Analysis: How much the Hornets trust LaMelo Ball, and what Charlotte’s missing piece is
A missed call at the end isn’t the reason the Charlotte Hornets lost to the Toronto Raptors. Giving up 21 made 3-pointers did that.
But it had to be galling to hear no whistle after Terry Rozier missed that 3-pointer at the end Saturday night in Tampa, Fla.
“I thought he got fouled there at the end,” Hornets coach James Borrego said following a 116-113 loss.
Rozier wasn’t made available in the post-game media Zoom call, but his mind had to have raced back to last season, when dubious calls cost the Hornets a game in Atlanta late in Charlotte’s abbreviated season.
TV analyst Dell Curry — who is no homer — said Saturday it seemed pretty obvious that Rozier was fouled during his shooting motion. The NBA’s last-two-minute report will likely confirm that. Those reports only acknowledge late-game mistakes; they don’t undo them.
So the Hornets enter three days off from games — their longest break during the first half of a 72-game season — at 6-8 and ninth in the Eastern Conference.
What do we know about this team?
LaMelo Ball is so promising
Rookie LaMelo Ball is an imaginative passer and a strikingly effective rebounder for a guard. From the start of the preseason to now, he has learned from his mistakes steadily and become a better decision-maker.
But ...
He makes errors defensively that probably were a factor in his playing only 4 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter Saturday. When Borrego says he trusts Ball, I believe him. But “trust” is relative. Does he trust Ball more than Rozier or Devonte Graham right now? No, based on how and when Borrego has used those three guards.
Borrego values Ball, thinks he has potential to be really good for a long time. But that’s not the same as trusting him more at this juncture than two veteran guards.
The defense is improved, and yet ...
Borrego is right to praise this team’s defense, when it is guarding 5-on-5 in half-court situations. The Hornets are top-10 in points allowed per possession.
However, that isn’t the whole story. They were the NBA’s worst defensive-rebounding team last season, and it’s the same this season. Thursday’s loss, also to the Raptors in Tampa, was illustrative: Toronto had nine offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter to win a close game.
The other stressor to the defense is turnovers, particularly the live-ball kind like the one Malik Monk committed with an errant pass in the first half. That stuff has to be cleaned up, because this team can’t overpower with offense.
Gordon Hayward is all that
Gordon Hayward has played like he’s worth that $120 million contract. He’s again at an All-Star level: Saturday he had his fourth half of the season in which he scored 20 or more points; that matches the most in any of his 11 seasons.
Two things resonate about Hayward: He wanted to be a primary scoring option again, and that was not going to happen in Boston. Done.
Also, he is creating free throws in a way he hasn’t since he left Utah for the Celtics. Hayward took — and made — 10 free throws Saturday, the third time he’s reached double-figure foul shots this season.
Is there a move for a big man?
Center Cody Zeller fracturing his left hand in the season-opener put this team in a bind. Bismack Biyombo starting and averaging 26 minutes is a reach. Using power forward P.J. Washington at center is a change-up, not a solution.
Zeller should be cleared to play in the first half of February. But even with him back, I don’t know if the Hornets are solid at center.
Some fans have clamored for Borrego to play second-round rookies Vernon Carey and Nick Richards. Media doesn’t get to watch practice, particularly in the pandemic, so I don’t see what the coaches do. But if Borrego isn’t using them, I suspect it’s for good reason.
The Hornets have an open roster spot and are about $5 million under the salary cap. I’m sure general manager Mitch Kupchak would prefer not to chip into those resources to sign a center who would essentially be a temp.
But Borrego looking down the bench when Biyombo gets in foul trouble, and seeing nothing other than two rookies who should be in the G-League, is no path to playoff contention.
This story was originally published January 17, 2021 at 10:11 AM.
