NBA Halloween: Playing trick-or-treat with each team’s early season trend
Charlotte Hornets
Balanced scoring is enough to support Kemba Walker: Trick
Through eight games, Kemba Walker is averaging 30.1 points per game for the Charlotte Hornets. His next closest teammate, Malik Monk, is averaging 12.1 per game. Jeremy Lamb (10.9) and Nicolas Batum (10.8) round out the list of players scoring in double figures.
To be fair, the Hornets have balance in the scoring department after Kemba. Charlotte has eight players averaging between 7-12 points per game, and currently ranks second in offensive rating. No matter who’s on the floor, this offense has been humming so far.
Kemba Walker drops a @hornets franchise record for a season-opener with 41 PTS at home. #Hornets30 #KiaTipOff18 pic.twitter.com/qWqI2Q3UKS
— NBA (@NBA) October 18, 2018
The problem has mostly been on the defensive end, but at some point, the lack of an established second banana is going to turn this team’s record to mush. By the time Monk and Miles Bridges are capable of filling that role, Walker may already have one foot out the door for his upcoming free agency.