Terry Rozier has a career-high 35 points, but Hornets lose to the Cavaliers
This might not be precisely the role Terry Rozier anticipated when he chose the Charlotte Hornets in July, but he’s having impact.
Rozier, who came to the Hornets after four seasons with the Boston Celtics, scored a career-high 35 points in a 100-98 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rozier grew up in the Cleveland area.
Rozier was projected as Kemba Walker’s replacement at point guard, but with Devonte Graham’s rapid development, he’s played more off the ball this season. Rozier hit several big 3-pointers in the Hornets’ comeback from 20 down, but his 3 on the Hornets’ final possession bounced off the rim.
Ten thoughts off Wednesday’s game:
▪ The Hornets have shown resiliency in winning 12 of their first 31 games, but they are fragile. Six of 30 NBA teams entered Wednesday with fewer than 10 victories; the Hornets have now lost to four of them (Cavs, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans).
▪ The Hornets have had a brutally busy schedule. They have played the most games in the NBA to date and Thursday and Friday will be their first two-day break since Nov. 13.
▪ One night after a season-best 23 points, Malik Monk suffered a left hip contusion. The Hornets were among the least-injured teams the first 25 games, but it’s been evening out to their detriment of late.
▪ Both Cody Zeller and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist have become players defenses can no longer afford to let take unguarded 3-pointers.
▪ The way coach James Borrego is using centers Zeller and Bismack Biyombo is more of a tag team than a starter-backup arrangement. Borrego said recently his primary concern is whoever is on the floor is fresh enough to deliver constant energy. So center minutes distribution is fluid.
▪ The first quarter -- when the Cavaliers made 12 of their first 17 shots from the field -- was a distinct regression from how the Hornets had played defense of late. Borrego tried some zone, just to shake up the looks the Cavs were getting.
▪ Cody Martin took another charge in the first half Wednesday, raising his total to 10 in 22 games. If you want to win over your coach, give up your body to make a defensive play.
▪ Borrego again started both Biyombo and Zeller for the third consecutive game, with P.J. Washington (broken finger) out. However, as was the case Tuesday against the Sacramento Kings, Marvin Williams is getting most of Washington’s minutes after Williams returned from a sore right knee.
▪Starting small forward Miles Bridges played 20 minutes Wednesday after playing 21 Tuesday. Martin and Kidd-Gilchrist are getting those other small-forward minutes. it’s interesting that in Washington’s absence, Bridges isn’t playing a lot more power forward.
▪ Teams are clearly focusing defense primarily on Hornets guards Devonte Graham and Rozier of late. Those two were a combined 11-of-43 from the field between Tuesday and the first half Wednesday.
This story was originally published December 18, 2019 at 9:59 PM.
