By Josh Cohen July 3, 2016
ORLANDO – Similar to what we saw from the Charlotte Hornets this past season, balanced scoring and a tenacious defensive effort propelled them on Sunday at the 2016 Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League.
Four of the team’s five starters scored in double figures and the Hornets limited the Indiana Pacers to just 3-of-14 shooting from 3-point range in an 80-70 victory.
“We tried to take away the lanes that they normally get,” Hornets Summer League coach Patrick Ewing said. “It was a total team effort.”
Gabe York, an undrafted rookie from Arizona, led Charlotte with 18 points. Aaron Harrison (15 points), DeShaun Thomas (12) and Brandon Paul (11) also had solid performances.
Like many other players participating in Summer League action, York is working heavily on his point guard skills. He rarely played that position in college but says he learned a lot from his former teammate and Orlando Magic Blue guard Nick Johnson.
“My whole thing is I have to show I can play the point guard position,” York said. “I need to run the team now (as a point guard). I have to be very vocal. When he (Johnson) was at Arizona he taught me a lot. What he told me was to stay the course and understand there is always an opportunity for you somewhere.”
Most impressive for York and the Hornets was their ability to prevent Joe Young from having another sensational game. A day after recording 22 points – the most points scored by any player on Day One of Summer League action – Young was held to just six points on 2-of-6 shooting from the field.
Disappointed by his Saturday performance, Harrison was far more poised and aggressive in Sunday’s win. Still learning to play off the ball more and use his added strength to defend more conventional shooting guards and small forwards, Harrison attacked the lane every chance he could. He attempted 16 shots and accumulated six assists and five rebounds.
“I still haven’t been as efficient as I want to be in these last two games but I think as the week goes on I will be more efficient,” Harrison said. “I’ve gotten a lot stronger so it’s definitely easier to keep guys where I want to be keep him.”
Glenn Robinson III led the Pacers with 16 points, while Shayne Whittington scored 12 and Nate Wolters had nine points.
Charlotte returns to action on Monday when it takes on Oklahoma City at 5 p.m. ET, while Indiana has Monday off and will meet up with Detroit on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
