Welcome to the Hornets Havevecast, presented by Charlotte I ear Nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen Throatcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Sam Farber.

Welcome to the Hornets Havevecast, presented by Charlotte I ear Nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen Throatcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Sam Farber.

Welcome to another edition of the Hornet iive Cast, your Hornets podcast with all the notes, quotes in daily buzz around your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it is a pleasure and a privileged to you with us here once again on the Hornets iove Cast, brought to you by SENTA, Charlotte I ear nos and Throat Associates, the official I ear noosen Throatcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. It's a game day edition. Hornets on the road one last time for the foreseeable future. Also for the month of January, Hornets are in Memphis. They'll take on the Grizzlies. After that we'll tip off a nine game homestand a franchise record long homestand which begins on Friday at Spectrum Center. And tickets for each and every one of the games, of course available at Hornets dot com. We're gonna give you the game preview for tonight's game talk a little bit about the power rankings. Hornets a sudden surge with wins in three of their last four games. Is that impacting the overall league's assessment of the Hornets? And horns have won three in a row for their last five? How are they doing this? What are some of the numbers that really stand out when you focus in on that two week long sample size for team Teal talked about it all with my producer from the Hornets Radio Network as well as the producer of this fine podcast, Rob Longo, here with me once again, Rob, Only one more road game left for you for two weeks, two plus weeks at least the rest of the month of January. Nice long home stam getting ready to get started at Spectrum Center on Friday.

Welcome to another edition of the Hornet iive Cast, your Hornets podcast with all the notes, quotes in daily buzz around your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it is a pleasure and a privileged to you with us here once again on the Hornets iove Cast, brought to you by SENTA, Charlotte I ear nos and Throat Associates, the official I ear noosen Throatcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. It's a game day edition. Hornets on the road one last time for the foreseeable future. Also for the month of January, Hornets are in Memphis. They'll take on the Grizzlies. After that we'll tip off a nine game homestand a franchise record long homestand which begins on Friday at Spectrum Center. And tickets for each and every one of the games, of course available at Hornets dot com. We're gonna give you the game preview for tonight's game talk a little bit about the power rankings. Hornets a sudden surge with wins in three of their last four games. Is that impacting the overall league's assessment of the Hornets? And horns have won three in a row for their last five? How are they doing this? What are some of the numbers that really stand out when you focus in on that two week long sample size for team Teal talked about it all with my producer from the Hornets Radio Network as well as the producer of this fine podcast, Rob Longo, here with me once again, Rob, Only one more road game left for you for two weeks, two plus weeks at least the rest of the month of January. Nice long home stam getting ready to get started at Spectrum Center on Friday.

Yeah, looking forward to it, Looking forward to seeing everybody come out the Spectrum Center for nine in a row. Gonna be a lot of fun, of course, something historic since it's never happened before. I might getting a little sick of seeing your face every now and then. But we still got one more road game, and the Hornets got one more game to put together a nice little win streak here to make it four in a row.

Yeah, looking forward to it, Looking forward to seeing everybody come out the Spectrum Center for nine in a row. Gonna be a lot of fun, of course, something historic since it's never happened before. I might getting a little sick of seeing your face every now and then. But we still got one more road game, and the Hornets got one more game to put together a nice little win streak here to make it four in a row.

Yeah, we'll see if the Hornets can take care of the Memphis Grizzlies, who, oh, by the way, are also playing some really good basketball. If you look over the last two weeks at net rating, offensive rating, defensive rating, Memphis is ranked higher than Charlotte is in all of those categories over the span of time. Here where the Hornets have played their best basketball of the season. I would say, so, this is not going to be an easy one visiting Memphis. But we'll get our game preview for you a little bit later on. First up, how are the Hornets doing this? How have they won four out of five and seemingly seemingly from the outside looking in, maybe out of nowhere, but obviously inside the building, we know that Charlotte has had this run of wins be accompanied by a run of relative good health. Now, the news with Brandon Miller is definitely a gut punch for Charlotte, but overall, the Hornets have been about as healthy as they have been at any point really in the last couple of years, with the mellow ball, Mark Williams, Miles Bridges all thriving. And yes, there are significant injuries to other members of the rotation in Tray Manner and Grant Williams in addition to Brandon Miller, but those are kind of baked in right now, and other guys have assumed roles, and I think Charles Lee and the coaching staff have been able to figure out some rotations that really work for the Hornets and have led them to some stronger play. So how are they doing this? I focus down rob on the last two weeks and there are two stats in particular some of my favorites, that Charlotte is number one in the NBA in on a per game basis. Obviously, they haven't played the exact same number of games as anyone else. In fact, they played the fewest number of games of any team in the NBA over the last two weeks because of all of the postponements due to the wildfire. So this is on a per game basis. There are two stats that Charlotte is number one in the NBA in over this stretch where they've won four out of five, and I think there's a direct correlation to the success that they've had on the floor, any idea what they are see.

Yeah, we'll see if the Hornets can take care of the Memphis Grizzlies, who, oh, by the way, are also playing some really good basketball. If you look over the last two weeks at net rating, offensive rating, defensive rating, Memphis is ranked higher than Charlotte is in all of those categories over the span of time. Here where the Hornets have played their best basketball of the season. I would say, so, this is not going to be an easy one visiting Memphis. But we'll get our game preview for you a little bit later on. First up, how are the Hornets doing this? How have they won four out of five and seemingly seemingly from the outside looking in, maybe out of nowhere, but obviously inside the building, we know that Charlotte has had this run of wins be accompanied by a run of relative good health. Now, the news with Brandon Miller is definitely a gut punch for Charlotte, but overall, the Hornets have been about as healthy as they have been at any point really in the last couple of years, with the mellow ball, Mark Williams, Miles Bridges all thriving. And yes, there are significant injuries to other members of the rotation in Tray Manner and Grant Williams in addition to Brandon Miller, but those are kind of baked in right now, and other guys have assumed roles, and I think Charles Lee and the coaching staff have been able to figure out some rotations that really work for the Hornets and have led them to some stronger play. So how are they doing this? I focus down rob on the last two weeks and there are two stats in particular some of my favorites, that Charlotte is number one in the NBA in on a per game basis. Obviously, they haven't played the exact same number of games as anyone else. In fact, they played the fewest number of games of any team in the NBA over the last two weeks because of all of the postponements due to the wildfire. So this is on a per game basis. There are two stats that Charlotte is number one in the NBA in over this stretch where they've won four out of five, and I think there's a direct correlation to the success that they've had on the floor, any idea what they are see.

This is where I get in trouble because you kind of leave me in one direction and make me look like a fool if I'm wrong. But if I had to guess two of them, I would say maybe something related to two points in the paint and maybe something defensive rating wise.

This is where I get in trouble because you kind of leave me in one direction and make me look like a fool if I'm wrong. But if I had to guess two of them, I would say maybe something related to two points in the paint and maybe something defensive rating wise.

All right, I didn't find points in the paint, so that one very well could be. But I mean, there's so many stats you can look at on NBA dot com couple that the Hornets are number two in and these are significant. One of them is offensive rebounding, and that hooks into another stat that I'm going to bring up here in just a moment, But offensive rebounding is one that Charlotte has been very strong, and also field goal attempts. The Hornets have the third most field goal attempts per game in the NBA over the last two weeks. But the one that they are number one in its rebounding percentage. And it goes hand in hand with everything that we're seeing here from the Hornets in this run of success, and that is they are minimizing possessions for the other team in the best way they know how, which is crashing the glass, and they are maximizing additional possessions for themselves, which is really key because the Hornets continue to take more threes than almost any other team in the NBA. That's diminished a little bit with the emergence of Mark Williams here, but they're still solidly in the top ten here in the last two weeks when it comes to three point attempts per game. So rebounding percentage is the one they're number one in. And you look at all the other teams that are in the top five in that same span, all of them have had overwhelming winning records. So this is kind of a proof of concept that a team with Mark Williams as the center, not necessarily centered around Mark Williams, but with Mark Williams as the center and owning the glass all those enormous double doubles, they're having an enormous impact drob Well.

All right, I didn't find points in the paint, so that one very well could be. But I mean, there's so many stats you can look at on NBA dot com couple that the Hornets are number two in and these are significant. One of them is offensive rebounding, and that hooks into another stat that I'm going to bring up here in just a moment, But offensive rebounding is one that Charlotte has been very strong, and also field goal attempts. The Hornets have the third most field goal attempts per game in the NBA over the last two weeks. But the one that they are number one in its rebounding percentage. And it goes hand in hand with everything that we're seeing here from the Hornets in this run of success, and that is they are minimizing possessions for the other team in the best way they know how, which is crashing the glass, and they are maximizing additional possessions for themselves, which is really key because the Hornets continue to take more threes than almost any other team in the NBA. That's diminished a little bit with the emergence of Mark Williams here, but they're still solidly in the top ten here in the last two weeks when it comes to three point attempts per game. So rebounding percentage is the one they're number one in. And you look at all the other teams that are in the top five in that same span, all of them have had overwhelming winning records. So this is kind of a proof of concept that a team with Mark Williams as the center, not necessarily centered around Mark Williams, but with Mark Williams as the center and owning the glass all those enormous double doubles, they're having an enormous impact drob Well.

And I think the reason behind all of that too is because of Mark Williams, because he's able to set the defense a little bit better. If you think about a defensive setup for a basketball team, the center is the anchor of the defense. He's the quarterback of the defense, if you will. He's the last line of defense. He sees everything out in front of him. He's the one that calls out coverages. He's the one that's able to help with the last second rotations or if someone gets free and there's a one on one, they're able to contest that. So Mark Williams, I think is the reason why that they're able to have such good defensive rebounding and rebounding in general, is because of that size and athleticism that he brings into paint both ends of the floor, if we're being honest too, So I think that that certainly makes sense. It's also I think another testament to everybody being able to get healthy again for the most part, obviously missing pieces with Grant Williams, trade Man and Brandon Miller, but a lot of these these core pieces are finally able to play together. They're healthy, they're starting to learn the nuances of playing with each other, the little things that make chemistry into a very important thing in the game of basketball. So I do think that Mark Williams is the main culprit because of this, and that's a great thing too. And if you zero into it a little bit more, I said this on a podcast the other day. I'm going to reiterate it, though smaller sample size than what you looked at, but last three games, the Hornets have really cranked up the pressure in the fourth quarter. They're limiting teams to thirty five percent shooting from the field, twenty nine percent from three. They're out scoring them by a ninety two to sixty seven margin combined. That's really good. When you're able to clamp down in the fourth quarter and have the ability to close out games, that says a lot about your team as well. So I think that's another good example of how the rebounding is resulting in defensive stops as well.

And I think the reason behind all of that too is because of Mark Williams, because he's able to set the defense a little bit better. If you think about a defensive setup for a basketball team, the center is the anchor of the defense. He's the quarterback of the defense, if you will. He's the last line of defense. He sees everything out in front of him. He's the one that calls out coverages. He's the one that's able to help with the last second rotations or if someone gets free and there's a one on one, they're able to contest that. So Mark Williams, I think is the reason why that they're able to have such good defensive rebounding and rebounding in general, is because of that size and athleticism that he brings into paint both ends of the floor, if we're being honest too, So I think that that certainly makes sense. It's also I think another testament to everybody being able to get healthy again for the most part, obviously missing pieces with Grant Williams, trade Man and Brandon Miller, but a lot of these these core pieces are finally able to play together. They're healthy, they're starting to learn the nuances of playing with each other, the little things that make chemistry into a very important thing in the game of basketball. So I do think that Mark Williams is the main culprit because of this, and that's a great thing too. And if you zero into it a little bit more, I said this on a podcast the other day. I'm going to reiterate it, though smaller sample size than what you looked at, but last three games, the Hornets have really cranked up the pressure in the fourth quarter. They're limiting teams to thirty five percent shooting from the field, twenty nine percent from three. They're out scoring them by a ninety two to sixty seven margin combined. That's really good. When you're able to clamp down in the fourth quarter and have the ability to close out games, that says a lot about your team as well. So I think that's another good example of how the rebounding is resulting in defensive stops as well.

Yeah, another really good stat there as well. Just to go back to the rebounding one more time, and you know, a part of the reason why Charlotte maybe is thriving even more now, it's because this is something that's been a point of emphasis and has been a focal point of the coaching staff from Charles Lee all along the way. It's not like the team was terrible at rebounding and then Mark Williams shown up and then all of a sudden they became good. They were a really good rebounding team in a lot of statistical categories when you look at the overall season here for the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets have been statistically speaking, one of the top three rebounding teams and offensive rebounding teams over the entirety of the season. And Mark Williams missed about twenty games of the season already, so clearly he's having an impact on the last handful of games. But this is something where he's an escalator because it was all already a focal point for Charlotte and now they're starting to see the results go in their favor in part because of it. So rebounding something the Hornets leading the NBA in just as a point of reference here, Again, Memphis a very very good team overall. They are also a top ten rebounding team both overall rebounding percentage and offensive rebounding percentage. So not going to be an easy matchup here for the Hornets tonight in Memphis, but they're playing well. We'll see if Charlotte can go ahead and put that one in their column here tonight. Coming up next though, we're gonna talk power rankings. Howe has the Hornets win streak of three games and winning four out of their last five change the perception of the Hornets from the league at large. We'll talk about that next here on the Hornets. I've cast Sam Farbar Rob Longo here with you on the AHHC The Hornets side Cast, brought to you by Santa Rob. We have several topics that we like to lean on here us being a daily podcast and out so many of these things. We try to have a staple of topics to go back to talk to. But quite honestly, Power Rankings hasn't been a very fun one over the last two months because the team, with all the losses they accumulated in falling to twenty games below five hundred. You know, it's not a fun debate to say, all right, should the Hornets be twenty eighth or twenty ninth in people's perceptions and come up with a really strong argument against it, even though I really do believe they're always were some So, the team's been playing better lately, and I think it's a good time to revisit power rankings see how the league is looking at Charlotte.

Yeah, another really good stat there as well. Just to go back to the rebounding one more time, and you know, a part of the reason why Charlotte maybe is thriving even more now, it's because this is something that's been a point of emphasis and has been a focal point of the coaching staff from Charles Lee all along the way. It's not like the team was terrible at rebounding and then Mark Williams shown up and then all of a sudden they became good. They were a really good rebounding team in a lot of statistical categories when you look at the overall season here for the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets have been statistically speaking, one of the top three rebounding teams and offensive rebounding teams over the entirety of the season. And Mark Williams missed about twenty games of the season already, so clearly he's having an impact on the last handful of games. But this is something where he's an escalator because it was all already a focal point for Charlotte and now they're starting to see the results go in their favor in part because of it. So rebounding something the Hornets leading the NBA in just as a point of reference here, Again, Memphis a very very good team overall. They are also a top ten rebounding team both overall rebounding percentage and offensive rebounding percentage. So not going to be an easy matchup here for the Hornets tonight in Memphis, but they're playing well. We'll see if Charlotte can go ahead and put that one in their column here tonight. Coming up next though, we're gonna talk power rankings. Howe has the Hornets win streak of three games and winning four out of their last five change the perception of the Hornets from the league at large. We'll talk about that next here on the Hornets. I've cast Sam Farbar Rob Longo here with you on the AHHC The Hornets side Cast, brought to you by Santa Rob. We have several topics that we like to lean on here us being a daily podcast and out so many of these things. We try to have a staple of topics to go back to talk to. But quite honestly, Power Rankings hasn't been a very fun one over the last two months because the team, with all the losses they accumulated in falling to twenty games below five hundred. You know, it's not a fun debate to say, all right, should the Hornets be twenty eighth or twenty ninth in people's perceptions and come up with a really strong argument against it, even though I really do believe they're always were some So, the team's been playing better lately, and I think it's a good time to revisit power rankings see how the league is looking at Charlotte.

Yeah, I think this is a good opportunity to do that, and I'm sure that we will maybe overreach a little bit like we normally tend to do, and then we'll get into an argument about some team that shouldn't be ranked higher than the Hornets, and then it'll be a perfect podcast segment like it always is.

Yeah, I think this is a good opportunity to do that, and I'm sure that we will maybe overreach a little bit like we normally tend to do, and then we'll get into an argument about some team that shouldn't be ranked higher than the Hornets, and then it'll be a perfect podcast segment like it always is.

It sounds like our mo. So the Hornets just lay of the land right now as we record this podcast here, the Hornets, even with their recent run of good form, still have the fifth worst win percentage in the NBA and only the fourth fewest wins overall in the association total losses. They're faring a little better because of those two games that were postponed, but still, you know, the win percentage isn't great, the win total is not great. So just things to factor in here. As I ask you the pertinent question on any power ranking segment, Rob Longo, in the hierarchy of thirty NBA teams, where do you think the Hornets should be rated? Right now?

It sounds like our mo. So the Hornets just lay of the land right now as we record this podcast here, the Hornets, even with their recent run of good form, still have the fifth worst win percentage in the NBA and only the fourth fewest wins overall in the association total losses. They're faring a little better because of those two games that were postponed, but still, you know, the win percentage isn't great, the win total is not great. So just things to factor in here. As I ask you the pertinent question on any power ranking segment, Rob Longo, in the hierarchy of thirty NBA teams, where do you think the Hornets should be rated? Right now?

I'm gonna go ahead and say that they should be ranked twenty.

I'm gonna go ahead and say that they should be ranked twenty.

Fourth, All right, twenty fourth. Any particular reason why you have the Hornets there.

Fourth, All right, twenty fourth. Any particular reason why you have the Hornets there.

Well, I just think that it's gonna be a little bit of a tougher climb for Charlotte just in terms of the power rankings, simply because well, they didn't have a great record for the longest time. They had lengthy losing streaks, but now they're starting to get hot. So I think that the fact that if you're towards the bottom of the league and then you get hot all of a sudden. Anybody can have one or two good weeks in the NBA, it's how you sustain it. So I think that that's kind of a byproduct of being towards the bottom of the power rankings, towards the bottom of the standings for so long that they kind of have to end slowly, but sure up the power rankings. Now, if you were going on a week by week basis, then they would be certainly a lot higher. But I'm just gonna go ahead and stick them at twenty four right now.

Well, I just think that it's gonna be a little bit of a tougher climb for Charlotte just in terms of the power rankings, simply because well, they didn't have a great record for the longest time. They had lengthy losing streaks, but now they're starting to get hot. So I think that the fact that if you're towards the bottom of the league and then you get hot all of a sudden. Anybody can have one or two good weeks in the NBA, it's how you sustain it. So I think that that's kind of a byproduct of being towards the bottom of the power rankings, towards the bottom of the standings for so long that they kind of have to end slowly, but sure up the power rankings. Now, if you were going on a week by week basis, then they would be certainly a lot higher. But I'm just gonna go ahead and stick them at twenty four right now.

Yeah, you know what, I think it's fair. I think when you look at the team's net rating, it is twenty four, and net rating is a pretty good way to assess where teams are. Also, just the fact that you're spot on with the rankings. I was looking at the Athletic is that the power rankings we were looking at for this week and they have Charlotte sitting at number twenty four. This almost never happens, rob where we guess it or you guess it really right on the nose.

Yeah, you know what, I think it's fair. I think when you look at the team's net rating, it is twenty four, and net rating is a pretty good way to assess where teams are. Also, just the fact that you're spot on with the rankings. I was looking at the Athletic is that the power rankings we were looking at for this week and they have Charlotte sitting at number twenty four. This almost never happens, rob where we guess it or you guess it really right on the nose.

Yeah, this is a weird time, and I'll be one hundred percent transparent on hundred percent honest. I did not look at the power rankings. I had the push notification come up on my phone that said that the Hornets were in a different tier, because I know the athletic there's tiers to their power rankings. But I didn't click on the article. I didn't look at it any further. I just saw that they went into a different tier, so I figured that they were on the upswing and lucky guess sometimes the blind squirrel finds are not every once in a while.

Yeah, this is a weird time, and I'll be one hundred percent transparent on hundred percent honest. I did not look at the power rankings. I had the push notification come up on my phone that said that the Hornets were in a different tier, because I know the athletic there's tiers to their power rankings. But I didn't click on the article. I didn't look at it any further. I just saw that they went into a different tier, so I figured that they were on the upswing and lucky guess sometimes the blind squirrel finds are not every once in a while.

Well, there you go. And one other interesting thing about the positioning of the Hornets. It's a very uh ramsey and position in the sense that you've got teams that are on really good runs and really bad runs in the week that are surrounding them. So clearly Charlotte is on the positive side of that. They've won three in a row, all wins last week. For when this power rankings is taking stock. Here the team directly below them, the New Orleans Pelicans, also have won four in a row, so they are also a team on the upswing and climbing out of you know, the cellar dweller areas of the power rankings. But the two teams directly above the Hornets are both falling off. Philadelphia seventy six ers, they lost four straight up to the publication of this piece, and then the Chicago Bulls did get a win on the road in Los Angeles, but prior to that had lost four straight, including one to the Charlotte Hornets. So interesting, you know, an opportunity I think in the standings to climb a little higher might be coming soon. Charlotte's, you know, within a game or so of Toronto, so that could happen here over. Sorry, they're within a game or so of Brooklyn, so that could happen here over the next couple of games. But in terms of you know, stock up stock down, Charlotte is very much a stock up and some of the teams they're chasing are faltering a little bit here, including squads like Chicago and Philadelphia, whom, of course, the Hornets are going to need to catch if they're going to have any kind of hopes for the postseason. When they tip things off tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte will be within six games of a postseason position. Not great considering there's less than fifty games remaining in the season, but still it's a much better spot than they were a week ago. We'll give you our game preview for Hornets versus Grizzlies next here on the Hornets.

Well, there you go. And one other interesting thing about the positioning of the Hornets. It's a very uh ramsey and position in the sense that you've got teams that are on really good runs and really bad runs in the week that are surrounding them. So clearly Charlotte is on the positive side of that. They've won three in a row, all wins last week. For when this power rankings is taking stock. Here the team directly below them, the New Orleans Pelicans, also have won four in a row, so they are also a team on the upswing and climbing out of you know, the cellar dweller areas of the power rankings. But the two teams directly above the Hornets are both falling off. Philadelphia seventy six ers, they lost four straight up to the publication of this piece, and then the Chicago Bulls did get a win on the road in Los Angeles, but prior to that had lost four straight, including one to the Charlotte Hornets. So interesting, you know, an opportunity I think in the standings to climb a little higher might be coming soon. Charlotte's, you know, within a game or so of Toronto, so that could happen here over. Sorry, they're within a game or so of Brooklyn, so that could happen here over the next couple of games. But in terms of you know, stock up stock down, Charlotte is very much a stock up and some of the teams they're chasing are faltering a little bit here, including squads like Chicago and Philadelphia, whom, of course, the Hornets are going to need to catch if they're going to have any kind of hopes for the postseason. When they tip things off tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte will be within six games of a postseason position. Not great considering there's less than fifty games remaining in the season, but still it's a much better spot than they were a week ago. We'll give you our game preview for Hornets versus Grizzlies next here on the Hornets.

I've cast.

I've cast.

Sam Farber and Rob Longo here with you on the HC the Hornets side Cast, brought to you by Santa Rob. The Hornets have one last road game before beginning that record nine game long home stand and definitely would love all of you to be a part of it. It all tips off on Friday night at the Hive. No place better to be in the Queen City on a Friday night than Spectrum Center. Hornets will be hosting the Portland Trailblazers for seven o'clock tip off, then night two of them back to back, taking on the New Orleans Pelicans. As I just mentioned, are playing some of their better basketball now, with wins in each of their last four games. The LA Lakers Lebron James coming to town on Monday the twenty seventh, and it's Brooklyn, the Clippers, Nicola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The Washington Wizards, Janis ont Decompo and the Milwaukee Bucks, and we wrap it up on Friday, February seventh with Victor wembin Yama and the San Antonio Spurs again. Tickets for all these games are available at Hornets dot com. Rob Let's preview tonight's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis one of the better teams in the NBA. Really all season long. They've been a little quiet under the radar because there's so much attention focused on Oklahoma City and Cleveland and the remarkable runs both that those teams have had, particularly since they both have had head to head matchups, and then there's other teams like Boston, the defending champs, that take a lot of attention. Memphis kind of flying again under the radar. They've got a very good record at twenty eight and fifteen, much better at home than they are on the road. And it just goes to show you what happens when you get your stars aligned and on the floor. Because John Morant missed almost all of last season and the Grizzlies ended up in the lottery. Now he's back and playing well, and Memphis is once again a power in the West.

Sam Farber and Rob Longo here with you on the HC the Hornets side Cast, brought to you by Santa Rob. The Hornets have one last road game before beginning that record nine game long home stand and definitely would love all of you to be a part of it. It all tips off on Friday night at the Hive. No place better to be in the Queen City on a Friday night than Spectrum Center. Hornets will be hosting the Portland Trailblazers for seven o'clock tip off, then night two of them back to back, taking on the New Orleans Pelicans. As I just mentioned, are playing some of their better basketball now, with wins in each of their last four games. The LA Lakers Lebron James coming to town on Monday the twenty seventh, and it's Brooklyn, the Clippers, Nicola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets. The Washington Wizards, Janis ont Decompo and the Milwaukee Bucks, and we wrap it up on Friday, February seventh with Victor wembin Yama and the San Antonio Spurs again. Tickets for all these games are available at Hornets dot com. Rob Let's preview tonight's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis one of the better teams in the NBA. Really all season long. They've been a little quiet under the radar because there's so much attention focused on Oklahoma City and Cleveland and the remarkable runs both that those teams have had, particularly since they both have had head to head matchups, and then there's other teams like Boston, the defending champs, that take a lot of attention. Memphis kind of flying again under the radar. They've got a very good record at twenty eight and fifteen, much better at home than they are on the road. And it just goes to show you what happens when you get your stars aligned and on the floor. Because John Morant missed almost all of last season and the Grizzlies ended up in the lottery. Now he's back and playing well, and Memphis is once again a power in the West.

Yeah, Memphis has been one of the better teams in a Western Conference two as of late, you know, six and four and or the last ten, which doesn't look great, but they have won three in a row. And of course the Hornets are on a three game heater as well, so as you like to say, sometimes somebody's oh has got to go here in this three and zero a little win streak tonight.

Yeah, Memphis has been one of the better teams in a Western Conference two as of late, you know, six and four and or the last ten, which doesn't look great, but they have won three in a row. And of course the Hornets are on a three game heater as well, so as you like to say, sometimes somebody's oh has got to go here in this three and zero a little win streak tonight.

Let's go game preview here. You get to tip us off. Do you want to go Hornet player, Grizzlies player or a stat.

Let's go game preview here. You get to tip us off. Do you want to go Hornet player, Grizzlies player or a stat.

Let's go ahead and take a look at a Grizzly player to watch. The obvious one is going to be John Morant. He is just a generational talent, so freakishly athletic. Kind of a shame obviously we only get to see him twice a year, but maybe for the sake of the Hornets, it's a good thing we only get to see him twice because he doesn't get to hurt us a couple of more times throughout the course of the season. But he's gonna be my player to watch. He is an obvious one. One of the weird things that I looked at. I don't know if it's weird or not, But something that stood out to me when I was looking at some of his numbers is his turnovers. And when he gets really high into turnovers, that's when you have an opportunity to beat Memphis. And I guess that's kind of a thank you captain obvious stat but when John Moran has six or more turnovers, Memphis is one in five in the six times that has happened this year. And of course he's been a little bit in and out of the lineup. He did play the other day on MLK Day, a two point win against Memphis, where he scored nineteen points and didn't have his best game, but still was able to garner seven assists in four rebounds. So by John Moran standards, that's not a great game. Five to sixteen shooting from the field over four from three. He did get to the free throw line a lot, nine to thirteen at the stripe, so it's a guy you're gonna have to keep off the foul line as well, because he's so crafty getting to the bucket, and even if he doesn't finish those and ones, he's going to the line for two. So John Moran's pretty much the clear cut low hanging through obvious pick for Memphis player to watch here tonight.

Let's go ahead and take a look at a Grizzly player to watch. The obvious one is going to be John Morant. He is just a generational talent, so freakishly athletic. Kind of a shame obviously we only get to see him twice a year, but maybe for the sake of the Hornets, it's a good thing we only get to see him twice because he doesn't get to hurt us a couple of more times throughout the course of the season. But he's gonna be my player to watch. He is an obvious one. One of the weird things that I looked at. I don't know if it's weird or not, But something that stood out to me when I was looking at some of his numbers is his turnovers. And when he gets really high into turnovers, that's when you have an opportunity to beat Memphis. And I guess that's kind of a thank you captain obvious stat but when John Moran has six or more turnovers, Memphis is one in five in the six times that has happened this year. And of course he's been a little bit in and out of the lineup. He did play the other day on MLK Day, a two point win against Memphis, where he scored nineteen points and didn't have his best game, but still was able to garner seven assists in four rebounds. So by John Moran standards, that's not a great game. Five to sixteen shooting from the field over four from three. He did get to the free throw line a lot, nine to thirteen at the stripe, so it's a guy you're gonna have to keep off the foul line as well, because he's so crafty getting to the bucket, and even if he doesn't finish those and ones, he's going to the line for two. So John Moran's pretty much the clear cut low hanging through obvious pick for Memphis player to watch here tonight.

You would think he's the obvious player, but I think there's one that's had an even stronger impact on winning. Obviously, John Moran is the star of the show. But another guy who missed the majority of last season and is having a really good campaign now in his return to the floor, might be even more you know, aligned his numbers to winning, and that's Jaron Jackson Junior, the former Defensive Player of the Year, a one time All Star. I think he's got a good chance to get there again, seeing as he's averaging a career best twenty two point six points per game. Plus minus is not a perfect stat we know that all too well, robbed, but it's pretty telling when you look at a guy like Jaron Jackson Junior and say, okay, anytime that he has a positive in the plus minus, which is twenty seven times this year they are twenty four and three. So you know, the bench, different players, especially bringing in Zach Edy, you know that can have an impact on things for Memphis from time to time. But basically, if Jaron jacks and wins his minutes, the Grizzlies are winning those games, and that's born out over the course of the season. Again, twenty seven times he has been a positive in the plus minus, and in twenty four of those they have ended up winners. Just so you know the numbers, any game where he has either not played or not been a positive in the plus minus, that's happened sixteen times. Their record is just four and twelve. So pretty stark contrast there. Next up hornet to watch or stat to watch.

You would think he's the obvious player, but I think there's one that's had an even stronger impact on winning. Obviously, John Moran is the star of the show. But another guy who missed the majority of last season and is having a really good campaign now in his return to the floor, might be even more you know, aligned his numbers to winning, and that's Jaron Jackson Junior, the former Defensive Player of the Year, a one time All Star. I think he's got a good chance to get there again, seeing as he's averaging a career best twenty two point six points per game. Plus minus is not a perfect stat we know that all too well, robbed, but it's pretty telling when you look at a guy like Jaron Jackson Junior and say, okay, anytime that he has a positive in the plus minus, which is twenty seven times this year they are twenty four and three. So you know, the bench, different players, especially bringing in Zach Edy, you know that can have an impact on things for Memphis from time to time. But basically, if Jaron jacks and wins his minutes, the Grizzlies are winning those games, and that's born out over the course of the season. Again, twenty seven times he has been a positive in the plus minus, and in twenty four of those they have ended up winners. Just so you know the numbers, any game where he has either not played or not been a positive in the plus minus, that's happened sixteen times. Their record is just four and twelve. So pretty stark contrast there. Next up hornet to watch or stat to watch.

Let's go ahead and take a look at a hornet to watch. I'm gonna take Mark Williams. He's just been on such a tear here as of late thirteen points thirteen rebounds against Dallas. Daniel Gafford had a career day on the other side with thirty one points. But those numbers, keep in mind too, are with Mark Williams not being able to play the majority of the first half. He only played ten minutes in the first half of that game on MLK Day because he was hampered with four personal fouls not even a quarter and a half into the game. So he did a really good job in the second half. Didn't even pick up a fifth foul in that game the second half clean did a really good job. That was a resilient game I thought for Mark Williams, and that was best shooting day five or fourteen from the field, three to four from the free throw line, but still was still able to make an impact despite the foul trouble. Still played some solid defense all things considered, finished with three blocks in a steal as well. He continues to be a difference maker for this team. Great pick and roll partner with LaMelo Ball. But I'm interested to see that matchup between him and Zach Edy in the middle here tonight in Memphis.

Let's go ahead and take a look at a hornet to watch. I'm gonna take Mark Williams. He's just been on such a tear here as of late thirteen points thirteen rebounds against Dallas. Daniel Gafford had a career day on the other side with thirty one points. But those numbers, keep in mind too, are with Mark Williams not being able to play the majority of the first half. He only played ten minutes in the first half of that game on MLK Day because he was hampered with four personal fouls not even a quarter and a half into the game. So he did a really good job in the second half. Didn't even pick up a fifth foul in that game the second half clean did a really good job. That was a resilient game I thought for Mark Williams, and that was best shooting day five or fourteen from the field, three to four from the free throw line, but still was still able to make an impact despite the foul trouble. Still played some solid defense all things considered, finished with three blocks in a steal as well. He continues to be a difference maker for this team. Great pick and roll partner with LaMelo Ball. But I'm interested to see that matchup between him and Zach Edy in the middle here tonight in Memphis.

I like the pick and obviously with Jaron Jackson junior, you know, being a major focal point, and even though he kind of plays power forward to just the responsibilities that Mark Williams is going to have against Edie and against Jackson sometimes simultaneously, it's going to make it all that much more important. I think for Mark to have a big game here, I'm gonna go with LaMelo Ball. LaMelo has been playing just tremendous basketball, coming off a twenty three point performance the other day in the win over Dallas. But the thing that stands out to me rob four street games for him with nine or more a Si, so he's constantly flirting with a double double, got it in one instance, doing a good job distributing the basketball. I think it's also helped him get better looks at threes because teams have to respect even more so his passing ability and his threat to find open shooters everywhere. It's giving him more open looks. And I thought he did an exceptional job taking and making good threes last game against Dallas. So we'll see. It's a different kind of beast here taking on the Memphis Grizzlies. Defensively, they're superior quite frankly to some of the other teams that we have seen recently here for Charlotte that the Hornets have gotten wins again, so this will be a really good test and a really tough venue to win in. But I think that, you know, LaMelo, you got to keep up with Memphis. You know, the defense is one thing, but offensively they score more points than any team in the NBA. The Hornets have got to continue to get good, efficient looks at the basket, and that comes down to your point guard playing well. LaMelo ball, Last, but not least, how about a stat to watch.

I like the pick and obviously with Jaron Jackson junior, you know, being a major focal point, and even though he kind of plays power forward to just the responsibilities that Mark Williams is going to have against Edie and against Jackson sometimes simultaneously, it's going to make it all that much more important. I think for Mark to have a big game here, I'm gonna go with LaMelo Ball. LaMelo has been playing just tremendous basketball, coming off a twenty three point performance the other day in the win over Dallas. But the thing that stands out to me rob four street games for him with nine or more a Si, so he's constantly flirting with a double double, got it in one instance, doing a good job distributing the basketball. I think it's also helped him get better looks at threes because teams have to respect even more so his passing ability and his threat to find open shooters everywhere. It's giving him more open looks. And I thought he did an exceptional job taking and making good threes last game against Dallas. So we'll see. It's a different kind of beast here taking on the Memphis Grizzlies. Defensively, they're superior quite frankly to some of the other teams that we have seen recently here for Charlotte that the Hornets have gotten wins again, so this will be a really good test and a really tough venue to win in. But I think that, you know, LaMelo, you got to keep up with Memphis. You know, the defense is one thing, but offensively they score more points than any team in the NBA. The Hornets have got to continue to get good, efficient looks at the basket, and that comes down to your point guard playing well. LaMelo ball, Last, but not least, how about a stat to watch.

I'm gonna go ahead and you steal the stat that you were looking at a little bit. That's rebounding. The Hornets have done a really good job with the rebounding as of late. They did a really good job against Chicago a couple of games ago, where they dominated against the center like Nikola Vucevic, and then they didn't win the rebound battle against Dallas. They ended up losing that fifty one to forty nine, but the offensive rebounding definitely kept them in the game and won them that game. They had seventeen offensive boards that resulted in nineteen second chance points for the Hornets, and they were able to take ten more shots than Dallas. Despite Dallas having a better field goal percentage didn't have a better three point percentage. Hornets were head and shoulders above the Mavericks in that category, but still ten extra field goal opportunities in a game win by five. Well that's your ball game right there. So the rebounding is going to be a big factor, not only just offensively, but defensively as well. I think the Memphis does a really good job with that. And even though they have pieces around there like John Brant that can shoot lights out, he still likes to drive the basketball a lot still likes to get to the rim. If there's no foul call there, then you got second and third chance opportunities. With a guy like Zach Edy in the middle, and Jared Jackson Junior can go out there and get your rebounds as well on the offensive glass. So if I had the hone in on one specific category, probably the defensive rebounding, just because you want to shut down Memphis being one and done. But overall, the rebounding, it's going to be very important on both sides of the glass here tonight.

I'm gonna go ahead and you steal the stat that you were looking at a little bit. That's rebounding. The Hornets have done a really good job with the rebounding as of late. They did a really good job against Chicago a couple of games ago, where they dominated against the center like Nikola Vucevic, and then they didn't win the rebound battle against Dallas. They ended up losing that fifty one to forty nine, but the offensive rebounding definitely kept them in the game and won them that game. They had seventeen offensive boards that resulted in nineteen second chance points for the Hornets, and they were able to take ten more shots than Dallas. Despite Dallas having a better field goal percentage didn't have a better three point percentage. Hornets were head and shoulders above the Mavericks in that category, but still ten extra field goal opportunities in a game win by five. Well that's your ball game right there. So the rebounding is going to be a big factor, not only just offensively, but defensively as well. I think the Memphis does a really good job with that. And even though they have pieces around there like John Brant that can shoot lights out, he still likes to drive the basketball a lot still likes to get to the rim. If there's no foul call there, then you got second and third chance opportunities. With a guy like Zach Edy in the middle, and Jared Jackson Junior can go out there and get your rebounds as well on the offensive glass. So if I had the hone in on one specific category, probably the defensive rebounding, just because you want to shut down Memphis being one and done. But overall, the rebounding, it's going to be very important on both sides of the glass here tonight.

I think you're right on two counts, one on pigging that stat and two on claiming that it was going to be my choice. Yes, the rebounding I think is going to be very very important. This one another one. I think that's going to be really really important and a key for the Hornets. Fast break points. Charlotte has turned up the tempo a little bit now with LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, Miles Bridge is all being healthy, and certainly it helped when Brandon Miller was there, but I don't think they've really slowed down that much with him missing. I think fast break points is a real opportunity zone here. For the Charlotte Hornets because Memphis, for all the things that they do well, they don't hang onto the basketball very well at all. They're second worst in the NBA, averaging just under seventeen turnovers per game. The Hornets aren't great in that category, but they're not that bad. So I think this is one where, you know, we've seen some games, especially as of late rob where the Hornets and whoever they're playing, we'll get into these you know, dueling turnover possession after possession sequences where you know, Charlotte turns it over, the opponent turns it over, Charlotte gives it back the upon You got to capitalize on the giveaways right now, so that results in fast breakpoints. It's something Memphis does very very well. It's something that the Hornets have really really struggled against. They have got to make the best of every opportunity Memphis gives them, and they're gonna give them something sometimes, you know, with the pace that the Grizzlies play with, sometimes they're gonna sail a little bit wide up up the embankment there and crash into the wall. You got to make sure that you make them pay when those opportunities come up. However, it turns out Rob Longo and I will have you covered on the Hornets Radio Network tonight, and then tomorrow Rob Longo Willie p will have a game recappetition of the HHC for you tomorrow.

I think you're right on two counts, one on pigging that stat and two on claiming that it was going to be my choice. Yes, the rebounding I think is going to be very very important. This one another one. I think that's going to be really really important and a key for the Hornets. Fast break points. Charlotte has turned up the tempo a little bit now with LaMelo Ball, Mark Williams, Miles Bridge is all being healthy, and certainly it helped when Brandon Miller was there, but I don't think they've really slowed down that much with him missing. I think fast break points is a real opportunity zone here. For the Charlotte Hornets because Memphis, for all the things that they do well, they don't hang onto the basketball very well at all. They're second worst in the NBA, averaging just under seventeen turnovers per game. The Hornets aren't great in that category, but they're not that bad. So I think this is one where, you know, we've seen some games, especially as of late rob where the Hornets and whoever they're playing, we'll get into these you know, dueling turnover possession after possession sequences where you know, Charlotte turns it over, the opponent turns it over, Charlotte gives it back the upon You got to capitalize on the giveaways right now, so that results in fast breakpoints. It's something Memphis does very very well. It's something that the Hornets have really really struggled against. They have got to make the best of every opportunity Memphis gives them, and they're gonna give them something sometimes, you know, with the pace that the Grizzlies play with, sometimes they're gonna sail a little bit wide up up the embankment there and crash into the wall. You got to make sure that you make them pay when those opportunities come up. However, it turns out Rob Longo and I will have you covered on the Hornets Radio Network tonight, and then tomorrow Rob Longo Willie p will have a game recappetition of the HHC for you tomorrow.

Yep, looking forward to this one, Sam. If the Hornets can pick up a win here, four in a row would be big heading into a nine game homestanding against a very good opponent too, in the Memphis Grizzlies. So a little bit more on the line, I feel like tonight in this one.

Yep, looking forward to this one, Sam. If the Hornets can pick up a win here, four in a row would be big heading into a nine game homestanding against a very good opponent too, in the Memphis Grizzlies. So a little bit more on the line, I feel like tonight in this one.

I think so too. Yeah, definitely, the Hornets are gaining some attention with wins in three straight contests, but none of them really the caliber of a Memphis team that currently sits at twenty eight and fifteen. So you put this win on your resume. You may get a four game win streak heading into a nine game homestand maybe maybe the Hornets start jumping up a little bit more of those power rankings and popular perceptions heading in to the month of February. Thanks to Rob Longo for helping me out on this episode of the HHC. Thanks most of all to all of you for tuning in for all of us here. I'm Sam Farber saying it's been a pleasure of privilege having you along. We'll talk to you tomorrow right here on the Hornets Ive Cast.

I think so too. Yeah, definitely, the Hornets are gaining some attention with wins in three straight contests, but none of them really the caliber of a Memphis team that currently sits at twenty eight and fifteen. So you put this win on your resume. You may get a four game win streak heading into a nine game homestand maybe maybe the Hornets start jumping up a little bit more of those power rankings and popular perceptions heading in to the month of February. Thanks to Rob Longo for helping me out on this episode of the HHC. Thanks most of all to all of you for tuning in for all of us here. I'm Sam Farber saying it's been a pleasure of privilege having you along. We'll talk to you tomorrow right here on the Hornets Ive Cast.

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Thank you for listening to the Hornets Podcast, brought to you by Senta, the official i ear Nosen throatcare provider of the Charnette Hornets. For more coverage, visit hornets dot com.