Greensboro Swarm Loses Third Straight, Slow Start to 2017

The Greensboro Swarm started the New Year on the wrong foot, losing two straight contests by the same score and the latest to the OKC Blue.

The young Greensboro Swarm are still trying to figure things out, and last week proved to be challenging. After ending 2016 with two straight losses, the Swarm opened 2017 with the same result– an 112-99 loss to the red-hot Oklahoma City Blue. Prior to that game, the Swarm lost by the same score to the Grand Rapids Drive.

Grand Rapids 112, Swarm 99

Kevin Murphy dropped 24 points, seven boards, and six dimes, Jordan Crawford added 21, and Chris Horton added another 20 to help the Drive overwhelm the Swarm. All-around threat Ray McCallum tallied 15 points, eight boards, and eight dimes to pace the home team, who led by as many as 18 points.

Greensboro was led by Xavier Munford and Aaron Harrison, who both dropped 21 points. Harrison added eight boards, while Munford had five rebounds and five assists. This was Harrison’s final game before being waived by the Charlotte Hornets, and his future with the organization is therefore up in the air.

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The two guards didn’t have much help, as only Archie Goodwin (14 points) and Perry Ellis (13) were the only other double-digit scorers. Meanwhile, the Swarm was outscored in the paint 52-44 and in second chance points (14-11). Ironically, Greensboro outrebounded Grand Rapids 53-46, but their 39.8% field goal percentage didn’t help them much.

Soon after that game, on January 3rd, the Hornets announced that they waived guard Aaron Harrison, mostly for financial reasons. With that move, Harrison now becomes a D-League affiliate player and doesn’t get the higher salary he would’ve gotten had the team brought him on for the rest of the season. Harrison could return to Greensboro if no one else picks him up, though, so we’ll see what the future holds.

OKC 112, Swarm 99

A few days after the tough loss to the Drive, the Swarm found themselves on the short end of the stick in a road contest with the Oklahoma City Blue. OKC simply had more firepower, as they had six players score in double-figures and hit 11 three-pointers to create separation.

OKC got off to quick starts at the beginning of both halves, stretching their lead to as many as 20 points in the second, and the result was a home win. OKC was led by Reggie Williams‘ 20 points and Josh Huestis‘ 19. Dakari Johnson (18 pts), Daniel Hamilton (17), Kaleb Tarczewski (16) and former Hornet Janerro Pargo (11) also contributed for the home team.

For Greensboro, forward Christian Wood did his part by dropping 29 points and nine boards off the pine. Rasheed Sulaimon added 15 off the bench, while Archie Goodwin (18) and Xavier Munford (10) were the only starters to score.

Perry Ellis (four points, 2/8 shooting) was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time in awhile, and he and Mike Tobey (seven points, 3/9) struggled mightily against OKC’s big men.

Greensboro lost despite getting more fast break points (15-10) and points in the paint (58-54). The telling difference was three-point shooting, as the Blue hit 11/25 threes (44%) while holding the Swarm to 6/22 shooting (27.3%). The Blue also outrebounded Greensboro 39-35 in what was a very low rebounding game for both teams.

This was the Swarm’s first contest since the Hornets waived guard Aaron Harrison, and things weren’t looking good. The team struggled with him, but without him, they lost another capable scorer. If no other NBA franchise claims him off waivers, he can return to the Swarm, and that might be the best thing for both parties involved.

Next: Are Assignees Hindering D-League Development?

Greensboro will be on the road again when they take on the Raptors 905 for their third meeting this season. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.