RealGM

Practicing for the first two hours on Thursday before NBA TV cameras that telecast the workout live on the network, the Hornets went through three intense 4-on-4 scrimmages that at times, displayed an aggressiveness not ordinarily seen in a routine training camp practice.

Yet Coach Byron Scott said afterwards he wasn't concerned that the verbal by-play would escalate into something more physical.

"I think they're just so competitive right now amongst each other," Scott said. "Like I said the other day, you've got a bunch of guys who are competing for time. My talk to them this morning was 'If you're a guy that's playing 20 minutes and you don't do these things on the defensive end, these 20 can go to 10 very simple or it can go to where you're not playing at all.'

"We're just making sure we put the emphasis on the defensive side. Again, for the sixth straight day, the intensity was just unbelievable. They really do get after each other. Which, in the long run, I think will make us a much better basketball team."