Welcome to the Hornets Podcast, presented by Charlotte I ear Nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear Nosen Throatcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Rob Longo.

Welcome to the Hornets Podcast, presented by Charlotte I ear Nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear Nosen Throatcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Rob Longo.

Hi, friends, and welcome to today's episode of the Hornets Podcast, the official podcast of the Charlotte Hornets, brought to you by Santa Charlotte, i ear Nos and Throat Associates, the official I ear nos and throat Care provider of your Charlotte Hornets. It is once again a winning edition of the AHHC as the Hornets win it one twenty five to one twenty three and a nail bier out into Windy City in Chicago last night. Hornets now ten and twenty eight on the season. That's the good news. There's also some bad news to talk about, as the Hornets have an injury update on Brandon Miller. We will give you all of the specifics on that one here a little bit later on, but in the meantime, we're gonna celebrate the happy things. We're gonna take our our Hornets win and we're gonna break it down for you, and we're gonna provide you with our top performers as well, and help help me out with all of these topics on this episode of the Hornets I've cast. It's the one and only host of Hornets Post Game on flagship station sports Radio WFNZ. Will pologic, Well, I know you said that you were you didn't want to meet with me like we did the last couple of times with the Silver Linings. Now you've got two wins in a row. I might have to sticky on this here for the next couple of foreseeable podcasts. But even though there was a win for the Hornets, it still kind of feels like a loss a little bit because the Hornets have lost Brandon Miller for quite some time, it seems like, because he's listed as out for the indefinite amount of time here and unforeseeable future.

Hi, friends, and welcome to today's episode of the Hornets Podcast, the official podcast of the Charlotte Hornets, brought to you by Santa Charlotte, i ear Nos and Throat Associates, the official I ear nos and throat Care provider of your Charlotte Hornets. It is once again a winning edition of the AHHC as the Hornets win it one twenty five to one twenty three and a nail bier out into Windy City in Chicago last night. Hornets now ten and twenty eight on the season. That's the good news. There's also some bad news to talk about, as the Hornets have an injury update on Brandon Miller. We will give you all of the specifics on that one here a little bit later on, but in the meantime, we're gonna celebrate the happy things. We're gonna take our our Hornets win and we're gonna break it down for you, and we're gonna provide you with our top performers as well, and help help me out with all of these topics on this episode of the Hornets I've cast. It's the one and only host of Hornets Post Game on flagship station sports Radio WFNZ. Will pologic, Well, I know you said that you were you didn't want to meet with me like we did the last couple of times with the Silver Linings. Now you've got two wins in a row. I might have to sticky on this here for the next couple of foreseeable podcasts. But even though there was a win for the Hornets, it still kind of feels like a loss a little bit because the Hornets have lost Brandon Miller for quite some time, it seems like, because he's listed as out for the indefinite amount of time here and unforeseeable future.

Yeah, you're you're a tempting fate here by trying to keep the keep the vibes going here. But it is always good to join you rob even more sweet when it comes off a victory. I will quote the legendary Lou Brown and say, we won a game yesterday. That's two in a row. If we won one one day, that's called the winning streak. It has happened before. Unfortunately, if they do win on Monday, it'll have to come without Brandon Miller, like you said, and that does take a little bit of the of the fun out of what happened last night. Unfortunately, we get a little sting at the end of what should have been a pretty sweet celebration after the Hornets out last of Bulls team that had a couple of different hitters at it in the final stretch. But unfortunately they have to deal with the consequences of an unfortunate another setback to their starting rotation.

Yeah, you're you're a tempting fate here by trying to keep the keep the vibes going here. But it is always good to join you rob even more sweet when it comes off a victory. I will quote the legendary Lou Brown and say, we won a game yesterday. That's two in a row. If we won one one day, that's called the winning streak. It has happened before. Unfortunately, if they do win on Monday, it'll have to come without Brandon Miller, like you said, and that does take a little bit of the of the fun out of what happened last night. Unfortunately, we get a little sting at the end of what should have been a pretty sweet celebration after the Hornets out last of Bulls team that had a couple of different hitters at it in the final stretch. But unfortunately they have to deal with the consequences of an unfortunate another setback to their starting rotation.

You wanted to quote Lou Brown here, I wanted to quote Harry Doyle on the postgame show yesterday with Sam, but I don't think I was allowed to say that line on radio, so I'll let you read between probably not. I mean, I like to keep my job and I don't have a dumb button here in the studio, so we'll leave it at that. But again, rip to the great Bob Buker who passed away just a few days ago. But let's go ahead and just get right into this game here, because this was a crazy one again, Hornets winning one twenty five to one twenty three last night of course, no Brandon Miller, still no Tray Man or Grant Williams for the Hornets. Tory Craig was out for this one yesterday for Chicago, which was pretty significant considering the last time that these two teams squared off a couple of weeks ago in Charlotte. Craig came off the bench, hit five threes and Chicago won it in overtime. So with the injury to Brandon Miller, Nick Smith Junior getting his first career NBA start, he did not disappoint played a very solid game at the end of the day. He finishes with fifteen points off a six to twelve shooting, going three to seven from three. Sure, we'll talk about Nick here a little bit later on as well, but the Hornets led it by seven after the first quarter by a thirty six to twenty nine tally. Very crazy second quarter with the Bulls ended up out scoring the Hornets forty two to thirty seven in that frame, so it ended up only being a two point game at halftime, as Chicago trailed it against your Hornets seventy three to seventy one. Bulls had a better third quarter than Charlotte, outscored the Hornets thirty two to twenty five in that frame. It was a one to ozh three to ninety eight lead for Chicago going into the fourth quarter, but the Hornets rallied. They started the frame on a twenty one to two run over the first about six fifteen of that fourth quarter. Chicago started the fourth quarter zero for seven from but they bounced back their next fifteen shots. They go seven to fifteen in the quarter, so they made a run at it at the end of the game. Chicago closed the game on a sixteen to four final run. Very hectic at the end of the game, Hornets led it one twenty one to one seventeen with about two forty two left to go. Chicago called a time out to challenge and out of bounce easy overturn Bulls got the ball. They continued their run. Mark Williams got called for his fifth foul at the thirty eight second mark of the fourth quarter. However, the Hornets called a time out to challenge the foul. It was overturned. They said Mark got the ball first marginal contact afterwards, so ended up being a good challenge. Hornets now sixteen and six on challenges this year for what it's worth at that point of the game it was one twenty four to one to twenty one in favor of Charlotte, so then that wiped away the fifth foul by Mark Williams. However, there was a three ball attempt on the offensive possession after the Hornets won to jump ball, and Mark did pick up his fifth foul with about sixteen seconds left to go, but Hornets were able to hold on at the end a one to twenty five to one twenty three win. As the Bulls did have a chance to win it at the end of the game, or at least tie it and maybe even win it with the three with about twelve seconds left to go, They got a couple good looks at it, but the Hornets defense held strong and Charlotte ends up walking out of Chicago with a one twenty five to one twenty three win, second time in as many games that the Hornets have picked up a w first time they won consecutive games in quite a long time, but they improved the ten and twenty eight on the season, and after game, Charles Lee talked about the play of his.

You wanted to quote Lou Brown here, I wanted to quote Harry Doyle on the postgame show yesterday with Sam, but I don't think I was allowed to say that line on radio, so I'll let you read between probably not. I mean, I like to keep my job and I don't have a dumb button here in the studio, so we'll leave it at that. But again, rip to the great Bob Buker who passed away just a few days ago. But let's go ahead and just get right into this game here, because this was a crazy one again, Hornets winning one twenty five to one twenty three last night of course, no Brandon Miller, still no Tray Man or Grant Williams for the Hornets. Tory Craig was out for this one yesterday for Chicago, which was pretty significant considering the last time that these two teams squared off a couple of weeks ago in Charlotte. Craig came off the bench, hit five threes and Chicago won it in overtime. So with the injury to Brandon Miller, Nick Smith Junior getting his first career NBA start, he did not disappoint played a very solid game at the end of the day. He finishes with fifteen points off a six to twelve shooting, going three to seven from three. Sure, we'll talk about Nick here a little bit later on as well, but the Hornets led it by seven after the first quarter by a thirty six to twenty nine tally. Very crazy second quarter with the Bulls ended up out scoring the Hornets forty two to thirty seven in that frame, so it ended up only being a two point game at halftime, as Chicago trailed it against your Hornets seventy three to seventy one. Bulls had a better third quarter than Charlotte, outscored the Hornets thirty two to twenty five in that frame. It was a one to ozh three to ninety eight lead for Chicago going into the fourth quarter, but the Hornets rallied. They started the frame on a twenty one to two run over the first about six fifteen of that fourth quarter. Chicago started the fourth quarter zero for seven from but they bounced back their next fifteen shots. They go seven to fifteen in the quarter, so they made a run at it at the end of the game. Chicago closed the game on a sixteen to four final run. Very hectic at the end of the game, Hornets led it one twenty one to one seventeen with about two forty two left to go. Chicago called a time out to challenge and out of bounce easy overturn Bulls got the ball. They continued their run. Mark Williams got called for his fifth foul at the thirty eight second mark of the fourth quarter. However, the Hornets called a time out to challenge the foul. It was overturned. They said Mark got the ball first marginal contact afterwards, so ended up being a good challenge. Hornets now sixteen and six on challenges this year for what it's worth at that point of the game it was one twenty four to one to twenty one in favor of Charlotte, so then that wiped away the fifth foul by Mark Williams. However, there was a three ball attempt on the offensive possession after the Hornets won to jump ball, and Mark did pick up his fifth foul with about sixteen seconds left to go, but Hornets were able to hold on at the end a one to twenty five to one twenty three win. As the Bulls did have a chance to win it at the end of the game, or at least tie it and maybe even win it with the three with about twelve seconds left to go, They got a couple good looks at it, but the Hornets defense held strong and Charlotte ends up walking out of Chicago with a one twenty five to one twenty three win, second time in as many games that the Hornets have picked up a w first time they won consecutive games in quite a long time, but they improved the ten and twenty eight on the season, and after game, Charles Lee talked about the play of his.

Team, our ability to defensively turn up the pressure. I think a little bit finish some possessions. You know, give give them credit. They play really fast, they share the ball pretty well, and they create a lot of open threes, and I thought that they made some timely shots. But as usual, our group did a great job of responding, maintaining their composure and trusting what we do. You know, I thought one of the biggest plays mellow driving baseline there in the fourth quarter towards the end of the game and then kicking out and we get a Josh Green corner three. And so just like moments like that just show the growth of the team where we continue trust each other on both tens of the four.

Team, our ability to defensively turn up the pressure. I think a little bit finish some possessions. You know, give give them credit. They play really fast, they share the ball pretty well, and they create a lot of open threes, and I thought that they made some timely shots. But as usual, our group did a great job of responding, maintaining their composure and trusting what we do. You know, I thought one of the biggest plays mellow driving baseline there in the fourth quarter towards the end of the game and then kicking out and we get a Josh Green corner three. And so just like moments like that just show the growth of the team where we continue trust each other on both tens of the four.

Statement there from head coach Charles Lee after his team wins at one twenty five to one twenty three, this was a crazy one down to stretch, will I had some doubts at the end of the game. I'm not gonna lie you just kind of felt like it was going to be deja vu all over again, because this was a similar situation to the last time these two teams squared off, where the Hornets had a fourth quarter lead and he squandered it a little bit. They were able to come back and Miles Bridges had that game, tying three to force overtime back at the Hive on December thirtieth. Hornets eventually ran out of gas there in the overtime period and ended up losing that game, but kind of had a little bit of deja vu all over again, to quote the late great Yogi bearra But the end of the day, the defense stands tall despite a seventeen point four rebound quarter from Nikola Vuchivich in that final frame for Chicago.

Statement there from head coach Charles Lee after his team wins at one twenty five to one twenty three, this was a crazy one down to stretch, will I had some doubts at the end of the game. I'm not gonna lie you just kind of felt like it was going to be deja vu all over again, because this was a similar situation to the last time these two teams squared off, where the Hornets had a fourth quarter lead and he squandered it a little bit. They were able to come back and Miles Bridges had that game, tying three to force overtime back at the Hive on December thirtieth. Hornets eventually ran out of gas there in the overtime period and ended up losing that game, but kind of had a little bit of deja vu all over again, to quote the late great Yogi bearra But the end of the day, the defense stands tall despite a seventeen point four rebound quarter from Nikola Vuchivich in that final frame for Chicago.

Well, if you remember that that game too, Rob Hornets were some receivers of good fortune when you think about the two miss free throws by nick Vuchovic.

Well, if you remember that that game too, Rob Hornets were some receivers of good fortune when you think about the two miss free throws by nick Vuchovic.

In that game last time these two teams played.

In that game last time these two teams played.

This time, the fortune for Charlotte comes off of another great decision by Hornet's brain trust, between not only head coach Charles Lee, but the man that he credits to being the challenge guy, if you will, Ryan Fraser, one of his assistants fellow Buckneil Bison as well. And when you think about the way that these two guys have kind of come together you mentioned sixteen and six on challenges.

This time, the fortune for Charlotte comes off of another great decision by Hornet's brain trust, between not only head coach Charles Lee, but the man that he credits to being the challenge guy, if you will, Ryan Fraser, one of his assistants fellow Buckneil Bison as well. And when you think about the way that these two guys have kind of come together you mentioned sixteen and six on challenges.

He has said.

He has said.

Repeatedly that he's not necessarily one to look at and say I go about doing this or just anything. He wants to make sure that the type of things that happen are going to be game changing. Plays a fifth foul on Mark Williams I think would be considered game changing when you think about the current Hornets front court depth. I know that we've loved what Mussa Diabatte has done, especially since he's come back from Greensboro and even what he did down in Greensboro, but I think they would not want to have to put him in a situation where he's having to guard Nick Vucovich. And when you saw his plus minus being a plus ten and kind of the rest of the bench not necessarily feasting on Vucevic, you definitely had to look at it and say, okay, it was a pretty good challenge from the Hornets perspective. I find it very interesting too, to juxtapose the two runs in the fourth quarter, Hornet's going out of that twenty one to two run but then unfortunately scoring just four points in the final four and a half minutes. So it is something when you look at it and say, okay, great, great start, but you really had to kind of claw your way to the finish.

Repeatedly that he's not necessarily one to look at and say I go about doing this or just anything. He wants to make sure that the type of things that happen are going to be game changing. Plays a fifth foul on Mark Williams I think would be considered game changing when you think about the current Hornets front court depth. I know that we've loved what Mussa Diabatte has done, especially since he's come back from Greensboro and even what he did down in Greensboro, but I think they would not want to have to put him in a situation where he's having to guard Nick Vucovich. And when you saw his plus minus being a plus ten and kind of the rest of the bench not necessarily feasting on Vucevic, you definitely had to look at it and say, okay, it was a pretty good challenge from the Hornets perspective. I find it very interesting too, to juxtapose the two runs in the fourth quarter, Hornet's going out of that twenty one to two run but then unfortunately scoring just four points in the final four and a half minutes. So it is something when you look at it and say, okay, great, great start, but you really had to kind of claw your way to the finish.

They did it on the defensive end. I mean, they give them some credit.

They did it on the defensive end. I mean, they give them some credit.

They were able to get a couple of very key stops, just enough stops in order to make things happen. And again not necessarily the best three point shooting day from a lot of their principal players. Lamola Ball had a one for nine night shooting. The three didn't necessarily shoot it well off the bench from three, but they got enough between Nick Smith Junior and Miles Bridges, and also a little bit of work from Seth Curry as well off the bench early.

They were able to get a couple of very key stops, just enough stops in order to make things happen. And again not necessarily the best three point shooting day from a lot of their principal players. Lamola Ball had a one for nine night shooting. The three didn't necessarily shoot it well off the bench from three, but they got enough between Nick Smith Junior and Miles Bridges, and also a little bit of work from Seth Curry as well off the bench early.

On to do just enough.

On to do just enough.

And I think anytime you are able to beat a team who's got a scorer who's on kind of the heater that Nick Fucvich was on, I think it's a big feather in your cap. And I was going to say before we found out the news about Brandon Miller, is that this could really serve as a momentum. Biller as kind of a snowball rolling down the hill to try and give this team some confidence. That doesn't mean that that still can't happen. It's just that confidence role is gonna have to come without Brandon Miller for the foreseeable future. And I know we'll talk a little bit later on on how the Hornets try to fill with the arroget behind them. But I like what I saw from the Mellow. I really like what I've seen from Miles Bridges over the last three or four contests. I think his shooting line and this one was identical to what he had against Utah eight to fifteen from the field, a little bit better from the three point line, three of six from downtown, twenty one points effort, four rebounds and three assists. They're gonna need him to step up, obviously, when you think about the absence of Brandon and Look. The one other thing too about Mark Williams is that you know, after a thirty one point game, how many times have we seen horne It's players in the past, Not necessarily Mark, but Hornets players, you know, have a night like he had the other night and then follow it up with a knight that might not necessarily be up to the same kind of muster we talk about. Charles Lee, one of the things he likes to say to these players is that you know, you can have these out first type nights where you're going and everything is going well, but I want you to be a more consistent player. I mean, that's why he wants to see these guys. He'd rather see a bunch of twenty point games or thirty point games in a row as opposed to a forty followed by an eight or ten. Obviously, very very good nights when you get, you know, a night like that, but they want to make sure that those things are being more spread out, more evenly throughout the throughout the season. Nineteen points, nineteen rebounds is nothing to sneeze that. When you think about the way that he has played over the course of this last stretch, it's a great, great thing to see this young man come into his own.

And I think anytime you are able to beat a team who's got a scorer who's on kind of the heater that Nick Fucvich was on, I think it's a big feather in your cap. And I was going to say before we found out the news about Brandon Miller, is that this could really serve as a momentum. Biller as kind of a snowball rolling down the hill to try and give this team some confidence. That doesn't mean that that still can't happen. It's just that confidence role is gonna have to come without Brandon Miller for the foreseeable future. And I know we'll talk a little bit later on on how the Hornets try to fill with the arroget behind them. But I like what I saw from the Mellow. I really like what I've seen from Miles Bridges over the last three or four contests. I think his shooting line and this one was identical to what he had against Utah eight to fifteen from the field, a little bit better from the three point line, three of six from downtown, twenty one points effort, four rebounds and three assists. They're gonna need him to step up, obviously, when you think about the absence of Brandon and Look. The one other thing too about Mark Williams is that you know, after a thirty one point game, how many times have we seen horne It's players in the past, Not necessarily Mark, but Hornets players, you know, have a night like he had the other night and then follow it up with a knight that might not necessarily be up to the same kind of muster we talk about. Charles Lee, one of the things he likes to say to these players is that you know, you can have these out first type nights where you're going and everything is going well, but I want you to be a more consistent player. I mean, that's why he wants to see these guys. He'd rather see a bunch of twenty point games or thirty point games in a row as opposed to a forty followed by an eight or ten. Obviously, very very good nights when you get, you know, a night like that, but they want to make sure that those things are being more spread out, more evenly throughout the throughout the season. Nineteen points, nineteen rebounds is nothing to sneeze that. When you think about the way that he has played over the course of this last stretch, it's a great, great thing to see this young man come into his own.

Consistency is key to the NBA. Mark Williams has been the epitome of that the last three games. I'm sure we'll talk about him a little bit later on as well, but you got to give credit where credits due. Nikolovucevic season high forty points, he also had thirteen rebounds in that ballgame yesterday, seventeen of his forty coming in that fourth quarter alone, three points off of his career high that he's had a career high forty three twice has been able to break that, but he did get to the forty point echelon in that game yesterday, Kobe White had eighteen point Zach Lavigne had nineteen. Those were the only three Bulls in double figures. Charlotte much more balanced on the scoring. Ledger LaMelo ball team high twenty six points, Miles Bridges hits a blackjack twenty one, Mark Williams at the nineteen and nineteen that Willie p he just talked about there Nicks but Junior fifteen points and Seth Curry a big fifteen coming off the bench, thirteen of those in the first half of the loan. All results in a one twenty five to one twenty three Hornets win. Lots of candidates for Stars of the Night. We'll pick ours next here on a Hornetsive cast. It's a winning edition of the h HC. Rob Longo in the host of Hornets post game on the flag Ship Station Sports Radio WFNZ, Will Polotic with you on this episode of the Hornets Podcast, as always proudly brought to you by Senta Hornets when at one twenty five to one twenty three squeak it out into Windy City, a winning road trip, by the way, taken two out of their last three on the road, as they will head to the friendly confines of Spectrum Center for a Monday afternoon MLK showdown against the Dallas Mavericks. Tip time at twelve. Get your tickets at Hornets dot com. But in the meantime, still a lot to talk about in this one will stars of the night? I ran down the candidates. There are a lot of them. Maybe you go off the board completely, but I will leave it up to you who is your Star of the night from last night's win.

Consistency is key to the NBA. Mark Williams has been the epitome of that the last three games. I'm sure we'll talk about him a little bit later on as well, but you got to give credit where credits due. Nikolovucevic season high forty points, he also had thirteen rebounds in that ballgame yesterday, seventeen of his forty coming in that fourth quarter alone, three points off of his career high that he's had a career high forty three twice has been able to break that, but he did get to the forty point echelon in that game yesterday, Kobe White had eighteen point Zach Lavigne had nineteen. Those were the only three Bulls in double figures. Charlotte much more balanced on the scoring. Ledger LaMelo ball team high twenty six points, Miles Bridges hits a blackjack twenty one, Mark Williams at the nineteen and nineteen that Willie p he just talked about there Nicks but Junior fifteen points and Seth Curry a big fifteen coming off the bench, thirteen of those in the first half of the loan. All results in a one twenty five to one twenty three Hornets win. Lots of candidates for Stars of the Night. We'll pick ours next here on a Hornetsive cast. It's a winning edition of the h HC. Rob Longo in the host of Hornets post game on the flag Ship Station Sports Radio WFNZ, Will Polotic with you on this episode of the Hornets Podcast, as always proudly brought to you by Senta Hornets when at one twenty five to one twenty three squeak it out into Windy City, a winning road trip, by the way, taken two out of their last three on the road, as they will head to the friendly confines of Spectrum Center for a Monday afternoon MLK showdown against the Dallas Mavericks. Tip time at twelve. Get your tickets at Hornets dot com. But in the meantime, still a lot to talk about in this one will stars of the night? I ran down the candidates. There are a lot of them. Maybe you go off the board completely, but I will leave it up to you who is your Star of the night from last night's win.

I mean, there are a lot of choices.

I mean, there are a lot of choices.

I liked Miles game, like I said earlier, I really liked Mark Williams game, and I even like what Nick Smith Junior did in Brandon Miller's since. But if I gotta go with one guy, it's a man who was on center stage because of the fact that it was just the fourth time we've seen the ball brothers go up against each other.

I liked Miles game, like I said earlier, I really liked Mark Williams game, and I even like what Nick Smith Junior did in Brandon Miller's since. But if I gotta go with one guy, it's a man who was on center stage because of the fact that it was just the fourth time we've seen the ball brothers go up against each other.

Give me a la mellow.

Give me a la mellow.

Mellow kick and roll with Mark driving up of the right hand, got hit and he hits the shot.

Mellow kick and roll with Mark driving up of the right hand, got hit and he hits the shot.

Plus the foul.

Plus the foul.

LaMelo hanging and finishing, plus the personal on Nikola Vucevich.

LaMelo hanging and finishing, plus the personal on Nikola Vucevich.

LaMelo had a couple of these and one type opportunities, including one where he basically was on his seat as well, got to the line thirteen times. This is kind of the epitome of why I've liked what LaMelo has done very very recently. I understand that folks will look at his shooting numbers and say a lot of times he doesn't have the most efficient time shooting the basketball. I understand that that's obviously something. High volume is what he has to be in order to be effective, and I'll take high volume from him over anybody else on this team provided his health. But the one thing you are going to see from him, despite times when it doesn't necessarily hit the shots, is he's going to find a way to put the ball in the basket. And knowing that the shot wasn't working from the perimeter to I, he ended up going on the drive and being the aggressor, and that's why he gets to the line thirteen times, makes eleven. He also dished out nine helpers, had two steels. Rob and I on our text conversation during the game. A couple of nights ago, he had three blocks against Utah, So he's finding other ways to affect the scoring. Obviously, coming off another update from our friends at the NBA All Star Game, where he once again leads all All Star guards in the Eastern Conference. I find like he's going to be in the All Star Game guys, and he might very well be one of them people who ends up starting it with this new format. But when you think about the way that he has played over the law of course of this last stretch, especially as the Hornets have gotten their pieces back, he has looked more and more like himself, more and more at home, and I think too he knows how to utilize what's working on any given night. And I think that's just the further maturation of a player who continues to show why he's so important to this franchise's growth, and also how much he is continuing to be somebody who you look at and say, you can't leave off an All Star roster, you can't leave off of a list of the best players in the NBA, and you can't live off of a your placeable list when it comes to the way that this team needs him.

LaMelo had a couple of these and one type opportunities, including one where he basically was on his seat as well, got to the line thirteen times. This is kind of the epitome of why I've liked what LaMelo has done very very recently. I understand that folks will look at his shooting numbers and say a lot of times he doesn't have the most efficient time shooting the basketball. I understand that that's obviously something. High volume is what he has to be in order to be effective, and I'll take high volume from him over anybody else on this team provided his health. But the one thing you are going to see from him, despite times when it doesn't necessarily hit the shots, is he's going to find a way to put the ball in the basket. And knowing that the shot wasn't working from the perimeter to I, he ended up going on the drive and being the aggressor, and that's why he gets to the line thirteen times, makes eleven. He also dished out nine helpers, had two steels. Rob and I on our text conversation during the game. A couple of nights ago, he had three blocks against Utah, So he's finding other ways to affect the scoring. Obviously, coming off another update from our friends at the NBA All Star Game, where he once again leads all All Star guards in the Eastern Conference. I find like he's going to be in the All Star Game guys, and he might very well be one of them people who ends up starting it with this new format. But when you think about the way that he has played over the law of course of this last stretch, especially as the Hornets have gotten their pieces back, he has looked more and more like himself, more and more at home, and I think too he knows how to utilize what's working on any given night. And I think that's just the further maturation of a player who continues to show why he's so important to this franchise's growth, and also how much he is continuing to be somebody who you look at and say, you can't leave off an All Star roster, you can't leave off of a list of the best players in the NBA, and you can't live off of a your placeable list when it comes to the way that this team needs him.

As LaMelo goes, this team goes, certainly feels like that this franchise moves forward as well, and I think that yesterday was a great example of it. In terms of the battle of the ball brothers, it wasn't really much of a battle. And that's no offense to Lonzo. But coming off the bench, he played twenty five minutes, didn't have a great game. Em didn't really come to him, if that makes sense, considering well the Kolovucevic had forty points and everybody else was kind of falling in line. Lonzo was in the closing five for that game. Yesterday for Chicago, he finishes with six points two is six from the field. They were all three pointers, three rebounds, three assists, three steals. Couple of fouls sprinkled in there as well, but when you take a look at it ends up just being kind of a pedestrian game if we're being honest. For Lonzo, he was a plus seventeen in the plus minus, which was by far the best plus minus of any player out there on the floor, So he was still making any impact, just wasn't offensively or padding stats or anything like that. LaMelo a little bit different with the twenty six and the nine assists as well. He finishes the game in fact a minus in the plus minus at a minus eight. But it took a while for LaMelo to get there because of the shooting seven to nineteen from the field, one for nine from three. But I liked that he was consistent in driving to the basket eleven to thirteen at the free throw line. When you don't have your fastball in any given days, sometimes you got to throw in a change up, and that's what LaMelo Ball was able to do there yesterday, getting to the free throw line, still being effective, still scoring despite not having that three point shot in his arsenal. So LaMelo Ball definitely a solid pick for top performer. I'm gonna go to the guy that's been the epitome of consistency here over the last three games. That's Mark Williams.

As LaMelo goes, this team goes, certainly feels like that this franchise moves forward as well, and I think that yesterday was a great example of it. In terms of the battle of the ball brothers, it wasn't really much of a battle. And that's no offense to Lonzo. But coming off the bench, he played twenty five minutes, didn't have a great game. Em didn't really come to him, if that makes sense, considering well the Kolovucevic had forty points and everybody else was kind of falling in line. Lonzo was in the closing five for that game. Yesterday for Chicago, he finishes with six points two is six from the field. They were all three pointers, three rebounds, three assists, three steals. Couple of fouls sprinkled in there as well, but when you take a look at it ends up just being kind of a pedestrian game if we're being honest. For Lonzo, he was a plus seventeen in the plus minus, which was by far the best plus minus of any player out there on the floor, So he was still making any impact, just wasn't offensively or padding stats or anything like that. LaMelo a little bit different with the twenty six and the nine assists as well. He finishes the game in fact a minus in the plus minus at a minus eight. But it took a while for LaMelo to get there because of the shooting seven to nineteen from the field, one for nine from three. But I liked that he was consistent in driving to the basket eleven to thirteen at the free throw line. When you don't have your fastball in any given days, sometimes you got to throw in a change up, and that's what LaMelo Ball was able to do there yesterday, getting to the free throw line, still being effective, still scoring despite not having that three point shot in his arsenal. So LaMelo Ball definitely a solid pick for top performer. I'm gonna go to the guy that's been the epitome of consistency here over the last three games. That's Mark Williams.

Brucovich swing to the New York corner.

Brucovich swing to the New York corner.

It's Williams for three, no rebound, Nick Smith Junior skying over the center to pluck the rebounds, lot pass underneath. It's Mark Williams for the lay in and a time out here by Chicago Billion feed there, Nick Smith Junior a contested rebound on one end and he throws it underneath for big Mark Williams on the other.

It's Williams for three, no rebound, Nick Smith Junior skying over the center to pluck the rebounds, lot pass underneath. It's Mark Williams for the lay in and a time out here by Chicago Billion feed there, Nick Smith Junior a contested rebound on one end and he throws it underneath for big Mark Williams on the other.

Mark Williams has just been on a tear these last three games. Throughout this road trip. You go back to the Phoenix game, twenty four points, sixteen rebounds, thirty one points, thirteen boards in Utah the other night. The thirty one is a career high. Tonight last night nineteen points, nineteen boards. Very even, very balanced game. He finishes a plus ten and the plus minus. He hit seven of his nineteen rebounds coming on the offensive glass as well, three assists, two blocks, nine to seventeen from the field. He padded the offensive glass a little bit. The stats on the offensive side there, you know, missing a couple of bunnies there, but he was able to clean it up and get to that average that he has started to establish here over the last couple of weeks now. But this is what the Hornets envisioned Mark Williams becoming when he was drafted. Unfortunately it hasn't been the case because he did start his career in Greensborough, spend a lot of time there, was able to make an impact whenever Mason Plumley got traded at the trade deadline and opened up some spots for him there and unfortunately didn't have those injuries over the last season season and a half now. But now that he's fully healthy now that he's back and ready to go. He's finding his rhythm, he's finding his game, and more importantly, he's finding his rhythm with LaMelo Ball. He's figuring out how to play with LaMelo because before the injuries, they still didn't have a whole lot of time together to figure things out and how to gel. And of course Mark being injured during training camp that definitely takes a step back too. That really delays things because you don't have that precious practice time to figure out how to play with one another. So it just seems like Mark Williams and LaMelo Ball are now starting to be lockstep in this offensive pick and roll scheme, and even defensively too. Everybody's stepped up on the defensive side of the floor, which has resulted in those very big numbers that we've seen offensively as well.

Mark Williams has just been on a tear these last three games. Throughout this road trip. You go back to the Phoenix game, twenty four points, sixteen rebounds, thirty one points, thirteen boards in Utah the other night. The thirty one is a career high. Tonight last night nineteen points, nineteen boards. Very even, very balanced game. He finishes a plus ten and the plus minus. He hit seven of his nineteen rebounds coming on the offensive glass as well, three assists, two blocks, nine to seventeen from the field. He padded the offensive glass a little bit. The stats on the offensive side there, you know, missing a couple of bunnies there, but he was able to clean it up and get to that average that he has started to establish here over the last couple of weeks now. But this is what the Hornets envisioned Mark Williams becoming when he was drafted. Unfortunately it hasn't been the case because he did start his career in Greensborough, spend a lot of time there, was able to make an impact whenever Mason Plumley got traded at the trade deadline and opened up some spots for him there and unfortunately didn't have those injuries over the last season season and a half now. But now that he's fully healthy now that he's back and ready to go. He's finding his rhythm, he's finding his game, and more importantly, he's finding his rhythm with LaMelo Ball. He's figuring out how to play with LaMelo because before the injuries, they still didn't have a whole lot of time together to figure things out and how to gel. And of course Mark being injured during training camp that definitely takes a step back too. That really delays things because you don't have that precious practice time to figure out how to play with one another. So it just seems like Mark Williams and LaMelo Ball are now starting to be lockstep in this offensive pick and roll scheme, and even defensively too. Everybody's stepped up on the defensive side of the floor, which has resulted in those very big numbers that we've seen offensively as well.

The other part of this, too, is that we're finding just how vital the pick and roll game is to Charles Lee's offensive scheme addicts and how very.

The other part of this, too, is that we're finding just how vital the pick and roll game is to Charles Lee's offensive scheme addicts and how very.

Well Mark and LaMelo run it together.

Well Mark and LaMelo run it together.

And it feels like a lot of times it's a two man game between those two guys, and it just opens up so many other things for the Hornets. Offensively because you have to account for Mark Williams, and if the defense collapses on him, usually there's an open three point shooter somewhere in the corner, whether it's Josh Green or Cody Martin or Nick Smith Junior or somebody else, there's usually an open outlet for the melo. If the coverage dictates towards Mark and leaves the mellow open for a drive, he ends up going in, or if they try to collapse on the mellow, usually Mark's got an opportunity for an open dunk. So it really is a tough, tough guard when you think about the way that those two when you can get that screen and roll going, it makes it so much greater. And I just look at the fact that Mark, since he's gotten his minutes load up, since he's gotten basically up over twenty minutes of contest, he's only not gone to double figures once, and that was a nine point ten rebound game a little bit earlier in his run. Getting back to form, he's basically an automatic double figure guy not in night out, and he's turning into almost not amount of double double guy as well because of the increased minutes he's had to play after the Nick Richards trade. But I also think too, the way that he's played, you can't take him off the floor. And I think as long as he's feeling well, that's the one thing you love about him is that he wants to play. He wants to be a contributor. He's not one of these guys to come in here and say, oh, you know, I need off or I need you know, a min's restriction on a given night.

And it feels like a lot of times it's a two man game between those two guys, and it just opens up so many other things for the Hornets. Offensively because you have to account for Mark Williams, and if the defense collapses on him, usually there's an open three point shooter somewhere in the corner, whether it's Josh Green or Cody Martin or Nick Smith Junior or somebody else, there's usually an open outlet for the melo. If the coverage dictates towards Mark and leaves the mellow open for a drive, he ends up going in, or if they try to collapse on the mellow, usually Mark's got an opportunity for an open dunk. So it really is a tough, tough guard when you think about the way that those two when you can get that screen and roll going, it makes it so much greater. And I just look at the fact that Mark, since he's gotten his minutes load up, since he's gotten basically up over twenty minutes of contest, he's only not gone to double figures once, and that was a nine point ten rebound game a little bit earlier in his run. Getting back to form, he's basically an automatic double figure guy not in night out, and he's turning into almost not amount of double double guy as well because of the increased minutes he's had to play after the Nick Richards trade. But I also think too, the way that he's played, you can't take him off the floor. And I think as long as he's feeling well, that's the one thing you love about him is that he wants to play. He wants to be a contributor. He's not one of these guys to come in here and say, oh, you know, I need off or I need you know, a min's restriction on a given night.

He's a gamer.

He's a gamer.

I mean even before the season, you know, when when the injury happened that obviously set him back to start the season, he had no sweat on it. He said, you know what, you know, it's a setback, but I'm gonna come back and I'm going to prove that I can be a durable member of this team and somebody I can be counted on. And he has answered the bell in spades since killing himself ready to start the season back in the late December, and I can't wait to see how his gape he needs to evolve, because we've talked a lot about the steps for what he can be. I know they were talking about on the TV side, and I know that we've all talked about it on the radio side as well, and that you know, the floater game is obviously part of kind of his two point zero version. We've talked a lot about the three point shot as well, that could potentially be a part of his game. But right now, the stuff that he's doing in the pick and roll game and just the opening times where he has a lob that one particular play where you had talked about him basically volleyballing the ball to himself, getting like two or three rebounds on one play before he finally took one in. I mean, that's something the Hornets have not had at the center position, consistent ability to try and get the mits on the ball and alter it in for opportunities to score.

I mean even before the season, you know, when when the injury happened that obviously set him back to start the season, he had no sweat on it. He said, you know what, you know, it's a setback, but I'm gonna come back and I'm going to prove that I can be a durable member of this team and somebody I can be counted on. And he has answered the bell in spades since killing himself ready to start the season back in the late December, and I can't wait to see how his gape he needs to evolve, because we've talked a lot about the steps for what he can be. I know they were talking about on the TV side, and I know that we've all talked about it on the radio side as well, and that you know, the floater game is obviously part of kind of his two point zero version. We've talked a lot about the three point shot as well, that could potentially be a part of his game. But right now, the stuff that he's doing in the pick and roll game and just the opening times where he has a lob that one particular play where you had talked about him basically volleyballing the ball to himself, getting like two or three rebounds on one play before he finally took one in. I mean, that's something the Hornets have not had at the center position, consistent ability to try and get the mits on the ball and alter it in for opportunities to score.

Hornet's starting to see that young core of the franchise starting to come to fruition now that Mark Williams and l the Mellow Ball are fully healthy. Unfortunately, though, one of those players did take a hit, and that was Brandon Miller a couple of days ago, got an injury update on him out and definitely for the foreseeable future. We'll touch on the injury here in a few moments, and we'll also talk about what this means for the rest of the lineup. We'll talk about all that next here on this episode of the Hornets Iive Cast brought to you by scent Up Rob Longo and the host of Hornets Post Game on the flagship station, Will Pologic putting a button. On this episode of the HHC, it was all sunshine and rainbows here for the first two segments. Hornets pick up a win one twenty five to one twenty three in Chicago, but right around the end of the game got some upsetting news for Hornets fans. For an injury update on Brandon Miller. He started the day questionable with right wrist soreness and was downgraded to out. He did not play in the game yesterday. It's from an injury that he sustained in the win in Utah earlier in the week, and the Hornets announced yesterday that Brandon Miller has suffered a torn scaffolunit ligment in his right wrist. Miller underwent an MRI after he sustained the wrist injury in the Hornets win at Utah that was back on January fifteenth. He's going to be listed as out and definitely additional updates on his status will be as appropriate. So unfortunate news here for the Hornets and going down the Google rabbit hole. And again nobody's a doctor here. We don't have any sort of medical expertise, but just based off of everything that we've scoured the internet for a scaffolounit ligment a really small piece in your wrist, and it's hard to tell based off of the severity of the injury. We don't know how severe it is. We don't know how much damage there is to that ligament. It's very touch and go in terms of the recovery and how long that injury can be an issue for. I mean, there's several different options. There's a surgery portion that could be involved. There's also a mobilization which would just basically be a cast or a splint that could be an option as well. There are so many different options with this injury, and it's very touch and go that we don't want to speculate on how long Brandon Miller is going to be out. So the indefinite tag here that the franchise is placed on Brandon Miller for the foreseeable future is certainly accurate, and hopefully we get some updates here sooner rather than later. But it could span weeks, it could span money. I'm not trying to scare anybody. I'm just laying out the facts out there, So we'll leave it at that in terms of what this looks like moving forward here for Brandon Miller and the rest of the franchise. The unfortunate part of this too, and happened on his right hand, so that is his shooting hands, so that might complicate things as well. I'm just throwing that out there. So all of those things said, definitely a blow to the Hornets here where they thought they were getting healthier, starting to get that core back together and seeing what they were able to accomplish here and see where the pieces might fall in the future. Unfortunately, Brandon Miller is not going to be a piece of that here for quite some time, it seems like. And after the game, LaMelo Ball was asked about the injury to Brandon and maybe how he can help resonate with Brandon Miller as well.

Hornet's starting to see that young core of the franchise starting to come to fruition now that Mark Williams and l the Mellow Ball are fully healthy. Unfortunately, though, one of those players did take a hit, and that was Brandon Miller a couple of days ago, got an injury update on him out and definitely for the foreseeable future. We'll touch on the injury here in a few moments, and we'll also talk about what this means for the rest of the lineup. We'll talk about all that next here on this episode of the Hornets Iive Cast brought to you by scent Up Rob Longo and the host of Hornets Post Game on the flagship station, Will Pologic putting a button. On this episode of the HHC, it was all sunshine and rainbows here for the first two segments. Hornets pick up a win one twenty five to one twenty three in Chicago, but right around the end of the game got some upsetting news for Hornets fans. For an injury update on Brandon Miller. He started the day questionable with right wrist soreness and was downgraded to out. He did not play in the game yesterday. It's from an injury that he sustained in the win in Utah earlier in the week, and the Hornets announced yesterday that Brandon Miller has suffered a torn scaffolunit ligment in his right wrist. Miller underwent an MRI after he sustained the wrist injury in the Hornets win at Utah that was back on January fifteenth. He's going to be listed as out and definitely additional updates on his status will be as appropriate. So unfortunate news here for the Hornets and going down the Google rabbit hole. And again nobody's a doctor here. We don't have any sort of medical expertise, but just based off of everything that we've scoured the internet for a scaffolounit ligment a really small piece in your wrist, and it's hard to tell based off of the severity of the injury. We don't know how severe it is. We don't know how much damage there is to that ligament. It's very touch and go in terms of the recovery and how long that injury can be an issue for. I mean, there's several different options. There's a surgery portion that could be involved. There's also a mobilization which would just basically be a cast or a splint that could be an option as well. There are so many different options with this injury, and it's very touch and go that we don't want to speculate on how long Brandon Miller is going to be out. So the indefinite tag here that the franchise is placed on Brandon Miller for the foreseeable future is certainly accurate, and hopefully we get some updates here sooner rather than later. But it could span weeks, it could span money. I'm not trying to scare anybody. I'm just laying out the facts out there, So we'll leave it at that in terms of what this looks like moving forward here for Brandon Miller and the rest of the franchise. The unfortunate part of this too, and happened on his right hand, so that is his shooting hands, so that might complicate things as well. I'm just throwing that out there. So all of those things said, definitely a blow to the Hornets here where they thought they were getting healthier, starting to get that core back together and seeing what they were able to accomplish here and see where the pieces might fall in the future. Unfortunately, Brandon Miller is not going to be a piece of that here for quite some time, it seems like. And after the game, LaMelo Ball was asked about the injury to Brandon and maybe how he can help resonate with Brandon Miller as well.

Ah, yeah, that's definitely definitely hurts. I mean, I was in the same kind of situation my rookie year or sophomore or whatever, so I know, I feel we just all don't have his back and everything, you know, you know, love him, to take care of him, watch out for him. He with the whole squad, so that that helped alone. I remember my situation just being around, but that, yeah, I know it's tough times though.

Ah, yeah, that's definitely definitely hurts. I mean, I was in the same kind of situation my rookie year or sophomore or whatever, so I know, I feel we just all don't have his back and everything, you know, you know, love him, to take care of him, watch out for him. He with the whole squad, so that that helped alone. I remember my situation just being around, but that, yeah, I know it's tough times though.

Now LaMelo's was a little bit different because he broke his wrist and it wasn't a ligament involved, it was a bone injury involved as well, and the timetables a little bit different. LaMelo did come back and finish his rookie season one Rookie of the Year, so that was the good news there, but still kind of a similar situation that Brandon Miller can maybe lean on LaMelo and try to kind of figure out what he needs to do to make sure that he's back out on the floor and ready to go and do time whenever he's able to get back out there. Don't want to rush him, obviously, want to make sure that this is fully healed and this is not a recurring issue. But again, just if we're being honest, well it sucks. It stings to for a guy like Brandon Miller who's having a career year. I know it was only his second season, but building off of such a strong rookie campaign and just have it kind of taken away from him here and his time is just very very disappointing to see. And again it just really brought down the mood after what should have been a very celebratory mood and a big win after the Hornets take a two point advantage and a two point win in Chicago last night.

Now LaMelo's was a little bit different because he broke his wrist and it wasn't a ligament involved, it was a bone injury involved as well, and the timetables a little bit different. LaMelo did come back and finish his rookie season one Rookie of the Year, so that was the good news there, but still kind of a similar situation that Brandon Miller can maybe lean on LaMelo and try to kind of figure out what he needs to do to make sure that he's back out on the floor and ready to go and do time whenever he's able to get back out there. Don't want to rush him, obviously, want to make sure that this is fully healed and this is not a recurring issue. But again, just if we're being honest, well it sucks. It stings to for a guy like Brandon Miller who's having a career year. I know it was only his second season, but building off of such a strong rookie campaign and just have it kind of taken away from him here and his time is just very very disappointing to see. And again it just really brought down the mood after what should have been a very celebratory mood and a big win after the Hornets take a two point advantage and a two point win in Chicago last night.

It's very very cool. Rob.

It's very very cool. Rob.

I am a at least on a personal note, happy that you were the one who had to say scaffoloon it.

I am a at least on a personal note, happy that you were the one who had to say scaffoloon it.

Yeah. I practice it about twenty times before I said it. If I'm being.

Yeah. I practice it about twenty times before I said it. If I'm being.

Honest, I'm glad that was you doing it and not me.

Honest, I'm glad that was you doing it and not me.

But at least from the standpoint of where he sits, just I'm crushed for him because he had been playing, you know, very very well since he had gotten himself basically back in the lineup after injury spell earlier at the end of the calendar year going into January, last four games twenty four points, thirteen points, nineteen points, twenty points, he had been really kind of trending in the right direction and really getting himself I think a real good head about him, averaging twenty one points per contest, which was up four points from what he was a year ago, and also up in the minutes played as well, so we definitely know that the load that he was definitely having to really shoulder is going to be a tough one that the Hornets as a whole will have to kind of collectively wrap their heads and arms around, because this is a situation right now where at ten and twenty eight you are going to have to maybe fill with the acreged not necessarily with one guy. We know that Nick Smith Junior was the guy last night who went in for the Hornets. We obviously have yet to see what josh okohe could do. He's somebody who could very well kind of fill the void for now. Obviously, Seth Curry is somebody who has started for the Hornets on the off Gaunt position with LaMelo ball. He had fifteen points last night as well, eleven of them coming in the opening quarter, so that's an encouraging sign to see. Unfortunately, there isn't another like for like player that you can plug in there that gives you the singular output from Brandon Miller on a night in, night out. Basis is going to be very very difficult to try and get that, particularly under wraps because he just has become We talked about how irreplaced Blamelo Ball is bredon Miller is the same because I think it works with those three there we talk about, you know, core three for whatever I think, regardless that the three dudes who this franchise needs to be built around.

But at least from the standpoint of where he sits, just I'm crushed for him because he had been playing, you know, very very well since he had gotten himself basically back in the lineup after injury spell earlier at the end of the calendar year going into January, last four games twenty four points, thirteen points, nineteen points, twenty points, he had been really kind of trending in the right direction and really getting himself I think a real good head about him, averaging twenty one points per contest, which was up four points from what he was a year ago, and also up in the minutes played as well, so we definitely know that the load that he was definitely having to really shoulder is going to be a tough one that the Hornets as a whole will have to kind of collectively wrap their heads and arms around, because this is a situation right now where at ten and twenty eight you are going to have to maybe fill with the acreged not necessarily with one guy. We know that Nick Smith Junior was the guy last night who went in for the Hornets. We obviously have yet to see what josh okohe could do. He's somebody who could very well kind of fill the void for now. Obviously, Seth Curry is somebody who has started for the Hornets on the off Gaunt position with LaMelo ball. He had fifteen points last night as well, eleven of them coming in the opening quarter, so that's an encouraging sign to see. Unfortunately, there isn't another like for like player that you can plug in there that gives you the singular output from Brandon Miller on a night in, night out. Basis is going to be very very difficult to try and get that, particularly under wraps because he just has become We talked about how irreplaced Blamelo Ball is bredon Miller is the same because I think it works with those three there we talk about, you know, core three for whatever I think, regardless that the three dudes who this franchise needs to be built around.

Are LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and.

Are LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and.

Mark Williams, with the other ancillary pieces fitting around them, whether it's Bridges, whether it's Cody Martin, etc.

Mark Williams, with the other ancillary pieces fitting around them, whether it's Bridges, whether it's Cody Martin, etc.

And so on.

And so on.

Musa obviously now being charged with a larger role after the jettisoning of Nick Richards. But this is kind of this is a kind of blow that, unfortunately from a Hornets aspect, allows them to have to look in the mirror a little bit and kind of figure out how they get through. You mentioned with the timetables, we can all be Google salutes on web md or everywhere else on the internet in cyberspace. We don't want to speculate on a timetable because the Hornets did not provide one, but at least based.

Musa obviously now being charged with a larger role after the jettisoning of Nick Richards. But this is kind of this is a kind of blow that, unfortunately from a Hornets aspect, allows them to have to look in the mirror a little bit and kind of figure out how they get through. You mentioned with the timetables, we can all be Google salutes on web md or everywhere else on the internet in cyberspace. We don't want to speculate on a timetable because the Hornets did not provide one, but at least based.

On everything, this is not a day to day injury.

On everything, this is not a day to day injury.

This feels like a multiple week injury, maybe even a multiple month injury, depending on the type of treatment that they are wanting to seek. But it does definitely put in the question not just the rest of his season, but obviously a significant portion of the rest of his season. And so from that perspective, Hornets will have to find at least a palpable solution for the time being as they kind of get through this next stretch here thirty eight games in.

This feels like a multiple week injury, maybe even a multiple month injury, depending on the type of treatment that they are wanting to seek. But it does definitely put in the question not just the rest of his season, but obviously a significant portion of the rest of his season. And so from that perspective, Hornets will have to find at least a palpable solution for the time being as they kind of get through this next stretch here thirty eight games in.

The one thing that I'm gonna be optimistic about, and again this is just me looking optimistically on a glass half fulls side of things, is that Brandon Miller finished that game in Utah. He was out there closing the game. He was part of the closing five. He's a tough cookie. We know that. I don't know if the adrenaline was getting to him. I don't know if it was just after the fact, if he was just trying to gut it out. But hopefully knock on Wood as that as an indication maybe it's not as bad, Maybe it's just a slight tear. Maybe it's not as bad as hopefully we think it is. Again, we don't know because it didn't say in the press release. It didn't say in the release and the update that the Hornets gave us, So we don't want to speculate. I'm just throwing that out there that he did finish the game in Utah, and he finished pretty strong out there as well, So we can maybe take a little bit of solace in that you're looking at players that can replace. Totally agree, we haven't seen Josha Kogi yet. Obviously he didn't play in that game in Chicago on Friday. Nick Smith Junior has stepped up in a big way, and if we're being honest, it's not a surprise that Nicks Mid Junior had a big time game with fifteen points the other night in Chicago based off of his work ethic.

The one thing that I'm gonna be optimistic about, and again this is just me looking optimistically on a glass half fulls side of things, is that Brandon Miller finished that game in Utah. He was out there closing the game. He was part of the closing five. He's a tough cookie. We know that. I don't know if the adrenaline was getting to him. I don't know if it was just after the fact, if he was just trying to gut it out. But hopefully knock on Wood as that as an indication maybe it's not as bad, Maybe it's just a slight tear. Maybe it's not as bad as hopefully we think it is. Again, we don't know because it didn't say in the press release. It didn't say in the release and the update that the Hornets gave us, So we don't want to speculate. I'm just throwing that out there that he did finish the game in Utah, and he finished pretty strong out there as well, So we can maybe take a little bit of solace in that you're looking at players that can replace. Totally agree, we haven't seen Josha Kogi yet. Obviously he didn't play in that game in Chicago on Friday. Nick Smith Junior has stepped up in a big way, and if we're being honest, it's not a surprise that Nicks Mid Junior had a big time game with fifteen points the other night in Chicago based off of his work ethic.

I'll put in a lot of work, So I mean, I feel like it's ain't gonna do nothing but translate, you know, especially when they got when I get out here in the game. So just continue to put in the work and yeah, just playing my role.

I'll put in a lot of work, So I mean, I feel like it's ain't gonna do nothing but translate, you know, especially when they got when I get out here in the game. So just continue to put in the work and yeah, just playing my role.

Nick Smith Junior had a really good run in the G League. We documented that pretty well, had a good game Friday in Chicago. He's definitely could be a potential piece. Again, that was one of those things that maybe Charles Lee said, we're gonna throw it out there and see if it sticks. First career start for NSJ certainly worked out well in his favorite seth Curry had a big game as well, stepping up coming off the bench with thirteen points as well. There are a lot of options to replace Brandon Miller. Obviously, it's gonna be tough to replace a guy of his caliber. He was averaging a career high twenty one points, close to five rebounds, a little bit over three and a half assists as well throughout the twenty seven games that he peered in before he went down with his injury. So that's gonna be tough to replace. But there's definitely options on this team here moving forward to kind of do it by committee a little bit as well. So going to be interesting to see how the Hornets end up firing. They have a couple of days off here to figure this out, as they are off tomorrow before taking on Dallas with that game at twelve o'clock on Mlkday. It's a kind of unfortunate timing and cruel timing, but it is Brandon Miller bobblehead Day on Monday, with the first five thousand fans through the doors of Spectrum Center getting a Brandon Miller Bobblehead, so kind of the unfortunate news there, but again we'll see what happens moving forward, and of course we'll have you updated every step of the way here on the Hornets Podcast with Brandon Miller's injury. But in the meantime, will Ep, host of the Hornets postgame show on the flagship station sports Radio wfn Z, thank you for joining me. As always, we will see you here live and in color in person at the Hive on Monday.

Nick Smith Junior had a really good run in the G League. We documented that pretty well, had a good game Friday in Chicago. He's definitely could be a potential piece. Again, that was one of those things that maybe Charles Lee said, we're gonna throw it out there and see if it sticks. First career start for NSJ certainly worked out well in his favorite seth Curry had a big game as well, stepping up coming off the bench with thirteen points as well. There are a lot of options to replace Brandon Miller. Obviously, it's gonna be tough to replace a guy of his caliber. He was averaging a career high twenty one points, close to five rebounds, a little bit over three and a half assists as well throughout the twenty seven games that he peered in before he went down with his injury. So that's gonna be tough to replace. But there's definitely options on this team here moving forward to kind of do it by committee a little bit as well. So going to be interesting to see how the Hornets end up firing. They have a couple of days off here to figure this out, as they are off tomorrow before taking on Dallas with that game at twelve o'clock on Mlkday. It's a kind of unfortunate timing and cruel timing, but it is Brandon Miller bobblehead Day on Monday, with the first five thousand fans through the doors of Spectrum Center getting a Brandon Miller Bobblehead, so kind of the unfortunate news there, but again we'll see what happens moving forward, and of course we'll have you updated every step of the way here on the Hornets Podcast with Brandon Miller's injury. But in the meantime, will Ep, host of the Hornets postgame show on the flagship station sports Radio wfn Z, thank you for joining me. As always, we will see you here live and in color in person at the Hive on Monday.

A wins a win, Rob, That's all I have to say. A win's a win.

A wins a win, Rob, That's all I have to say. A win's a win.

We will take it in lockstep. I guess you can say that. So Hornets have won two in a row, looking to make it three in a row on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks. For Willie P, I'm Rob Longo saying solong. Thank you for joining us on this episode of the Hornets Podcast. Sam Farba and I will preview the Hornets and Mavericks coming up on tomorrow's episode of the HHC.

We will take it in lockstep. I guess you can say that. So Hornets have won two in a row, looking to make it three in a row on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks. For Willie P, I'm Rob Longo saying solong. Thank you for joining us on this episode of the Hornets Podcast. Sam Farba and I will preview the Hornets and Mavericks coming up on tomorrow's episode of the HHC.

Thank you for listening to The Hornets Podcast, brought to you by Santa, the official i ear nosen Throadcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit hornets dot com,

Thank you for listening to The Hornets Podcast, brought to you by Santa, the official i ear nosen Throadcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit hornets dot com,