of the three, particularly in the late stages as they lost 91-87.
Now they will play without them at least once more. And depending on their status, they could sit out one or more of the four games Charlotte will play next week.
“My biggest concern right now is my big people,” Silas said. “If we had Elden and Magloire, I firmly believe we wouldn’t get in a situation where we could lose more than one game (between wins).”
Campbell will remain on day-to-day status because of an inflamed bursa in his right elbow. Magloire has inflammation and soreness in his left foot because of a chipped bone and is doubtful.
Robinson is eligible to come off the injured list today after a mandatory five-game stay, but he is still limited by pain from a bruised tailbone.
Campbell’s loss was the one most felt at Sacramento and the one that could most affect the Hornets today.
Otis Thorpe, who started at center against the Kings, would be giving up 2 inches in height and have a tough defensive assignment against 7-foot Seattle center Patrick Ewing.
In Thursday’s game, it was the opposing center, former Hornet Vlade Divac, who made the big plays in the decisive minutes of Sacramento’s victory.
At a time of the game the Hornets have consistently been able to rely on stifling defense and big-play offense, Divac provided the margin of victory by scoring three of the Kings’ last four points.
Campbell has no idea how he sustained the elbow injury.
“It just started swelling and got sore on the plane coming out here,” he said. “I have no idea how long it will take before I can play.”
His absence put Thorpe into the starting lineup and forced forward Derrick Coleman, in his second game back from a six-week stay on the injured list, to play 34 minutes.
It was quite a jump in playing time - 21 minutes more than he went against Cleveland in a Tuesday win in Charlotte. Coleman hit 5 of 13 shots, scored 14 and had 10 rebounds.
Silas said Magloire would likely be out one to two weeks. He is going day-by-day on Robinson and has no timetable.
The Hornets remain atop the Central Division, three games ahead of Milwaukee. The Bucks slipped past Cleveland and into second place Thursday with a 107-89 win over the Cavaliers.
Charlotte is one game behind Philadelphia for the overall lead in the Eastern Conference.