Ninety minutes before sending his Hornets out for their third game of the NBA season Saturday night, coach Paul Silas sat in a baseline seat in the Meadowlands' Continental Airlines Arena and tried to have a little quiet time with his wife, Carolyn.

He kept getting interrupted, by old friends, by the media. It hardly mattered; his mind had already turned to his team and the adjustments it still faces before becoming what he believes it can be. At the moment, the biggest adjustment involves the reserves.

Trumpeted long before the season for its influx of talent and experience, the bench has not yet provided what everyone - including the players - had in mind. That should come as no great surprise with players learning the tendencies of new teammates and everyone feeling their way through exhibitions and an early 2-1 record.

"It's definitely a work in progress," Silas said before the Hornets' 95-85 loss to the New Jersey Nets.

"I've got to establish some sort of regular rotation because I'm playing the (starting) guys too much. The key is to mix the second-unit guys in combinations with the starters where I don't have all the strength and no shooting on the floor, or the other way around, to make sure we always have an effective lineup on the floor."