By December 10, 2023
The Hornets have a 2-3 record since LaMelo Ball went down with an ankle injury. The team’s recent flurry of injuries has forced head coach Clifford to mix and match lineups in hopes of manufacturing production from the end of Charlotte’s bench.
Hayward and Rozier have shouldered the brunt of ball-handling duties in recent games, allowing Charlotte’s wings (Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges) to navigate off-ball and create consistent pressure on the rim.
Rozier led the Hornets to a road victory against the Brooklyn Nets last Thursday, finishing with 37 points and 13 assists (tying a career high). The ninth-year NBA veteran has also shown the ability to create for others as a combo guard in Ball’s absence. Miles Bridges reiterated this sentiment following Charlotte’s home win over the Raptors.
“He’s just picking up where Melo left off. Terry is a true point guard, he just scores the ball really well. I think people forget that.”
Charlotte has seen a healthy balance of scoring distribution since Ball has been out, including four players with 20-plus points in Friday’s home win over Toronto. Hayward voiced his confidence in the Hornets roster.
“We have a lot of weapons. If we get good shots, I’m confident we’ll knock them down on most nights. We didn’t in Chicago, but we got good shots…just didn’t hit them,” Hayward said in the post-game press conference.
Coach Clifford highlighted “shot selection” as a point of emphasis in recent games. “The last five or six games, our shot profile has gotten a lot better. Early in the year, we scored a ton in the paint, but we weren’t making many threes, nor were we shooting that many,” he said. The Hornets are shooting 44.8% from three in their last five games, ranking No. 1 in the league.
Brandon Miller has been a big reason for Charlotte’s increased three-point productivity. The rookie has shot 15 for 28 (53.5%) from beyond the arc in his last five games, including some clutch threes in fourth quarters.
The Hornets have a plethora of scoring options on the roster. However, the main concern rests on the defensive side of the ball. Charlotte ranks last in defensive rebounding in their last five games, grabbing only 27.2 a game, and second-chance points have greatly hurt the team. Hopefully, center Mark Williams’ return to the lineup fully healthy should shore up some of those concerns. Coach Clifford believes the team’s defense will only get better as players continue getting healthy.
“We have really good roster versatility, we just haven’t been able to show it yet. Our half-court defense is getting better, but we have to find ways to finish possessions.”
“Good composure and made a lot of big plays.”
Head Coach Steve Clifford talks with the media after the @hornets 119-116 win over the Raptors.#LetsFly35 pic.twitter.com/vtJ5MIffFs
— Bally Sports: Hornets (@HornetsOnBally) December 9, 2023
Clifford has a high level of self-awareness regarding his roster. In Friday’s pre-game press conference, he mentioned how this team doesn’t enjoy the same luxuries as other franchises in the Eastern Conference.
“We can’t sit players and focus on what happens down the road like Boston, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. They’re competing for home-court advantage in the playoffs, we’re fighting for a playoff spot,” said Clifford.
The Hornets desperately need their star point guard back in the fold. Ball has started doing individual activities and will be re-evaluated in one week, per the Hornets. Encouraging signs of progress, but Charlotte will need to see continued contributions by committee for the time being.
“I’m making progress. Doing the treatment every day, just trying to get better. From when it happened, I feel a little better. I’m doing everything you can think of.” – @MELOD1P
📝: https://t.co/NpN3o4FTiw pic.twitter.com/otX6QO2wbo
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) December 10, 2023
The Hornets will play three of their next four games at Spectrum Center this week, with back-to-back games against Miami (in Charlotte on Monday and Miami on Wednesday), before hosting New Orleans (Friday) and Philadelphia (Saturday) for the first time this season. The Pelicans will look to rebound from their blowout loss in the In-Season Tournament semi-final game against the Lakers, while the 76ers currently hold the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference behind reigning MVP Joel Embiid and Most Improved Player candidate, Tyrese Maxey. All three opponents currently hold positions in the playoffs/play-in standings, making this upcoming week a crucial stretch for the Hornets.
Check out the full 2023-24 Charlotte Hornets schedule.
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