The Charlotte Hornets have gotten off to an up-and-down start, but their future is largely dependent on the progression of their backcourt
Throughout the last few games, Malik Monk and Jeremy Lamb have begun to come into their own on the offensive end.
Against the Milwaukee Bucks, Monk went off and scored 25 points. A few nights later, Monk scored 21 against the New York Knicks. On the other hand, Lamb has scored in double-figures in every game this season.
Even though the Charlotte Hornets have dropped their last three games, the progression of their backcourt, which flanks all-star guard Kemba Walker, has been promising.
While Malik Monk has exploded as a scorer, who can both create his own long range offense and catch-and-shoot when the offense swings around, forward Dwayne Bacon has proven to be the killer wing with his slash-to-the-hoop game and run out offense that actually complements Walker perfectly.
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Perhaps the best outcome of the team’s strong backcourt play has been the ability to integrate Dwight Howard’s low post punch into the game. In Houston, Howard was a duck out of water, being relegated to rebounder.
But coming into Charlotte, the team is weaving their offense into the paint with Dwight for easy layups or jams. Through the first few games of the season, Howard is averaging 15.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and a little over once block per game.
When the opponents clog the lane, that is when the Monk and Walker shooting circus goes into overdrive. Bacon slashes deep into the paint to keep opposing defenses off balance and the chemistry among the this year’s new Charlotte Hornets is just a joy to behold.
The progression of both Monk and Lamb perhaps open the discussion of whether Nic Batum, who’s currently injured, could be tradable. If they can trade the sharpshooting French wingman, they might shore up their defensive requirements enough to make a serious bid throughout the season.
The Hornets could take a page out of Stan Van Gundy’s Orlando Magic teams, in which the team surrounds shooters around Dwight Howard – and a big part of that is due to Monk and Lamb’s progression. So far, this team is quite similar.
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The integration of Batum, once he returns from injury, will be key. It’ll be important not to interfere with the recent chemistry that the team has developed, but also important to involve arguably the team’s best defender. Perhaps brining Batum off the bench to allow the kids (Bacon, Monk, Lamb) continue to feed off their great start is something that should be considered.
For this year’s Charlotte Hornets, explosive chemistry should count more than anyone getting their paycheck minutes.