The Charlotte Hornets ended their Grind Camp last week with some much-needed work and some most-important team chemistry building.
After more than months since their last game, 13 players from the final game (Nicolas Batum and Bismack Biyombo were both excused) and five players from the G-League affiliate in Greensboro made up the 18 players that spent the last two weeks in Charlotte working.
Now with camp over and the second off-season for head coach James Borrego’s team about to begin, here are a couple of notes that stood out during the last two weeks:
BALL-HANDLING EXPERIMENT
P.J Washington had experience handling the ball in his youth, so coach Borrego used him as point forward during camp.
“I’m extremely comfortable on the perimeter handling the ball and making plays,” Washington said. “I have been working on trying to create off the bounce and be able to make shots off the bounce.”
Borrego used Washington, Miles Bridges, Mailk Monk and Cody Martin as primary ball-handlers throughout the week.
G-LEAGUE SHOWING
Borrego did not have much time with the players that came from Greensboro, but he came away happy with how they played nonetheless.
Of Kobi Simmons, Borrego said, “He’s had a very good last couple of weeks. Very competitive kid, his shot has improved … better decision making than when he was with us before.”
He also complimented Ray Spalding.
“He’s intriguing,” Borrego said. “He’s got the size and great touch and he made big time plays around the rim.”
Finally, Borrego had some praise for Joel Berry as well.
“He’s played really well and handled himself and he’s got the opportunity as a lead point guard for us,” Borrego said.
ALL ABOUT EVALUATION
The previous weeks were all about evaluations as players continue the alignment and continuity going forward. With using different lineups during scrimmages. Borrego varied combinations between not only the starters and reserves, but including the Greensboro players as well.
He kept groups different on a daily basis, using a variety of guard, forward and big groups and allowing the players to grow as a unit.
Borrego believes Bridges can turn the corner and take the next step forward.
“It will come down to consistency for him,” Borrego said. “He had a heck of a run if you remember back to probably before the All-Star break, there’s probably a 15 game window where he probably he played his best basketball. (Bridges) has it in there, he has the ability, he has the size, the skill set. He has to put the consistency together.”
Now that camp has closed the Hornets have had a chance to have their final look at this group before making decisions on which players to take a look at during the NBA Draft process.
But after the last two weeks, it looks like there is a lot of excitement based on how the team looked during “Grind Camp.”
