Charlotte Hornets: How will the Charlotte Hornets match up against the Boston Celtics?

Point Guard: Kemba Walker v. Isaiah Thomas

Last season, Walker earned his first All-Star nod, and averaged 23.2 points and 5.2 assists per game. Walker is not a pass first point guard. And against a team like Boston, where they have a very deep bench, he will need to get all his teammates involved early on, because Boston is not a team that you want to find yourself in a hole against going into halftime.

Similar to Walker, Thomas is not a pass first guard, and his assist numbers are alongside Walker, at only 5.9 assists per game. But offensively, Thomas, who’s known as the King of the Fourth, has a better output at 28.9 points per game.

Thomas, a two-time All-Star, made the All-NBA Second team for the first time last season and ended the season as the third leading scorer in the NBA, and the second highest scorer in Celtics’ history, behind Larry Bird.

However, Thomas creates a glaring hole in the Celtics defense. And Thomas himself was even surprised when he garnered a single vote in the NBA All-Defense category, because his defensive real plus/minus placed Thomas second to last in the league.

On the other hand, Walker’s defensive real plus/minus is statistically leaps and bounds ahead of Thomas, and Walker finished the season 26th in the league.

Battling against the Celtics will be a defensive minded game, with Boston well-known for its physical toughness. Nonetheless, Thomas is going to have a problem defending the quick-footed Walker.

Point Guard Advantage: Walker