Last Week: Beat Washington Wizards 119-97, Beat Houston Rockets 119-94, Lost to Memphis Grizzlies 130-114, Beat Minnesota Timberwolves 120-114
This Week: 2/14 vs. San Antonio Spurs, 2/17 vs. Chicago Bulls, 2/19 vs. Denver Nuggets, 2/20 vs. Golden State Warriors
In case you were not paying them attention, the Charlotte Hornets are starting to figure things out. This is in large part to the transcendence of LaMelo Ball, but it is more than that. Their top three players have gelled together in a way that has to be surprising to anyone outside of the organization.
Over the last week Ball, Terry Rozier and Gordon Hayward combined to average 67.3 points per game. Rozier has been particularly hot, shooting 61.5 percent from the field this week, including 55.6 percent on 9.0 3-point attempts per game. After being out of the lineup for a few games, he is back with a vengeance and the starting lineup for the Hornets has solidified.
Miles Bridges is the next guy set to pop. He has thrived playing alongside LaMelo Ball, benefitting from a guy who can throw lobs to him. His game is evolving as the Hornets continue to build upon their success. But as nice as it has been to focus on the other players driving the Hornets, Ball is still the focal point.
Ball is by far the most statistically dominant rookie in this class, leading all rookies in points per game, field goals made per game, assists per game, steals per game, total points, total field goals made, free throws attempted, defensive and total rebounds, assists and steals. He is also second in rebounds per game (6.0 behind James Wiseman’s 6.1). He has transformed this franchise and is the most high-impact rookie the franchise has ever had.