[girllovesthegame]

Apparently Anthony Richardson has been invited to Hornets' training camp. IIRC, he played pretty good during the Hornets' summer league games. Don't know if he'll actually make the roster though. Maybe he'll play better than Vinicius.

Head coach Pat O’Herron said none of last year’s Butte Daredevils are expected to return to the team this season. At least one of them might just have a much higher paying job.

O’Herron told a gathering of Daredevils fans and media at The Depot Tuesday night that Anthony Richardson of last year’s Butte Continental Basketball Association team has reported to camp with the New Orleans Hornets of the National See FACES, Page B5 Basketball Association.

Richardson, a 6-foot-7 forward from Florida State, won the CBA slam-dunk competiton at last season’s league All-Star game played in the Butte Civic Center. He was also on the All-Star team, then played summer ball with the Kansas Cagerz in the United States Basketball League. He recently won a tryout with the Hornets.

O’Herron has stayed in contact with Richardson and recently spoke with his agent, he said.

Link

[girllovesthegame]

On last nights news CP said Ryan Bowen has been practicing with the Hornets.

[girllovesthegame]

Forewarned Hornets bracing for a taxing training camp
Scott wants team's tempo up this season

In August, second-round draft pick Adam Haluska got the same phone call that first-round pick Julian Wright and several others, including star point guard Chris Paul, had received.

"I called, and the bottom line was to see if they were getting ready," Hornets Coach Byron Scott said. "I've already warned them that this is going to be one of the toughest camp these guys have had.

"I hope they're ready to run a lot, because we're going to do a lot of it. This season, I want us to play at one speed -- getting up and down quickly."

After Haluska got the message about camp, he increased the intensity of his workouts. Some days, he ran 2 miles. Some days, he ran 4 miles. Starting Tuesday, Haluska, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who played at Iowa, will be trying to earn a roster spot. The contracts for second-round draft picks are not guaranteed until they make the regular-season roster.

"I ran on the track and did stuff on the court, just to get my conditioning up," said Haluska, who led the Big Ten Conference in scoring last season with a 20.5 average. "I know Coach runs a pretty tight camp, and he wants everybody to be in great shape and ready for the season. I worked out every day because I look forward to that kind of challenge."

The session Tuesday was supposed to be a volunteer workout, but Paul ran the floor like San Antonio's Tony Parker was guarding him instead of backup point guard Jannero Pargo.

Often during a five-on-five scrimmage Tuesday, Paul sprinted, took shots over defenders and didn't mind getting physical to contest Pargo's shots.

The work was part of the regiment he has done this month to prepare for this upcoming Tuesday's opening day of training camp.

More here

[girllovesthegame]

Starting center Tyson Chandler has not participated in any of the scrimmages, but he kept extended hours in the weight room at the Alario Center. Chandler was allowed some time off before camp after playing for Team USA this summer. But Chandler declined and arrived in New Orleans shortly after Labor Day to begin preparations.

Glad to see Tyson is preparing. Hope he continues to build on last season.

[girllovesthegame]

Camp body news? Hornets sign Bowen, Johnson, Richardson.

http://blog.nola.com/tpsports/2007/1...r_players.html

[girllovesthegame]

A few training camp articles...

Confidence Builder
Peja Stojakovic puts his rehabilitated back to the test during the Hornets' first training camp
workout, with positive results

It went better than Peja Stojakovic expected. He went into Tuesday's first day of training camp a little leery from not knowing if his back would feel fine, or possibly tighten up.

But after 2 1/2 hours of running, going through fast-break and defensive drills, and even some limited 3-on-3 and 2-on-2 scrimmages, Stojakovic said he felt fine.

It was Stojakovic's first practice in which he was able to participate in just about every drill. Stojakovic required back surgery to remove a disk fragment in December that forced him to miss all but the first 13 games last season.

However, Stojakovic did not participate in exhaustive suicide runs at the end of practice.

"I was a little scared in the beginning, but as practice progressed I got more confident and comfortable," Stojakovic said. "It felt good for the first day, and I was able to do more things than I had planned.

"I'm out there with the guys, and I just got to keep building and see how it feels. I've been out 10 months, and I miss playing so much."

It will be vital for Stojakovic to remain healthy for the Hornets to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2003-04 season, when they were in the Eastern Conference.

Stojakovic, who signed a five-year, $64 million contract last year, is a superb perimeter shooter who can draw the attention of a defense, which can allow players such as David West and Morris Peterson to get more open shots.

Stojakovic, 6 feet 10, 229 pounds, did his rehabilitation work this offseason in Greece, his offseason home. When he showed up for volunteer workouts last week at the Alario Center, he appeared to be about 8 pounds lighter than he was at this same time last year.

More

Pargo shooting for more
Breakout season has backup guard feeling confident

Hornets players lumbered off the Alario Center court after practice while Jannero Pargo launched jump shots.

For 50 minutes after the team's first practice, Pargo, a reserve guard, continued to sweat, making more shots than he missed.

"Just trying to get my shot to where I want it to be," said Pargo, who averaged 9.2 points per game last season. "You want to get shots up while you're tired, because during the game, there's a lot of up-and-down running, and you going to have to take -- and make -- shots when you're tired.

"Normally you shoot shots when you first get in the gym, and you're fresh. But to make shots when you're tired, it's a whole other story."

Last season was Pargo's breakout. After four seasons backing up backups, Pargo became a key reserve in his first season with the Hornets. He finished with career highs in points, rebounds (2.2) and assists (2.5). And he was the only Hornet to play in all 82 games.

He would often give the team a lift off the bench, notably in the fourth quarter, which broadcaster Bob Licht often called, in a feverish frenzy, "Pargo Time!"

He indeed had some scoring outpours. Eighteen times he scored 15 or more points. But he was inconsistent. Of the 10 Hornets who averaged 5.0 or more points per game, Pargo had the eight-best shooting percentage at 40.9.

"I want more (from Pargo)," Hornets Coach Byron Scott said. "Last year was his first year of really playing consistent minutes every night. In essence, he was a rookie.

"Of course I want more. I expect him to be a passer and a better decision-maker. And when he comes off the bench, he understands his role -- score."

More

[bee-fan]

I was watching the videos yesterday and Byron said Rasual will be the 6th man this year. I'm thinking he will come in and replace Peja, because I doubt it's MoPete. That made me wonder barring injuries, how much time will Julian play? I envisioned Julian coming in to replace Peja.

[girllovesthegame]

Originally Posted by bee-fan

I was watching the videos yesterday and Byron said Rasual will be the 6th man this year. I'm thinking he will come in and replace Peja, because I doubt it's MoPete. That made me wonder barring injuries, how much time will Julian play? I envisioned Julian coming in to replace Peja.

Did he say he "WILL" be the 6th man? I heard the guy ask Byron about wanting Rasual to have that "Bobby Jackson/6th man type of attitude". Byron says he wants him to be a gunslinger and come off the bench aggressive. I think Julian will get some time, just not sure how much. The thing with Julian is that he can come in for either Peja or Mo Pete. He seems to be a hard worker so hopefully he adusts well so he can see some PT.

I was reading a little snippet of John Reid's blog and he said Sual is projected to come off the bench to provide help at both the shooting guard and small forward. He and Julian can both play both positions. I can't wait for this season to get started.

I really liked Mo Petes' interview. He said CP is every 2guard, small forward and big mans dream. Hilton's interview was kind of funny.

[bee-fan]

Originally Posted by girllovesthegame

Did he say he "WILL" be the 6th man? I heard the guy ask Byron about wanting Rasual to have that "Bobby Jackson/6th man type of attitude". Byron says he wants him to be a gunslinger and come off the bench aggressive. I think Julian will get some time, just not sure how much. The thing with Julian is that he can come in for either Peja or Mo Pete. He seems to be a hard worker so hopefully he adusts well so he can see some PT.

I was reading a little snippet of John Reid's blog and he said Sual is projected to come off the bench to provide help at both the shooting guard and small forward. He and Julian can both play both positions. I can't wait for this season to get started.

I really liked Mo Petes' interview. He said CP is every 2guard, small forward and big mans dream. Hilton's interview was kind of funny.

In Rasual Butler interview, he said Byron said he wanted him to be the 6th man. He was also saying how Bobby wanted him to be 6th man, because he won it before. I'll listen to it again when I get home. Oh yeah, I thought Hilton interview was funny too. It's funny how he didn't know where he lived. Someone need to tell him to stay away from Copeland's and the jambalaya pasta when the season start.

[bee-fan]

I was able to listen from work and he said that coach wanted to push him for 6th man this year. I guess I didn't want another draft pick wasting away on the bench and I'm hoping Julian can get in and get some playing time.

[girllovesthegame]

Originally Posted by bee-fan

In Rasual Butler interview, he said Byron said he wanted him to be the 6th man. He was also saying how Bobby wanted him to be 6th man, because he won it before. I'll listen to it again when I get home. Oh yeah, I thought Hilton interview was funny too. It's funny how he didn't know where he lived. Someone need to tell him to stay away from Copeland's and the jambalaya pasta when the season start.

Oh ok. I was referring more to the Byron Scott interview. Yeah, Hilton had better stay away from Copeland's. I'm guessing he probably lives somewhere in Metairie or Kenner by the sounds of it. Speaking of Copeland's, that Shrimp and Tasso pasta is delicious as are the Crabcakes. Uh-oh, time for lunch. LOL!

[Lebbron]

They have said many times they want to be more uptempo this year.

If that is the case then they may be using Wright at PF some. I don't think they will use him for Mo Pete much instead that will be covered by Pargo/Jackson/Butler when they aren't in their other positions.