Charlotte Hornets: How will the Charlotte Hornets match up against the Boston Celtics?
Shooting Guard: Nicolas Batum v. Gordon Hayward
For a shooting guard, Batum’s numbers are depressingly low, after only averaging 15.1 points and 5.9 assists per game. As his numbers now stand, Batum isn’t much help to Walker in the backcourt. Hopefully, Walker breaks out of that shoot first mentality, and passes the ball more to his backcourt mate, increasing Batum’s scoring as well as the Hornets’ overall offensive efficiency rating.
On the defensive end is where Batum’s strength lies. He averaged a respectable 6.2 rebounds last season. He seems to be better suited as a forward, rather than at the two position. Batum always appears to be on the cusp of being an All-Star, and hopefully if he gets his scoring up, he will finally make the All-Star team this season.
On the other end of the court, during the offseason the Celtics acquired Gordon Hayward from the Utah Jazz. On the Jazz last season, Hayward was a small forward, but will be playing at the two alongside Isaiah Thomas in Boston.
Last season marked Hayward’s first All-Star appearance, and he ended the year averaging 21.9 points, 3.5 assists per game, and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Batum can crash the glass on both ends of the court, and although Hayward is new to the Celtics’ system, Hayward clearly has the advantage offensively.
Shooting Guard Advantage: Hayward
Center: Dwight Howard v. Al Horford
This game will be a battle of the bigs. Because not only is Howard a beast on the boards, he is the second best player on the Hornets. Last season he averaged 13.5 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. In fact, every season of his 13-year NBA career, Howard has averaged a double-double. Inside the paint he will be trouble for Horford.
Statistically speaking, Howard looks better than Horford. Because Horford ended last season averaging 14 points and 6.8 rebounds. So crashing the boards, Howard has Horford beat hands down.
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But outside the paint will be another story, because Celtics’ Coach Brad Stevens plays positionless basketball. And last season, Horford during the playoffs was running point, center and playing the forward position in the same game.
Horford is also threat from deep. And although Howard can defend the paint like no other, he’s not used to defending the perimeter. Unlike Howard, Horford added the three-ball to his repertoire.
And being outside defending the 3-point line just isn’t Howard’s game. Horford shot 35 percent from the 3-point line, and shot a staggering 51 percent percent from behind the arc during the playoffs last season.
Although there is no better inside man than Howard, the 3-point line is his weakness, both offensively and defensively, and Horford will take advantage of that. Even if Horford can’t get this shot off, he will jump into Howard, thus getting three attempts at the free-throw line.
Unless Howard has changed up his game to also defend the perimeter, he will most likely be chasing behind Horford, instead of being in front of his man. Therefore, Howard will be a defensive liability outside the paint.
Center Advantage: Horford