By: Knox Buxton
The Charlotte Hornets have started 1-2 in the first three games of the season. They have played the Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, and Miami Heat where they won the first game against the Rockets and dropped the next two against the Hawks and Heat. I was honestly surprised by the Hornets performance on opening night in Houston against the Rockets. I knew it would be a close game, but with Mark Williams and Josh Green out it would be a tough one to win. Brandon Miller who is arguably the best player on the Hornets got injured after playing the first eleven minutes of the game and did not return. Lamelo Ball and Tre Mann ended up carrying the hornets to a 110-105 win after they went down by as much as eighteen. Ball nearly had his first triple-double of the season with 34 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds as Tre Mann came off the bench and added 24 points and 6 rebounds. Two nights later the Hornets played in Atlanta against the Hawks without two starters in Brandon Miller and Mark Williams. The Hawks led most of the game even though it was close, but the Hornets could not pull ahead as Atlanta won 125-120. The game seemed like a back and forth between Lamelo Ball and Trae Young as Ball scored 34 points with 9 three pointers and Trae Young finished with 38 points and 10 assists. On Saturday night, the Miami Heat came to Charlotte for the Hornets’ first home game of the new season. Miami took a double digit lead, but the Hornets came back and made it a one score game for most of the fourth quarter. Miami was able to pull away in the final minutes and leave Charlotte with a 114-106 victory. Lamelo was the leading scorer for the Hornets once again with 27 points in the loss. In conclusion, I know the Hornets are 1-2 right now and that does not look good but they have also had 3 of their starters out with Josh Green, Brandon Miller, and Mark Williams. Both of the games they have lost were close without those three so I don’t think there is a need to worry too much. One of the main problems for the Hornets is Rim Protection and when Mark Williams comes back that should be fixed. I have been very happy with the way Lamelo Ball and Tre Mann have started the season as Lamelo has averaged 31.7 points per game and Mann has averaged 18.3 off the bench. If those two can keep it up once Williams, Miller, and Green come back the Hornets could surprise a lot of people in the Eastern Conference this season.
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