Charlotte Hornets: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season
2. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will start scoring more
Last season, Kidd-Gilchrist only averaged 9.2 points per game. Those numbers are unacceptable for any position in the starting lineup.
And as Aldridge noted in his Offseason Rankings:
"“Not exactly sure, then, how the non-shooting Carter-Williams will fit into that mix effectively at either guard spot, especially when Charlotte already has a guy in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist who doesn’t stretch the floor (in this NBA, how is it possible for a starting small forward to only attempt nine — nine — 3-pointers in an entire season?).”"
Kidd-Gilchrist has to get his scoring up, He averaged a respectable 7.0 rebounds per game last season. With Howard crashing the rim for rebounds, that creates more opportunities for MKG to get more shots.
In addition to getting help on the inside from Howard, he’ll also get more on-the-ball action from Walker. As Walker starts passing the ball more to his teammates, he’ll provide them with more touches and more scoring opportunities.
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But MKG also needs to learn to make his own plays to help getting his scoring up, which means that he can’t be afraid to drive the lanes. More importantly, he has to become a credible threat outside the paint, which means becoming a 3-point shooter.
Kidd-Gilchrist shot 11 percent from the three last season. (With those numbers, maybe Howard should start practicing his three-ball.) Those numbers aren’t representative of a shooting slump, but n example of not practicing the shot at all.
As a career 20.6 percent 3-point shooter, he also has to find himself in the gym from sunup to sundown. Kidd-Gilchrist isn’t going to turn into a sharpshooter overnight, but he will up his percentages with practice and discipline.
In addition, to his 3-point shot, Kidd-Gilchrist also has to work on his mid-range jumper. With a Walker-Batum-Monk backcourt, and Howard in the middle, he should be able to get more open shots. MKG is on track to be a more consistent scorer both inside and outside the paint next season.