"You can't fall behind by 20 points against a team like the Lakers and then start playing," said coach Byron Scott after watching his Hornets fall to unbeaten Los Angeles  93-86 on Wednesday night at the Arena.

The Lakers remained the only undefeated team in he NBA as the previously unbeaten Atlanta Hawks fell to 6-1 after losing to Boston 103-102. The Lakers won their seventh straight game as the Hornets fell to 4-3. It was their third loss in their last four games. They host Portland on Friday.

Chris Paul extended his league-record streak of consecutive games of 20 points or 10 assists to start a season at seven. He finished with a season-high 30 points on 13-of-`9 shooting and had 13 assists.

The Lakers led 28-17 after the first quarter and had a 51-30 halftime lead by holding the Hornets to 28 per cent shooting.

"We had a lot of good looks, but we're not knocking down shots right," said Scott. :That has to change."

David West scored 21 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, but he committed two costly turnovers after the Hornets got within striking distance late in the final quarter. Peja Stojakovic hit 10 points, but made only 3-of-13 shots, including 2-of-8 3-pointers.

NBA MVP Kobe Bryant scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting. He had help from Derek Fisher with 20 points. The Lakers led wire to wire.

The 24-second clock was winding down and Bryant was being smothered on defense by James Posey, seemingly with no place to turn. But Bryant hit a three-point shot that sent the Lakers to the victory. Bryant, who is allowing his teammates to more shooting this season, shook his head at the sold-out crowd after the shot.

:I was due," said Bryant after the game. "You're going to have games like this when your shot is struggling. I stayed positive and the shot went down (with the Hornets)."

Scott grew in in the Los Angles area and played for the Lakers. The Los Angeles media covering the game wanted to know if Scott might be interested in coaching the Lakers one day. He admitted that the thought of coaching he Lakers one day is something that has intrigued him.
 
He spent 11 years playing for the Lakers. He won three NBA titles with the Lakers during the 1980s. When he was asked if he would like to coach the Lakers he said he's thought about the Lakers coaching job, and he's happy as Hornets coach, "but to be honest with you, I've thought about it a lot, "said Scott. "That's home to me. That's an organization that will be embedded in my heart for the rest of my life."
 
Scott finished the last of his 14-year career playing for the Lakers in 1996-97., after spending three years away with other teams. Scott, 47, was coach of he year last year for the Hornets.
 
He praised his current players Paul, West, Tyson Chandler and Skojakovic. "I love the situation I'm in now. I love this team, so I don't see myself leaving anytime soon."
 
Scott said he owner George Shinn wanted to move in a different direction without him when his contract expires after the 2008-2009 season, he'd have to look elsewhere. "But I can't think of a more perfect job for me than this Hornets' job that I have here. But my next choice would have to be to go back home."
 
Scott and Lakers coach Phil Jackson, 63, could be at the end of their contracts at the same time. "I've got another year and next year on my contract, so that's interesting,: said Scott. "But I will say this, if Mr. Shinn came to me and said, 'Coach, we want to sign you to along-term deal,' I would be ready for that deal. I don't see me leaving anytime soon."
 
Jackson is in the first year of a two-year $23 million contract that he can opt out on after this season. Scott signed a two-year $10 million contract this summer.
 
"I love the situation I'm in now, I love this team, so I don't see myself leaving anytime soon," said Scott.
 
 

SOME HITHER, OTHERS YON: The Saints are in last place in the NFC South, two games behind Atlanta and Tampa Bay and three games behind Carolina. They have a 1-2 division record. Putting aside the division leaders, six teams are ahead of them in the race for wildcard spots...The Jeremy Shockey trade appears to have worked out a lot better for the Giants that the Saints, and the New Yorkers have the Saints two and five draft in next year's draft...You'll find former Saints center Jerry Fontenot in Green Bay whee he is a member of the Packers' coaching staff...My guess at BCS bowl games: BCS Championship: Alabama-Florida winner vs. Texas (Texas Tech loses next week to Oklahoma). Rose Bowl:Oregon State vs. Penn State. Sugar Bowl: Alabama-Florida loser vs. Oklahoma. Fiesta Bowl: Southern Cal vs. Utah. Orange Bowl: North Carolina vs. West Virginia...

Kurt Warner, is a lock to win the NFL's MVP...LSU's Jarrett Lee's 14 interceptions has he ranked No. 68 among college quarterbacks in passing efficiency. Jordan Jefferson, a true freshman who has played very little, is expected to finally play significantly on Saturday when the Tigers host Troy Said LSU coach Les Miles, "I think Lee performed best when it was him and Andrew Hatch, and he was spelled on a routine basis that gave him a chance to clear his head and go back out and play. So that might be the recipe that we're in for now." Hatch was injured Ianthe Georgia game and will not play against Troy...Tigers players want the Tigers to run the ball more...The Chiefs are still waiting for former Tiger Glenn Dorsey to have much impact. Their first-round draft choice has 26 tackles, but none for negative yardage. :He's been consistent against the run,: said coach Herman Edwards. "He's learning  the ropes. He's playing defensive tackle, a position where every week he's playing against a guy who is a pretty good guard.who has a lot more experience than him."...

Since starting the 2007 season with four loses, the Saints have played 21 games. They are an average11-10 in that span. The Saints had a four-game winning streak and have won two straight just once. They can't make a run. It cost them a playoff berth last season when they finished 7-9 with back-to-back loses, and it's led to a 4-5 record this season. It will likely keep them out of the playoffs again this season. Getting to the .500 mark hasn't been much of a problem, as the Saints are 5-2 when they need a victory to get to .500. On the other hand, they're 0-6 (0-4 this season) in trying to get above .500. "We need to make some changes," said Saints linebacker Scott Fujita...

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