Can the Hornets Bounce Back Against a Southeast Rival After an Embarrassing Loss?
The Charlotte Hornets return to the Spectrum Center tomorrow night to take on the Orlando Magic. The Hornets enter the contest at 2-2, while the Magic enter the game with a sub-.500 record, they are playing the Pistons tonight, and enter that matchup with a record of 1-3. This will be an opportunity for Charlotte to bounce back after last night’s debacle against the Heat. Charlotte, so far, is a team with great depth and is a better overall shooting team than it was last season. As of right now, the team ranks in the top 10 in multiple shooting categories this season. However, what got exposed in last night’s game in Miami is that Charlotte lacks the physicality to match up with most teams. The Heat, for as good a team as they are, lack a superstar or a guy who can give you a bucket when you need it. What they do have is “Heat Culture,” a mantra that the organization lives and breathes by. That was on display last night, and the Hornets just could not match the physicality of Miami’s pressure defense, which forced Charlotte to turn the ball over and not get back quickly to set their defense. Despite their 1-3 record, Orlando is quickly establishing a defensive identity under Jamahl Mosley. They ranked second last season, but even though they ranked 15th so far this season, they still will be tough to deal with.
In the offseason, the Magic made a splash by acquiring Desmond Bane to help out with their three-point shooting. Yet, Orlando is still struggling to shoot the three-ball. They are currently shooting just 29 percent from three as a team, and they are also taking fewer threes than last year. The acquisition of the former Grizzlies star was supposed to help, but so far it has not. Overall, the team has relied on Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero to offset the three-point struggles of the team. The Magic also struggle to defend the three, which holds well for the Hornets, who have an abundant amount of outside shooters this season. LaMelo Ball, Kon Kneuppel, and Tre Mann are names to watch when a three-point shot goes up.
Charlotte can also take advantage of the pace of play in this matchup, as Buzz City is playing faster this season and could give the Magic trouble with their speed. The Hornets ranked sixth in the league in terms of pace. With their speed, they can beat the Magic in transition and bother them by creating early offense. This is how Miami beat them last night, and they can use last night’s setback and turn it into tomorrow night’s bounce back. Charlotte can also throw multiple defenders at Orlando’s star duo to rush them and frustrate them on the offensive end. Overall, Charlotte has the playmakers and shooters that Orlando lacks, which could propel the team to their third victory of the season. Due to the Magic’s struggles on the perimeter, Charlotte should take advantage of their disadvantage. If they do this, then the Spectrum Center will be buzzing about this Hornets victory.
