By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
Players who are trying to earn an invite to training camp this fall, or working to impress the various basketball scouts in attendance at summer league, need playing time in order to so. With that said, Hornets players had to happy with their opportunity Sunday night in Las Vegas.
New Orleans' final NBA Summer League game of the week featured three overtime periods, a chance for the eight healthy Hornets in uniform to provide an extended look at their ability. Denver posted a two-point win on Coby Karl's free throws with 26 seconds remaining in the third OT.
The Hornets were paced by Julian Wright's 24-point performance. New Orleans (1-4) was without both 2009 draft acquisitions to injury, Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton, as well as 7-footer Luke Nevill. Marc Salyers signed with a team in Europe earlier in the week and was not able to suit up as a result. In effect, that cut the initial 12-player roster down to eight.
"We ended up shorthanded," Hornets assistant and summer head coach Rob Werdann said. "But the guys who did play tonight really worked hard and took the game to triple overtime. We couldn’t ask for more in terms of effort."
Five other Hornets aside from Wright reached double figures in the defeat. Jaycee Carroll tallied 22 points to lead that group. Earl Calloway netted 13 points, including two made free throws with 1.5 ticks left to force a second OT.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
NBA Summer League: Hornets 100, Timberwolves 96
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
Throughout the Hornets’ trip to Las Vegas, 2009 draft picks Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison have commanded most of the attention. Both have excelled during their first week of professional basketball, looking like two of the most NBA-ready draftees. By the third quarter of today’s game, however, neither was on the floor for New Orleans. Thornton missed the game with an ankle strain, while Collison exited late in the first half with an ankle injury of his own.
With the rookies unavailable, lesser-known summer Hornets such as Anthony Tolliver (20 points), Jaycee Carroll (16 points) and Luke Nevill (12 points) took advantage of their opportunity for more minutes and shots, sparking New Orleans (1-3) to its first win in Vegas.
Prior to his departure, Collison was locked in an entertaining duel with fellow first-round pick and rookie point guard Jonny Flynn. Collison poured in 18 points in only 16 minutes of action, repeatedly getting into the lane against the Timberwolves. He was 7-for-7 from the foul line and earned another trip to the stripe on the play in which he sustained the left ankle sprain, but the Hornets elected to take him out as a precaution. The 6-footer would’ve stayed in the game if it were a regular season contest, but with it being a summer-league game, the Hornets opted to take him to the locker room.
“My ankle’s fine,” Collison said after the game. Collison and Thornton are both listed as questionable to play in Sunday's summer league finale vs. Denver (7:30 p.m. Central).
“I’ve been trying to be aggressive all summer league,” he added, referring to his drives to the basket. “At my size, you don’t see a lot of guys doing that, but the guys who do it well are very successful.”
Flynn finished with 24 points in 26 minutes of action. The stocky Syracuse product is known for using his muscle and athleticism to score, but today he displayed an effective perimeter game, going 4-for-5 from three-point range.
New Orleans trailed 50-43 at halftime but scored 34 points in the third quarter and 57 in the second half. Tolliver netted 18 points after intermission, while Carroll had 14. Julian Wright, in probably his best game so far this week, dropped in 12 second-half points and totaled 19 for the game. Wright’s resounding dunk with 6.8 seconds remaining made it 100-96 and virtually sealed the win.
“I think the rest of the guys played really well,” Hornets assistant coach Charlie Parker said. “Anthony Tolliver does a lot of things you might not notice. Luke (Nevill) played well and this was his best game. He can hit the mid-range jump shot. He can make left- and right-handed shots around the rim, which is important for a big guy. He’s more athletic than you would think for a guy who is 7-foot-2. And he can run the floor, block shots and has great timing.”
Wright was an efficient 9-for-12 from the field and had his best stretch of summer league during the second half. Although his 12.5 scoring average may seem underwhelming, especially for a player with two full years of NBA experience, Parker said the coaching staff isn’t focused on Wright’s offense.
“What we’ve liked so far about Julian is not so much whether he scores, but it’s the control factor,” Parker said. “We want him to be more under control. We want him to be able to eliminate his turnovers, which he has done a tremendous job of so far. We want him to cut out some of the ‘fat’ in his game. When I say fat, I mean excess dribbling and excess movement that really doesn’t account for much. That’s what we’ve been impressed with. It’s not whether he scores 20 or eight, but if he can play the game in a way that is indicative of being in control, we’re pleased with that.”
Throughout the Hornets’ trip to Las Vegas, 2009 draft picks Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison have commanded most of the attention. Both have excelled during their first week of professional basketball, looking like two of the most NBA-ready draftees. By the third quarter of today’s game, however, neither was on the floor for New Orleans. Thornton missed the game with an ankle strain, while Collison exited late in the first half with an ankle injury of his own.
With the rookies unavailable, lesser-known summer Hornets such as Anthony Tolliver (20 points), Jaycee Carroll (16 points) and Luke Nevill (12 points) took advantage of their opportunity for more minutes and shots, sparking New Orleans (1-3) to its first win in Vegas.
Prior to his departure, Collison was locked in an entertaining duel with fellow first-round pick and rookie point guard Jonny Flynn. Collison poured in 18 points in only 16 minutes of action, repeatedly getting into the lane against the Timberwolves. He was 7-for-7 from the foul line and earned another trip to the stripe on the play in which he sustained the left ankle sprain, but the Hornets elected to take him out as a precaution. The 6-footer would’ve stayed in the game if it were a regular season contest, but with it being a summer-league game, the Hornets opted to take him to the locker room.
“My ankle’s fine,” Collison said after the game. Collison and Thornton are both listed as questionable to play in Sunday's summer league finale vs. Denver (7:30 p.m. Central).
“I’ve been trying to be aggressive all summer league,” he added, referring to his drives to the basket. “At my size, you don’t see a lot of guys doing that, but the guys who do it well are very successful.”
Flynn finished with 24 points in 26 minutes of action. The stocky Syracuse product is known for using his muscle and athleticism to score, but today he displayed an effective perimeter game, going 4-for-5 from three-point range.
New Orleans trailed 50-43 at halftime but scored 34 points in the third quarter and 57 in the second half. Tolliver netted 18 points after intermission, while Carroll had 14. Julian Wright, in probably his best game so far this week, dropped in 12 second-half points and totaled 19 for the game. Wright’s resounding dunk with 6.8 seconds remaining made it 100-96 and virtually sealed the win.
“I think the rest of the guys played really well,” Hornets assistant coach Charlie Parker said. “Anthony Tolliver does a lot of things you might not notice. Luke (Nevill) played well and this was his best game. He can hit the mid-range jump shot. He can make left- and right-handed shots around the rim, which is important for a big guy. He’s more athletic than you would think for a guy who is 7-foot-2. And he can run the floor, block shots and has great timing.”
Wright was an efficient 9-for-12 from the field and had his best stretch of summer league during the second half. Although his 12.5 scoring average may seem underwhelming, especially for a player with two full years of NBA experience, Parker said the coaching staff isn’t focused on Wright’s offense.
“What we’ve liked so far about Julian is not so much whether he scores, but it’s the control factor,” Parker said. “We want him to be more under control. We want him to be able to eliminate his turnovers, which he has done a tremendous job of so far. We want him to cut out some of the ‘fat’ in his game. When I say fat, I mean excess dribbling and excess movement that really doesn’t account for much. That’s what we’ve been impressed with. It’s not whether he scores 20 or eight, but if he can play the game in a way that is indicative of being in control, we’re pleased with that.”
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thornton Vegas’ second-leading scorer among rookies
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
Although New Orleans is still seeking its initial victory in summer league, it’s been a very encouraging start to the pro careers of both players the Hornets acquired in the 2009 NBA Draft.
Through Thursday’s games here in Las Vegas, Hornets shooting guard Marcus Thornton ranks eighth in the 22-team league in scoring average, at 20.7 points per game. If you exclude the summer-league participants who already have NBA regular season experience, such as Anthony Randolph, Nick Young and Adam Morrison, Thornton is second on the scoring rundown. The only rookie with better offensive numbers is Dante Cunningham of Portland, at 21.5 points per game.
Meanwhile, Hornets point guard Darren Collison is averaging 18.7 points, ranking him 16th.
If you get a chance this weekend, check out Hornets.com’s Summer League Central audio section, which contains interviews from Las Vegas with several notable Hornets. I’ll also be adding more one-on-one chats over the next few days.
Yesterday, I sat down with Collison prior to Thursday’s game. We’ll have that interview on the site later, but for now, see if you can beat out the UCLA history major in a Hornets history quiz. Since the UCLA product has only been a member of the organization for three weeks, I thought it was only fair to keep them relatively reasonable. Collison correctly answered two of the four questions (well, three if you count the one where I gave him a couple hints). The correct answers can be found in the comments section:
1) How many division titles have the Hornets won in team history?
2) How many All-Star appearances have Chris Paul and David West made in their NBA careers?
3) Prior to Darren being picked, who was the most recent New Orleans draft choice who played all four years in college?
4) Byron Scott enjoys competing in shooting games against his players after practices. Which Hornets player does Scott avoid during these shooting competitions?
Although New Orleans is still seeking its initial victory in summer league, it’s been a very encouraging start to the pro careers of both players the Hornets acquired in the 2009 NBA Draft.
Through Thursday’s games here in Las Vegas, Hornets shooting guard Marcus Thornton ranks eighth in the 22-team league in scoring average, at 20.7 points per game. If you exclude the summer-league participants who already have NBA regular season experience, such as Anthony Randolph, Nick Young and Adam Morrison, Thornton is second on the scoring rundown. The only rookie with better offensive numbers is Dante Cunningham of Portland, at 21.5 points per game.
Meanwhile, Hornets point guard Darren Collison is averaging 18.7 points, ranking him 16th.
If you get a chance this weekend, check out Hornets.com’s Summer League Central audio section, which contains interviews from Las Vegas with several notable Hornets. I’ll also be adding more one-on-one chats over the next few days.
Yesterday, I sat down with Collison prior to Thursday’s game. We’ll have that interview on the site later, but for now, see if you can beat out the UCLA history major in a Hornets history quiz. Since the UCLA product has only been a member of the organization for three weeks, I thought it was only fair to keep them relatively reasonable. Collison correctly answered two of the four questions (well, three if you count the one where I gave him a couple hints). The correct answers can be found in the comments section:
1) How many division titles have the Hornets won in team history?
2) How many All-Star appearances have Chris Paul and David West made in their NBA careers?
3) Prior to Darren being picked, who was the most recent New Orleans draft choice who played all four years in college?
4) Byron Scott enjoys competing in shooting games against his players after practices. Which Hornets player does Scott avoid during these shooting competitions?
Thursday, July 16, 2009
NBA Summer League: Warriors 104, Hornets 84
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
Considering that summer-league games are only 40 minutes in duration – eight minutes shorter than a regulation NBA game – it’s not often you see a team reach the 100-point mark. Then again, it’s also not often you see a player tally 47 points by himself in Las Vegas – but that’s what Golden State guard Anthony Morrow did tonight.
Morrow established a new NBA Summer League all-time single-game scoring record with his individual barrage, topping the previous mark of 42 points. Morrow, who led the NBA during the 2008-09 regular season in three-point percentage, went 7-for-9 from beyond the arc and 18-for-26 overall.
New Orleans dropped to 0-3 in summer league, with this defeat being the first that wasn’t close.
“Through three games, (Hornets players) have been working hard and doing a great job, but smart offensive teams usually take advantage of bad defensive teams, and right now we’re not a very good defensive team,” Hornets summer coach Rob Werdann said. “But that’s what summer league is all about, improving.
“You hate to have records set against your team, but (Morrow is) a great shooter. We talked about making him a driver, and forcing him to put the ball on the floor, but it just didn’t seem to happen.”
For a third straight game, Hornets 2009 draft acquisitions Marcus Thornton (21 points, 6-for-14 FGs) and Darren Collison (14 points, 4-for-13 FGs, 4 assists) were among the squad’s most productive offensive players. Backup point guard Earl Calloway also played well with 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting, along with seven rebounds. Julian Wright had a rough outing, scoring four points on 2-for-10 shooting.
Thornton again displayed his attacking style on offense, getting to the foul line 14 times. The LSU product also put together a big second half, scoring 18 points after intermission. On the other end, Thornton was one of several Hornets who tried to slow down Morrow’s scoring spree, but to no avail. Thornton said he’s focused on trying to adjust and improve defensively against NBA-caliber scorers.
“I’m mostly working on (defending) off the ball,” he said. “Seeing the ball and my man at the same time, and trying to get better at that. There are a lot of screens to go through, and every guy can really play. I’m trying to pick it up on defense.”
While Thornton and Collison have impressed with their excellent offensive statistics, Byron Scott said earlier this week that they need to make strides on defense. Collison was aggressive on that end of the floor tonight, but gambled a few times against Golden State point guard Stephen Curry, causing other Hornets to have to help on penetration.
“That’s always the first thing you’re going to see and probably open eyes,” Werdann said of the stellar offensive play by Thornton and Collison this week. “But this game is both ends of the floor. The thing that’s most obvious in the transition from the college game to the pro game, is knowing where to be on the floor defensively. We’re going to continue to work to get better.”
Considering that summer-league games are only 40 minutes in duration – eight minutes shorter than a regulation NBA game – it’s not often you see a team reach the 100-point mark. Then again, it’s also not often you see a player tally 47 points by himself in Las Vegas – but that’s what Golden State guard Anthony Morrow did tonight.
Morrow established a new NBA Summer League all-time single-game scoring record with his individual barrage, topping the previous mark of 42 points. Morrow, who led the NBA during the 2008-09 regular season in three-point percentage, went 7-for-9 from beyond the arc and 18-for-26 overall.
New Orleans dropped to 0-3 in summer league, with this defeat being the first that wasn’t close.
“Through three games, (Hornets players) have been working hard and doing a great job, but smart offensive teams usually take advantage of bad defensive teams, and right now we’re not a very good defensive team,” Hornets summer coach Rob Werdann said. “But that’s what summer league is all about, improving.
“You hate to have records set against your team, but (Morrow is) a great shooter. We talked about making him a driver, and forcing him to put the ball on the floor, but it just didn’t seem to happen.”
For a third straight game, Hornets 2009 draft acquisitions Marcus Thornton (21 points, 6-for-14 FGs) and Darren Collison (14 points, 4-for-13 FGs, 4 assists) were among the squad’s most productive offensive players. Backup point guard Earl Calloway also played well with 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting, along with seven rebounds. Julian Wright had a rough outing, scoring four points on 2-for-10 shooting.
Thornton again displayed his attacking style on offense, getting to the foul line 14 times. The LSU product also put together a big second half, scoring 18 points after intermission. On the other end, Thornton was one of several Hornets who tried to slow down Morrow’s scoring spree, but to no avail. Thornton said he’s focused on trying to adjust and improve defensively against NBA-caliber scorers.
“I’m mostly working on (defending) off the ball,” he said. “Seeing the ball and my man at the same time, and trying to get better at that. There are a lot of screens to go through, and every guy can really play. I’m trying to pick it up on defense.”
While Thornton and Collison have impressed with their excellent offensive statistics, Byron Scott said earlier this week that they need to make strides on defense. Collison was aggressive on that end of the floor tonight, but gambled a few times against Golden State point guard Stephen Curry, causing other Hornets to have to help on penetration.
“That’s always the first thing you’re going to see and probably open eyes,” Werdann said of the stellar offensive play by Thornton and Collison this week. “But this game is both ends of the floor. The thing that’s most obvious in the transition from the college game to the pro game, is knowing where to be on the floor defensively. We’re going to continue to work to get better.”
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Bower addresses recent inactivity with NBA.com
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
* More audio interviews from Las Vegas at Hornets.com's Summer League Central
While numerous title-contending teams have added major pieces to their roster since draft night, New Orleans has been silent on the transaction front. The Hornets have been rumored to be in contention to sign several free agents, but haven’t come to an agreement with any player.
With that as the backdrop, NBA.com broadcasters Rick Kamla and Antonio Harvey interviewed Hornets general manager Jeff Bower during Tuesday’s NBA Summer League game vs. the Clippers. Bower told the duo that after acquiring Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton via the draft, the Hornets’ top priority now is to add frontcourt depth, a problem area over the past few seasons.
“We made our steps forward in the draft in our backcourt,” Bower said. “We know our target right now (is) frontcourt players. We’re involved in a lot of different scenarios and situations that we have a lot of confidence in things coming together.
“But we’re moving very slowly. It’s not that things aren’t being done; it’s just that there are decisions and processes in place that have to be played out. We understand the timing of it. For our fans and for all of us associated with it, we want everything done yesterday. But this summer is a summer that’s going to force you to be patient to get the right players, at the right time, at the right price.”
Harvey wondered if the Hornets had created unrealistic expectations for themselves with their surprising 56-win season in 2007-08, which led most to describe last season’s 49-win output as disappointing.
“I think when you look at the 56-win season, that was a franchise record,” Bower responded. “We followed that up with 49 wins (but) we wanted more. We expected to do more. When we look at the number of injuries we dealt with to key players, and the overall positioning we were in over the last 10 days of the season, we were in the thick of things. We would like to think that with a healthy team next year, and with the changes we’ve already made, we’ve improved ourselves. But we understand that we’ve got a lot more work to do.”
* More audio interviews from Las Vegas at Hornets.com's Summer League Central
While numerous title-contending teams have added major pieces to their roster since draft night, New Orleans has been silent on the transaction front. The Hornets have been rumored to be in contention to sign several free agents, but haven’t come to an agreement with any player.
With that as the backdrop, NBA.com broadcasters Rick Kamla and Antonio Harvey interviewed Hornets general manager Jeff Bower during Tuesday’s NBA Summer League game vs. the Clippers. Bower told the duo that after acquiring Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton via the draft, the Hornets’ top priority now is to add frontcourt depth, a problem area over the past few seasons.
“We made our steps forward in the draft in our backcourt,” Bower said. “We know our target right now (is) frontcourt players. We’re involved in a lot of different scenarios and situations that we have a lot of confidence in things coming together.
“But we’re moving very slowly. It’s not that things aren’t being done; it’s just that there are decisions and processes in place that have to be played out. We understand the timing of it. For our fans and for all of us associated with it, we want everything done yesterday. But this summer is a summer that’s going to force you to be patient to get the right players, at the right time, at the right price.”
Harvey wondered if the Hornets had created unrealistic expectations for themselves with their surprising 56-win season in 2007-08, which led most to describe last season’s 49-win output as disappointing.
“I think when you look at the 56-win season, that was a franchise record,” Bower responded. “We followed that up with 49 wins (but) we wanted more. We expected to do more. When we look at the number of injuries we dealt with to key players, and the overall positioning we were in over the last 10 days of the season, we were in the thick of things. We would like to think that with a healthy team next year, and with the changes we’ve already made, we’ve improved ourselves. But we understand that we’ve got a lot more work to do.”
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
NBA Summer League: Clippers 88, Hornets 86
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com
Over his four seasons at UCLA, point guard Darren Collison was surrounded by an array of talented scorers. Collison’s primary job with the Bruins was to distribute the ball, making sure the likes of eventual NBA first-round picks Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Jrue Holiday were able to thrive.
With a career average of 11.5 points in college, Collison’s individual scoring ability may not be considered a major strength. However, through two NBA Summer League games, the 6-foot point guard has shown that his offensive game could prove to be a bit underrated.
After a quiet two-point first half tonight, Collison racked up 21 second-half points for a team-best 23-point outing vs. the Clippers. Fellow 2009 draftee Marcus Thornton had a similar performance, tallying 15 points in the latter half and totaling 19 points.
Collison was 7-for-14 from the field and drained all of his nine foul shots. That latter stat was no fluke: as a senior at UCLA, he shot 89.7 percent from the charity stripe.
“(I was) attacking every time,” Collison said of his eruption in the second half. “That’s what Byron Scott and our coaching staff has been telling me, to attack at will. (Scott) doesn’t care if you make mistakes that are aggressive, as long as you’re attacking.”
Julian Wright was the only other New Orleans player to reach double figures in scoring, with 12 points.
Clippers guard Eric Gordon knocked down two free throws with 12.4 seconds remaining to help seal the victory, giving L.A. an 88-84 edge. After the Hornets cut it to 88-86, Collison stole a pass on the defensive end before appearing to be bodied out of bounds and losing possession with eight-tenths of a second to go. The Clippers inbounded to Gordon and time expired.
Over his four seasons at UCLA, point guard Darren Collison was surrounded by an array of talented scorers. Collison’s primary job with the Bruins was to distribute the ball, making sure the likes of eventual NBA first-round picks Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Jrue Holiday were able to thrive.
With a career average of 11.5 points in college, Collison’s individual scoring ability may not be considered a major strength. However, through two NBA Summer League games, the 6-foot point guard has shown that his offensive game could prove to be a bit underrated.
After a quiet two-point first half tonight, Collison racked up 21 second-half points for a team-best 23-point outing vs. the Clippers. Fellow 2009 draftee Marcus Thornton had a similar performance, tallying 15 points in the latter half and totaling 19 points.
Collison was 7-for-14 from the field and drained all of his nine foul shots. That latter stat was no fluke: as a senior at UCLA, he shot 89.7 percent from the charity stripe.
“(I was) attacking every time,” Collison said of his eruption in the second half. “That’s what Byron Scott and our coaching staff has been telling me, to attack at will. (Scott) doesn’t care if you make mistakes that are aggressive, as long as you’re attacking.”
Julian Wright was the only other New Orleans player to reach double figures in scoring, with 12 points.
Clippers guard Eric Gordon knocked down two free throws with 12.4 seconds remaining to help seal the victory, giving L.A. an 88-84 edge. After the Hornets cut it to 88-86, Collison stole a pass on the defensive end before appearing to be bodied out of bounds and losing possession with eight-tenths of a second to go. The Clippers inbounded to Gordon and time expired.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Werdann named assistant coach
By: Hornets.com
The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have promoted Rob Werdann to the position of assistant coach. Werdann has spent the last five seasons as an advance scout for the Hornets.
“We’re excited to add Rob to our staff,” said Head Coach Byron Scott. “He has experience as a player in the NBA and has been with this organization for many years. He is an excellent worker with our big guys and I think it is a perfect fit.”
Werdann has coached in the NBA D-League, spending three seasons as an assistant coach for the Columbus Riverdragons. He began his coaching career as an assistant for the Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA, spending the 2000-01 season in Yakima.
"I am thrilled for this opportunity," Werdann said. "I have had the fortune to work for the Hornets as a scout for the past few years and can not wait to join Coach Scott and the staff."
Werdann is currently coaching the Hornets summer league team. New Orleans faces the L.A. Clippers in their next game on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. Central time.
The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have promoted Rob Werdann to the position of assistant coach. Werdann has spent the last five seasons as an advance scout for the Hornets.
“We’re excited to add Rob to our staff,” said Head Coach Byron Scott. “He has experience as a player in the NBA and has been with this organization for many years. He is an excellent worker with our big guys and I think it is a perfect fit.”
Werdann has coached in the NBA D-League, spending three seasons as an assistant coach for the Columbus Riverdragons. He began his coaching career as an assistant for the Yakima Sun Kings of the CBA, spending the 2000-01 season in Yakima.
"I am thrilled for this opportunity," Werdann said. "I have had the fortune to work for the Hornets as a scout for the past few years and can not wait to join Coach Scott and the staff."
Werdann is currently coaching the Hornets summer league team. New Orleans faces the L.A. Clippers in their next game on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. Central time.
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