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Charlotte Hornets: 5 Reasons Behind Promising Start

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 29, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets won 87-82. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets won 87-82. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Charlotte Hornets
Nov 17, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Nicolas Batum (5) shoots the ball over New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

3. The Addition Of Batum

Some thought that giving up on Noah Vonleh after only his rookie season was a hasty move, especially in pursuit of a guy who will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but Nicolas Batum has been excellent in Charlotte so far.

Coming off a down season with the Portland Trail Blazers, Batum is averaging 17.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in a resurgent season with the Hornets. Even better, extending head coach Steve Clifford’s contract may have an impact on re-signing him in 2016.

We’re only a month in, of course, but Batum is still shooting 40.4 percent from three-point range and even won Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for Nov. 9-15, when he averaged 25.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game on 56.9 percent shooting from the field and 57.7 percent shooting from deep.

None of this even takes into account the defensive versatility he brings to the table, which has helped mitigate the loss of MKG. No one knows how he might mesh with MKG in the starting rotation, but for the time being, he’s been one of the league’s most underrated free agency acquisitions.

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