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Charlotte Hornets: 3 takeaways from the 2017-18 season opener

By Michael Dugger

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 18: Dwight Howard NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 18: Dwight Howard NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 18: Kemba Walker NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Pistons defeated the Hornets 102 to 90. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 18: Kemba Walker NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Pistons defeated the Hornets 102 to 90. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Kemba needs help

Coming in to the 2017-18 NBA regular season, there was concern about the Hornets’ lack of a proven secondary playmaker behind All-Star Kemba Walker. Nicolas Batum’s elbow injury, which will cost him a couple months, quickly added more pressure on Kemba to create for others, given Batum is the arguably the team’s best passer and can run the offense when Kemba rests.

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The Hornets are forced to put the ball in Kemba’s hands and hope he makes a play for himself or a teammate, and the current lineup doesn’t provide the most floor space for success. And asking him to do it on opening night against Avery Bradley, one of the top perimeter defenders in the NBA with an athletic big man in Andre Drummond roaming the paint.

This is where a secondary ball handler is needed to attack the weaker defender of an opponent’s backcourt, or Reggie Jackson in this case. Jeremy Lamb and Dwayne Bacon (we’ll get to him in a minute) started alongside Walker and couldn’t take advantage of their matchups on Jackson, although Reggie held his own when he guarded Kemba.

It also hurts that Michael Carter-Williams, the point guard they signed in the offseason, is injured, which puts pressure on an array of young guards to an offense. But his strengths aren’t predicated around beating people off the dribble and setting up teammates. His jump-shot is too poor and defenses go under on screens, cutting off driving lanes and making him a non-factor offensively.

Kemba is used to carrying offenses in his career, but the team crumbled when he was off the floor against Detroit. Between health concerns and inexperience in the backcourt behind him, Kemba will have to play at last season’s All-Star level to keep the Hornets afloat until their roster is at full strength.

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