Welcome to the Hornets Hoodcast, 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 Hoodcast, 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 a special edition of the Hornets Hoodcast, your Hornets podcast with all the notes, quotes, and daily buzz around your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it is a pleasure and a privilege have you with us here once again on the Hornets Podcast, brought to you by Santa Charlotte I ear nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen Throatcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. It's opening day in the NBA. Hornets will tip off their season against the Houston Rockets, and before the ball goes in the air, We've got an extra special sit down interview for you with the co chairman of Hornet Sports and Entertainment, Rick Snall and Gabe Plotkin. They'll talk about their expectations for the upcoming season, all the projects that they have under way right now surrounding the Hornets, be it the reimagining of Spectrum Center, the recently announced brand new performance center, they'll be coming to the Queen City very soon and all other things. Hornets Basketball will also, of course have a game preview for the opener against the Houston Rockets. But without further ado, let's welcome back to the hhc Rick Snaw and Gabe Plotkin.

Welcome to a special edition of the Hornets Hoodcast, your Hornets podcast with all the notes, quotes, and daily buzz around your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it is a pleasure and a privilege have you with us here once again on the Hornets Podcast, brought to you by Santa Charlotte I ear nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen Throatcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets. It's opening day in the NBA. Hornets will tip off their season against the Houston Rockets, and before the ball goes in the air, We've got an extra special sit down interview for you with the co chairman of Hornet Sports and Entertainment, Rick Snall and Gabe Plotkin. They'll talk about their expectations for the upcoming season, all the projects that they have under way right now surrounding the Hornets, be it the reimagining of Spectrum Center, the recently announced brand new performance center, they'll be coming to the Queen City very soon and all other things. Hornets Basketball will also, of course have a game preview for the opener against the Houston Rockets. But without further ado, let's welcome back to the hhc Rick Snaw and Gabe Plotkin.

Thanks for having us.

Thanks for having us.

Good to be here, thrilled to have you both. Been a little over a year since you took over as coach chairman of Hornets Sports and Entertainment, and you set out with the goal of becoming the premier franchise in the NBA. It's been about a year now. Where are you on that journey? Rick, Let's start with you.

Good to be here, thrilled to have you both. Been a little over a year since you took over as coach chairman of Hornets Sports and Entertainment, and you set out with the goal of becoming the premier franchise in the NBA. It's been about a year now. Where are you on that journey? Rick, Let's start with you.

I'd say we are well on our way. Maybe we're in the second inning. We have a nine ending game, so it's a long way. Trying to be great takes time, and expecting to be great overnight would be a mistake. But we have made an enormous amount of progress. Obviously, we have a brand new basketball staff, both operations coaching staff. We have a new business president. We've invested heavily in our facilities in our arena were hopefully we'll be underway in the first quarter with our data, our practice facility and We've set our vision, as you said, our mission to be the premier franchise in the NBA, and we've gone about hiring people who believe in that vision, who reflect the values that we believe in as an organization. And so we're we are on our way to creating something great here, but it is going to take us some more time.

I'd say we are well on our way. Maybe we're in the second inning. We have a nine ending game, so it's a long way. Trying to be great takes time, and expecting to be great overnight would be a mistake. But we have made an enormous amount of progress. Obviously, we have a brand new basketball staff, both operations coaching staff. We have a new business president. We've invested heavily in our facilities in our arena were hopefully we'll be underway in the first quarter with our data, our practice facility and We've set our vision, as you said, our mission to be the premier franchise in the NBA, and we've gone about hiring people who believe in that vision, who reflect the values that we believe in as an organization. And so we're we are on our way to creating something great here, but it is going to take us some more time.

Well, you hit all my questions on the first answer, so we're now to drill down a little bit more. Phase one of the reimagining of Spectrum Center is nearing completion. You'll unveil the building for the home opener on October twenty six. Gabe, what are you most excited about unveiling here as phase one wraps up.

Well, you hit all my questions on the first answer, so we're now to drill down a little bit more. Phase one of the reimagining of Spectrum Center is nearing completion. You'll unveil the building for the home opener on October twenty six. Gabe, what are you most excited about unveiling here as phase one wraps up.

Yeah, I think it's just a fan experience. I think you're going to see a great fan experience throughout the different levels, whether it's the clubs which are much larger, much nicer, better food opportunities there, or choices up to the upper concourse in terms of you know, easier traffic ways, better food, better ease of getting into the build. I mean, it's a lot of it's a lot of everything. I mean, even for our players. We've improved the locker rooms and the shower rooms and the way up to the practice facility and the signage, and so I think there's many details that go into this, but across the board, it's going to be a better arena.

Yeah, I think it's just a fan experience. I think you're going to see a great fan experience throughout the different levels, whether it's the clubs which are much larger, much nicer, better food opportunities there, or choices up to the upper concourse in terms of you know, easier traffic ways, better food, better ease of getting into the build. I mean, it's a lot of it's a lot of everything. I mean, even for our players. We've improved the locker rooms and the shower rooms and the way up to the practice facility and the signage, and so I think there's many details that go into this, but across the board, it's going to be a better arena.

As you touched on, there has been a reimagining of the leadership of the organization, a new generation of talent taking over. Shelley Kayette Weston, the new president of business operations, Charles Lee the head coach, and Jeff Peterson, president of basketball operations, all have been in recent years on a forty under forty list of some kind from some significant publication. So truly a new generation of leadership. What do they bring individually and collectively? They gave you the confidence that these are the right people to lead this organization for it, Rick, We'll start with you.

As you touched on, there has been a reimagining of the leadership of the organization, a new generation of talent taking over. Shelley Kayette Weston, the new president of business operations, Charles Lee the head coach, and Jeff Peterson, president of basketball operations, all have been in recent years on a forty under forty list of some kind from some significant publication. So truly a new generation of leadership. What do they bring individually and collectively? They gave you the confidence that these are the right people to lead this organization for it, Rick, We'll start with you.

Well, they're all incredibly high character and incredibly talented people. And so when we started our search, obviously we did searches for Jeff's job, we did a search for Shelley's job. We hadn't even started a search when we met with Shelley and decided she was the right person, and we set out to look for great talent, didn't matter where it existed, where they worked, how old they were. We wanted great talent, and we wanted people that were of great character. I have the benefit of having known both Jeff and Charles for over I guess, almost ten years now, and we think we found people that can be with our organization for a very, very long time. They're super talented. They believe in the vision of what we're trying to create. They believe in the culture, and you know, we believe that great cultures start with vision and then get to people. Now, if you hire great people like Jeff and he then goes and hires a players underneath him, you'll have an organization that can achieve great things. And obviously Shelley gives us an enormous amount of energy and what we're doing on the business side, and when we bought the business, we obviously had a long way to go to build a winning basketball team, and we're in the process of doing that. We also had a long way to go and building a great business, and we're in the process of doing that as well.

Well, they're all incredibly high character and incredibly talented people. And so when we started our search, obviously we did searches for Jeff's job, we did a search for Shelley's job. We hadn't even started a search when we met with Shelley and decided she was the right person, and we set out to look for great talent, didn't matter where it existed, where they worked, how old they were. We wanted great talent, and we wanted people that were of great character. I have the benefit of having known both Jeff and Charles for over I guess, almost ten years now, and we think we found people that can be with our organization for a very, very long time. They're super talented. They believe in the vision of what we're trying to create. They believe in the culture, and you know, we believe that great cultures start with vision and then get to people. Now, if you hire great people like Jeff and he then goes and hires a players underneath him, you'll have an organization that can achieve great things. And obviously Shelley gives us an enormous amount of energy and what we're doing on the business side, and when we bought the business, we obviously had a long way to go to build a winning basketball team, and we're in the process of doing that. We also had a long way to go and building a great business, and we're in the process of doing that as well.

Gabe, you've got a a few weeks in some cases months and others to see this group come together. What has impressed you the most seeing them get into action here in preparation for their first season together.

Gabe, you've got a a few weeks in some cases months and others to see this group come together. What has impressed you the most seeing them get into action here in preparation for their first season together.

Yeah, I think it's the sense of purpose and you saw that immediately. You know, Jeff came in, he brought a staff with him. I mean the amount of people that called wanting to work with Jeff, I think speaks very highly to what Jeff's brought to the table in his past. But upon bringing in Charles, and you could sense it through Summer League, it was like from that first practice, it was like, this is not the same Hornets. I mean there's an expectation around how we're going to compete, how we're going to defend, how we're going to be prepared, and you know, just the communication touch points and the way these guys work together. I think it's it's very unique and I think it's different. And that energy that they've brought to the table and that preparedness, I think the players understand that. They see that. We saw that at training camp. I mean it was watching these guys move in and on a drills and the coaches preparing beforehand in the film sessions. I mean, these guys are ready to go. They thought through everything. I mean there are weeks months in advance in terms of where their preppers going. You know, the player development packets that we went through, and you know what our expectations are for our individual players and how we want them to get better, what we expect them to do, and even with the Sports and Performance group is a part of this, everyone kind of working together. So it's been unbelievable to see. I mean it's obviously, you know, very early in terms of we haven't even started the season, but in terms of the approach, the process, what the energy that these guys are bringing, it's been. It's been awesome.

Yeah, I think it's the sense of purpose and you saw that immediately. You know, Jeff came in, he brought a staff with him. I mean the amount of people that called wanting to work with Jeff, I think speaks very highly to what Jeff's brought to the table in his past. But upon bringing in Charles, and you could sense it through Summer League, it was like from that first practice, it was like, this is not the same Hornets. I mean there's an expectation around how we're going to compete, how we're going to defend, how we're going to be prepared, and you know, just the communication touch points and the way these guys work together. I think it's it's very unique and I think it's different. And that energy that they've brought to the table and that preparedness, I think the players understand that. They see that. We saw that at training camp. I mean it was watching these guys move in and on a drills and the coaches preparing beforehand in the film sessions. I mean, these guys are ready to go. They thought through everything. I mean there are weeks months in advance in terms of where their preppers going. You know, the player development packets that we went through, and you know what our expectations are for our individual players and how we want them to get better, what we expect them to do, and even with the Sports and Performance group is a part of this, everyone kind of working together. So it's been unbelievable to see. I mean it's obviously, you know, very early in terms of we haven't even started the season, but in terms of the approach, the process, what the energy that these guys are bringing, it's been. It's been awesome.

One thing all three of them is said along the way is that we're not going to skip steps to get to that end goal where we want to be. That said, you too are competitors. You're very competitive in everything you do. What are your expectations for the level of competition we'll see on the floor here for this upcoming season.

One thing all three of them is said along the way is that we're not going to skip steps to get to that end goal where we want to be. That said, you too are competitors. You're very competitive in everything you do. What are your expectations for the level of competition we'll see on the floor here for this upcoming season.

We're going to compete every night. You know how many games we win? I think it's hard to tell. We're young, we have a lot of really really talented players. We brought in obviously a couple of vets to support those players with Tash Gibson and Seth Curry, and you can even call Grant even though I think he's twenty six, a vet modern NBA, that's the modern MBAs of that. We should be competitive. I mean, I think we're gonna have We're gonna have a really fun team to watch. I think we'll score a lot of points. I think if you watched us in the preseason, our top ten guys, who played not as many minutes as you will in the regular season, played well and we competed in every game we played. We played hard defensively, and we should be a team that gets out there and competes and we should be far more competitive than we were last year.

We're going to compete every night. You know how many games we win? I think it's hard to tell. We're young, we have a lot of really really talented players. We brought in obviously a couple of vets to support those players with Tash Gibson and Seth Curry, and you can even call Grant even though I think he's twenty six, a vet modern NBA, that's the modern MBAs of that. We should be competitive. I mean, I think we're gonna have We're gonna have a really fun team to watch. I think we'll score a lot of points. I think if you watched us in the preseason, our top ten guys, who played not as many minutes as you will in the regular season, played well and we competed in every game we played. We played hard defensively, and we should be a team that gets out there and competes and we should be far more competitive than we were last year.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think any night, any team we're playing like we're going to be in that game when we have a real shot to win the game. I think that's really important. And you know that was not the case last year. And I think you're gonna have a lot of great moments here at the Spectrum Center this year where it ultimately leads us. You know, we'll see. I think our focus this year is building culture, you know, developing the right habits, player development, and really giving our young guys a chance to grow and see where they can kind of take us. And you know, we don't know right now entirely where that's going to be. But you know, I do think when you start with the backcourt with LaMelo and Brandon and you know, these guys think think Brandon took forty three threes. I was looking at in the preseason in five games you're run rating twelve three is a game that's your six to eight shooting guard. You and then you get your six eight point guard who. The one thing about LaMelo, he's a great passer, he's got great vision, he's a great creator. But I think he's an underrated shooter. I mean, he is a great shooter. And so to have a backcourt like that that has great range, that shoots the ball, I mean, you're just going to see a lot of really fun, exciting evenings here. And I think we're going to score points, and we're going to play defense and compete, and it's going to be the next step forward for our team.

I think any night, any team we're playing like we're going to be in that game when we have a real shot to win the game. I think that's really important. And you know that was not the case last year. And I think you're gonna have a lot of great moments here at the Spectrum Center this year where it ultimately leads us. You know, we'll see. I think our focus this year is building culture, you know, developing the right habits, player development, and really giving our young guys a chance to grow and see where they can kind of take us. And you know, we don't know right now entirely where that's going to be. But you know, I do think when you start with the backcourt with LaMelo and Brandon and you know, these guys think think Brandon took forty three threes. I was looking at in the preseason in five games you're run rating twelve three is a game that's your six to eight shooting guard. You and then you get your six eight point guard who. The one thing about LaMelo, he's a great passer, he's got great vision, he's a great creator. But I think he's an underrated shooter. I mean, he is a great shooter. And so to have a backcourt like that that has great range, that shoots the ball, I mean, you're just going to see a lot of really fun, exciting evenings here. And I think we're going to score points, and we're going to play defense and compete, and it's going to be the next step forward for our team.

Not to fast forward through the season, But you guys have already put in place plans for the future of Uptown Charlotte in this organization. The Performance Center that you mentioned is scheduled to break ground here upcoming in twenty twenty five, and then Phase two of the renovations here for the Spectrum Center. What do you see the impact being here, not just for the organization but the community with these major investments you're making into the organization. Gable's start with you this time.

Not to fast forward through the season, But you guys have already put in place plans for the future of Uptown Charlotte in this organization. The Performance Center that you mentioned is scheduled to break ground here upcoming in twenty twenty five, and then Phase two of the renovations here for the Spectrum Center. What do you see the impact being here, not just for the organization but the community with these major investments you're making into the organization. Gable's start with you this time.

Yeah, I think. I mean for the arena itself, there's a commitment that they'll see and just an enjoyment and pride in our team. I mean, one of the things next summer that's going to be great is we're adding twenty five hundred lower bowl seats and so I think the environment in the arena is going to sound different. It's going to be loud. I think you're going to have home court advantage, and I think it's going to really benefit our team. I think broadly with the practice facility, we had an initial investment from the city, which we're grateful for. Obviously, you know, a project of the size is going to require a substantial investment from the ownership group as well. And to have everyone under one roof I think is really important, both the business side and the basketball side. And we're one of only a couple of teams that the practice facility is still in the arena and to have you know, world class practice facility and to have everyone together in the same building shows a commitment to our players that I think is really important. There's an expectation that they have being around the league, and so our ability to retain players attract free agents. To know that we're really in this to compete changes that game, and so I think for the community as a whole, you know, the Hornets are important. People love sports here and to know that we are a world class organization, everyone can take pride in that and feel good about it.

Yeah, I think. I mean for the arena itself, there's a commitment that they'll see and just an enjoyment and pride in our team. I mean, one of the things next summer that's going to be great is we're adding twenty five hundred lower bowl seats and so I think the environment in the arena is going to sound different. It's going to be loud. I think you're going to have home court advantage, and I think it's going to really benefit our team. I think broadly with the practice facility, we had an initial investment from the city, which we're grateful for. Obviously, you know, a project of the size is going to require a substantial investment from the ownership group as well. And to have everyone under one roof I think is really important, both the business side and the basketball side. And we're one of only a couple of teams that the practice facility is still in the arena and to have you know, world class practice facility and to have everyone together in the same building shows a commitment to our players that I think is really important. There's an expectation that they have being around the league, and so our ability to retain players attract free agents. To know that we're really in this to compete changes that game, and so I think for the community as a whole, you know, the Hornets are important. People love sports here and to know that we are a world class organization, everyone can take pride in that and feel good about it.

It's not the only place you guys have made a major investment. You have in the process of reimagining this building, you're reimagining nine other local high school, middle school, elementary school basketball arenas. And then also when the tragedy that was Hurricane Helen hit the Carolina As, you were quick to lead the way making a major investment in our Greater Carolina community of a million dollars towards relief efforts. What does it mean to you to be in a position to give back and why were those two projects one a reactionary one that needed to be done right away and another that you have a choice where you put your investment into the community. Why were those the important ones for you.

It's not the only place you guys have made a major investment. You have in the process of reimagining this building, you're reimagining nine other local high school, middle school, elementary school basketball arenas. And then also when the tragedy that was Hurricane Helen hit the Carolina As, you were quick to lead the way making a major investment in our Greater Carolina community of a million dollars towards relief efforts. What does it mean to you to be in a position to give back and why were those two projects one a reactionary one that needed to be done right away and another that you have a choice where you put your investment into the community. Why were those the important ones for you.

Well, I think, first off, in many respects, this is a community asset. I think we talked about that last year, and so we're in partnership with the community here and the relationship we have with the community and our support of the community as that organization is a big deal and it's a big deal to us personally, and so we obviously significantly enhanced the commitment to the Hornets Foundation. We came in, we have a big event which is our annual gallow where we'll celebrate that as part of our increased commitment ownerships, increased commitment to the foundation. We thought about last year what impact could we have immediately with this new capital that we have as a foundation, and we elected to support local schools in Meccleberg County because we thought building gymnasiums, fixing gymnasiums, helping kids get the joy and privilege of being in a special gym would be a great way to start the foundation. And then, of course with the hurricane, we immediately turned our attention to that made a significant additional contribution and commitment to that. It's important that we are part of that healing effort for western North Carolina. But you'll continue to see initiatives coming out of our foundation, which will continue to work with the community on an annual basis, and of course be prepared to respond to situations where we can be helpful.

Well, I think, first off, in many respects, this is a community asset. I think we talked about that last year, and so we're in partnership with the community here and the relationship we have with the community and our support of the community as that organization is a big deal and it's a big deal to us personally, and so we obviously significantly enhanced the commitment to the Hornets Foundation. We came in, we have a big event which is our annual gallow where we'll celebrate that as part of our increased commitment ownerships, increased commitment to the foundation. We thought about last year what impact could we have immediately with this new capital that we have as a foundation, and we elected to support local schools in Meccleberg County because we thought building gymnasiums, fixing gymnasiums, helping kids get the joy and privilege of being in a special gym would be a great way to start the foundation. And then, of course with the hurricane, we immediately turned our attention to that made a significant additional contribution and commitment to that. It's important that we are part of that healing effort for western North Carolina. But you'll continue to see initiatives coming out of our foundation, which will continue to work with the community on an annual basis, and of course be prepared to respond to situations where we can be helpful.

Well, we know how much it's appreciated. So thank both to you for making those investments and being so forward and getting back to this community. Last one for both of you. Outside of playing in an NBA game, I'd say most basketball fans, if they had a dream of how they'd be involved, it'd be to sit in the chairs that you guys are in, not here on the high cast, but to run definitely, I don't know, maybe not, but to run an organization. You guys have been able to live that dream now for a little over a year. How does the reality meet your expectations even of what it would be like to be co chairman for an NBA franchise, Rick, you tip us off.

Well, we know how much it's appreciated. So thank both to you for making those investments and being so forward and getting back to this community. Last one for both of you. Outside of playing in an NBA game, I'd say most basketball fans, if they had a dream of how they'd be involved, it'd be to sit in the chairs that you guys are in, not here on the high cast, but to run definitely, I don't know, maybe not, but to run an organization. You guys have been able to live that dream now for a little over a year. How does the reality meet your expectations even of what it would be like to be co chairman for an NBA franchise, Rick, you tip us off.

I mean, it is a dream come true in many respects, and we're having the time of our lives doing it. You heard Gabe's passion. We're having a great time doing it. We're very like minded in the vision that we have and the values that we have as individuals and we've tried to bring it collectively to the organization. We have great people. It is so much fun to be here every day, and we're super competitive and we love basketball, so the opportunity to be around basketball to try to build a great organization. You know, we have this goal. We're going to build the Premier. It's a great goal to have, and we're in it together and trying to build it and we're just having an enormous amount of fun trying to get it right, trying to do it with the community and trying to represent all of North Carolina and creating something great. But to answer your question, has it been fun, Yeah, it's been a lot of fun, Gabe, you.

I mean, it is a dream come true in many respects, and we're having the time of our lives doing it. You heard Gabe's passion. We're having a great time doing it. We're very like minded in the vision that we have and the values that we have as individuals and we've tried to bring it collectively to the organization. We have great people. It is so much fun to be here every day, and we're super competitive and we love basketball, so the opportunity to be around basketball to try to build a great organization. You know, we have this goal. We're going to build the Premier. It's a great goal to have, and we're in it together and trying to build it and we're just having an enormous amount of fun trying to get it right, trying to do it with the community and trying to represent all of North Carolina and creating something great. But to answer your question, has it been fun, Yeah, it's been a lot of fun, Gabe, you.

Get the last word.

Get the last word.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I would say it's easily far exceeded my expectations. I think when you love the game of basketball, just being around it and all its components is you know, whether you're watching practice, whether you're talking to fans, whether it's a strategic conversation about free agency or the draft or whatever, it may be, kind of pinch yourself because these these are the conversations that you've always sort of dreamed about, and just being around the game is really exciting, and I think it's the best game in the world, and so I love that and I think as both with Rick and I, the ownership group, the front office, the coaching staff, it's just a great group of people. I think we set out from a cultural perspective to bringing people that are really aligned, that would be collaborative, and they're just you know, in any job is good and bad in terms of how each day goes and if you have some interaction that you didn't love. But I'd say with what's happened here that just hasn't happened. I think everyone's really been moving in the same direction with the same focus of making this team great and so it's been awesome.

I would say it's easily far exceeded my expectations. I think when you love the game of basketball, just being around it and all its components is you know, whether you're watching practice, whether you're talking to fans, whether it's a strategic conversation about free agency or the draft or whatever, it may be, kind of pinch yourself because these these are the conversations that you've always sort of dreamed about, and just being around the game is really exciting, and I think it's the best game in the world, and so I love that and I think as both with Rick and I, the ownership group, the front office, the coaching staff, it's just a great group of people. I think we set out from a cultural perspective to bringing people that are really aligned, that would be collaborative, and they're just you know, in any job is good and bad in terms of how each day goes and if you have some interaction that you didn't love. But I'd say with what's happened here that just hasn't happened. I think everyone's really been moving in the same direction with the same focus of making this team great and so it's been awesome.

Well, thank you both for all your hard work and effort here getting to this moment, the precipice of a new season. Best of luck with the campaign and with all the work ahead that you've got scheduled. And thanks for sitting down with us here on the Hornet's Podcast.

Well, thank you both for all your hard work and effort here getting to this moment, the precipice of a new season. Best of luck with the campaign and with all the work ahead that you've got scheduled. And thanks for sitting down with us here on the Hornet's Podcast.

Thanks sir, Thanks so.

Thanks sir, Thanks so.

Thanks again to rich Now and Gabe Plotkin for joining us in studio here for this episode of the Hornets Hive Cast. Well, of course, have the video of that conversation posted to YouTube in the coming days. It's also opening day in the NBA. Hornets tipping things off against the Houston Rockets. Coming up next, my producer from the Hornets Radio Network, it's well as the producer this fine podcast, Rob Longo, will join me and we'll preview the game for you after this quick break here on the Hornets Podcast. Welcome back to the Hornet's Podcast. Sam Farbar here with you and joining us now my producer on the Hornets Radio Network as well as the producer of this fine podcast, Rob Longo, as we are set to preview game one of at minimum eighty two this regular season and hopefully there's many more beyond it. The Hornets tipping off the season against the Houston Rockets. Rob. Always an exciting day Opening day across the NBA, and we'll get right into our game preview for this one. For those who are just joining the HC welcome to the new season. For game previews, we look for a player to watch for both the Hornets as well as Houston, and a stat to watch Hornets and Houston. Rob, you get to pick which category we'll begin with.

Thanks again to rich Now and Gabe Plotkin for joining us in studio here for this episode of the Hornets Hive Cast. Well, of course, have the video of that conversation posted to YouTube in the coming days. It's also opening day in the NBA. Hornets tipping things off against the Houston Rockets. Coming up next, my producer from the Hornets Radio Network, it's well as the producer this fine podcast, Rob Longo, will join me and we'll preview the game for you after this quick break here on the Hornets Podcast. Welcome back to the Hornet's Podcast. Sam Farbar here with you and joining us now my producer on the Hornets Radio Network as well as the producer of this fine podcast, Rob Longo, as we are set to preview game one of at minimum eighty two this regular season and hopefully there's many more beyond it. The Hornets tipping off the season against the Houston Rockets. Rob. Always an exciting day Opening day across the NBA, and we'll get right into our game preview for this one. For those who are just joining the HC welcome to the new season. For game previews, we look for a player to watch for both the Hornets as well as Houston, and a stat to watch Hornets and Houston. Rob, you get to pick which category we'll begin with.

Let's go ahead and go with a statistic to watch for the game coming up against the Rockets, the season opener. And I don't know if you were peruising through anything here over the last couple of days in terms of seeing some stuff that the national outlets are looking at, but something I hopped my eye. And the Ringers they had some twenty two pold predictions for this season I'm coming and one of them was that they believe that the Hornets are going to lead the league in three point attempts. And rightfully, soh you got a guy like Brandon Miller, got a guy like LaMelo Ball, and you got a couple of other guys that can hit some threes. Of course, the guy that came from the greatest shooting family of all time, Seth Curry, is on this squad still too, So there's a lot of guys that like to chuck up threes, that can make threes. So let's go ahead and take a look at some three point shooting. They took a lot of threes in the preseason as well. The big thing is, of course, you got to make them, So let's go ahead and look at the three point shot here in this game tonight. Houston likes to run a lot of up tempo two, So let's go ahead and take three point attempts for a three point shot. In general, for my stat to watch here tonight, I like.

Let's go ahead and go with a statistic to watch for the game coming up against the Rockets, the season opener. And I don't know if you were peruising through anything here over the last couple of days in terms of seeing some stuff that the national outlets are looking at, but something I hopped my eye. And the Ringers they had some twenty two pold predictions for this season I'm coming and one of them was that they believe that the Hornets are going to lead the league in three point attempts. And rightfully, soh you got a guy like Brandon Miller, got a guy like LaMelo Ball, and you got a couple of other guys that can hit some threes. Of course, the guy that came from the greatest shooting family of all time, Seth Curry, is on this squad still too, So there's a lot of guys that like to chuck up threes, that can make threes. So let's go ahead and take a look at some three point shooting. They took a lot of threes in the preseason as well. The big thing is, of course, you got to make them, So let's go ahead and look at the three point shot here in this game tonight. Houston likes to run a lot of up tempo two, So let's go ahead and take three point attempts for a three point shot. In general, for my stat to watch here tonight, I like.

The stat rob my outlook on this one. For stat of the game. I had one very positive way of looking at this from a Hornet's perspective, one kind of be weary of the negative that I was looking at for this contest against the Houston Rockets. You took my positive one because I think the Hornets are going to have an emphasis on three point shooting given the philosophy that Charles Lee brings to the table and just the personnel the Hornets have and what we saw in the preseason as you mentioned, but there was one stat that was pretty negative for the Hornets that line for the majority of the preseason that I think we've got to focus on at least a little here, and that is turnovers. The Hornets had like seventy five in the last game. All right, not quite that many, but thirty is a lot too, and I think for the Hornets to have a chance realistically throughout this season, you have to clean it up. I don't think those numbers are indicative of really how they play because you have so many different lineups rotating through throughout a preseason game. You have so much going on that is not of a normal contest, that is somewhat out of your control. And a lot of teams have issues with turnovers in the preseason that pretty rapidly get cleaned up, but it does need to get cleaned up. That's why my stat to watch for tonight's contest is going to be turnovers. Next up, a rocket to watch or a Hornet to watch.

The stat rob my outlook on this one. For stat of the game. I had one very positive way of looking at this from a Hornet's perspective, one kind of be weary of the negative that I was looking at for this contest against the Houston Rockets. You took my positive one because I think the Hornets are going to have an emphasis on three point shooting given the philosophy that Charles Lee brings to the table and just the personnel the Hornets have and what we saw in the preseason as you mentioned, but there was one stat that was pretty negative for the Hornets that line for the majority of the preseason that I think we've got to focus on at least a little here, and that is turnovers. The Hornets had like seventy five in the last game. All right, not quite that many, but thirty is a lot too, and I think for the Hornets to have a chance realistically throughout this season, you have to clean it up. I don't think those numbers are indicative of really how they play because you have so many different lineups rotating through throughout a preseason game. You have so much going on that is not of a normal contest, that is somewhat out of your control. And a lot of teams have issues with turnovers in the preseason that pretty rapidly get cleaned up, but it does need to get cleaned up. That's why my stat to watch for tonight's contest is going to be turnovers. Next up, a rocket to watch or a Hornet to watch.

Let's go ahead and preview the Rockets here. My rocket to watch, I think is kind of an obvious one. I mean, they do have a lot of good pieces on his team now over the last couple of years that they've been able to build through the draft and through some big time free agents as well. But Alfred Shendun has been a really solid piece I think in center's position. Averaged a little bit over twenty one points per game last year, can grab a lot of rebounds, can pass the ball as well. He feels like he's almost the up and coming Nikola Jokicch's in terms of a guy that's a center that can do a little bit of everything and be a thread on a three point line as well. I mean he shot about only twenty nine thirty percent from beyond the arc last year, but still, I mean the guy as a monster. He does a lot of his work in the pain and again he's six to eleven. And if you're sitting around there and you can hit threes and you can play in the interior as well, you got a lot of good going for you. So Alprincechenku is going to be my player to watch. Going to be a really interesting matchup for him in the center, trying to go against that new and improved Hornets defense that Charles Lee has been able to install here throughout training camp, and of course we saw some promises of it in the preseason, but Shen Gun's going to be a tough test off the bat there to see how good this defense really is.

Let's go ahead and preview the Rockets here. My rocket to watch, I think is kind of an obvious one. I mean, they do have a lot of good pieces on his team now over the last couple of years that they've been able to build through the draft and through some big time free agents as well. But Alfred Shendun has been a really solid piece I think in center's position. Averaged a little bit over twenty one points per game last year, can grab a lot of rebounds, can pass the ball as well. He feels like he's almost the up and coming Nikola Jokicch's in terms of a guy that's a center that can do a little bit of everything and be a thread on a three point line as well. I mean he shot about only twenty nine thirty percent from beyond the arc last year, but still, I mean the guy as a monster. He does a lot of his work in the pain and again he's six to eleven. And if you're sitting around there and you can hit threes and you can play in the interior as well, you got a lot of good going for you. So Alprincechenku is going to be my player to watch. Going to be a really interesting matchup for him in the center, trying to go against that new and improved Hornets defense that Charles Lee has been able to install here throughout training camp, and of course we saw some promises of it in the preseason, but Shen Gun's going to be a tough test off the bat there to see how good this defense really is.

You're reading off my notes again. I had Sheng Gun at the top of my Rockets list for this one rob rules or effect, So I got to go in a different direction. I will say this. You know, for all the people around the NBA who emphasize, for lack of another term, tanking and saying, hey, we need multiple top three picks, it's interesting that most people looking at the Rockets roster, say, have all the young pieces they drafted, the one that they're most high on is the guy who's not the top three pick in Alpah and Schengun. But I digress. So one of those top three picks that they picked up is the one I've got my eye on for this one, and that's Jalen Green. Even though his numbers have not always led directly to wins, the numbers have always been really really good, and I think the question is what kind of player is he in terms of the impact on winning? And I think we'll get a good look at it here this season because this Rockets team is deeper than they've been since he has been a part of the NBA and part of that franchise and just has an opportunity to show what he can do. It's almost like de Aaron Fox with Sacramento waiting for his Sabonis to show up. The only difference is in this case, you're waiting for your Demona Sabonis to fully develop. And that's the impression most people have with Shan Gudin is now that he he is developing into that all star potential caliber player, and now it's what does Jalen Green's contributions look like I think Green could have a really big season here, and I think he's certainly someone the Hornets have to be worriy of if they want to win this game. Last, but not least, let's wrap it up with a Hornets player to watch.

You're reading off my notes again. I had Sheng Gun at the top of my Rockets list for this one rob rules or effect, So I got to go in a different direction. I will say this. You know, for all the people around the NBA who emphasize, for lack of another term, tanking and saying, hey, we need multiple top three picks, it's interesting that most people looking at the Rockets roster, say, have all the young pieces they drafted, the one that they're most high on is the guy who's not the top three pick in Alpah and Schengun. But I digress. So one of those top three picks that they picked up is the one I've got my eye on for this one, and that's Jalen Green. Even though his numbers have not always led directly to wins, the numbers have always been really really good, and I think the question is what kind of player is he in terms of the impact on winning? And I think we'll get a good look at it here this season because this Rockets team is deeper than they've been since he has been a part of the NBA and part of that franchise and just has an opportunity to show what he can do. It's almost like de Aaron Fox with Sacramento waiting for his Sabonis to show up. The only difference is in this case, you're waiting for your Demona Sabonis to fully develop. And that's the impression most people have with Shan Gudin is now that he he is developing into that all star potential caliber player, and now it's what does Jalen Green's contributions look like I think Green could have a really big season here, and I think he's certainly someone the Hornets have to be worriy of if they want to win this game. Last, but not least, let's wrap it up with a Hornets player to watch.

Certainly not last, and hopefully it's the first of many games this season. My guy is gonna be LaMelo ball. It's been such a long time since we've seen LaMelo out there on the floor. In fact, the last game that he played in the regular season was back on January twenty sixth, and that happened to be at home against Houston. So in that game he played twenty three minutes. He had fifteen points, six to sixteen shooting from the field two for nine beyond the yark. Not great, but obviously he was playing injured and ended up not finishing the game and we didn't see him the rest of the season. So hopefully it's a new and improved, healthy LaMelo. It's just great to see him out there on the floor. It was great to see him in the preseason. Looked like the old LaMelo that we know that was an All Star. A couple of seasons ago. He's going to be great this year, hopefully knock on what the injuries stay away this year. It's been a long two years for LaMelo and for this entire team quite frankly, but LaMelo Ball, healthy and fully ready to go is a complete difference maker, not just for this team, but for the entire NBA as well. I mean, he is an impact player, he's must see TV, former Rookie of the Year as well. You can name off all the accolades, but seeing him healthy out there on the floor makes a huge difference, not just for his individual statistics and what he's trying to chase legacy wise, but just makes the team that much better and it makes everything else unpredictable for the defense. So I think LaMelo Ball is kind of the low hanging fruit here once again. He's definitely going to be my hornet to watch here tonight.

Certainly not last, and hopefully it's the first of many games this season. My guy is gonna be LaMelo ball. It's been such a long time since we've seen LaMelo out there on the floor. In fact, the last game that he played in the regular season was back on January twenty sixth, and that happened to be at home against Houston. So in that game he played twenty three minutes. He had fifteen points, six to sixteen shooting from the field two for nine beyond the yark. Not great, but obviously he was playing injured and ended up not finishing the game and we didn't see him the rest of the season. So hopefully it's a new and improved, healthy LaMelo. It's just great to see him out there on the floor. It was great to see him in the preseason. Looked like the old LaMelo that we know that was an All Star. A couple of seasons ago. He's going to be great this year, hopefully knock on what the injuries stay away this year. It's been a long two years for LaMelo and for this entire team quite frankly, but LaMelo Ball, healthy and fully ready to go is a complete difference maker, not just for this team, but for the entire NBA as well. I mean, he is an impact player, he's must see TV, former Rookie of the Year as well. You can name off all the accolades, but seeing him healthy out there on the floor makes a huge difference, not just for his individual statistics and what he's trying to chase legacy wise, but just makes the team that much better and it makes everything else unpredictable for the defense. So I think LaMelo Ball is kind of the low hanging fruit here once again. He's definitely going to be my hornet to watch here tonight.

Well, he was actually not at the top of my list, but I still do love the pick because I'm with everyone else here in the Queen City, intrigued and in anticipation of seeing what LaMelo looks like now in a regular season NBA game. I think a lot of the league is sleeping on him, has forgotten just how impactful he can be. I'm looking forward to seeing him remind everyone across the association just what a talent he is and what he's capable of bringing here to the franchise. But that said, my pick for player to watch tonight is going to be Brandon Miller. He closed the preseason on such a high note, three straight games of twenty or more points and at least five made threes, all in super truncate advents.

Well, he was actually not at the top of my list, but I still do love the pick because I'm with everyone else here in the Queen City, intrigued and in anticipation of seeing what LaMelo looks like now in a regular season NBA game. I think a lot of the league is sleeping on him, has forgotten just how impactful he can be. I'm looking forward to seeing him remind everyone across the association just what a talent he is and what he's capable of bringing here to the franchise. But that said, my pick for player to watch tonight is going to be Brandon Miller. He closed the preseason on such a high note, three straight games of twenty or more points and at least five made threes, all in super truncate advents.

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Second half at all against Indiana, he still put up those kinds of numbers. This is a guy who in the back half of his rookie season was averaging twenty points a night and was an elite three point shooter throughout his rookie campaign, but his career high to this point in the game is seven made threes. I think he's gonna blow that out of the water, possibly in the first week. He looks spectacular. I can't wait to see what he does here in year two. I know most the league is talking about Victor webbin Yama and what he might be capable of in year two. I think if there was a Sophomore of the Year, Brandon Miller looks poised and ready to try and make a run for that fictitious award. But if it did exist, I wouldn't sleep on Brandon Miller going out and getting it because this is a very confident player who is playing excellent basketball and I just can't wait to see what he does here on Night one against Houston. Also, I think he's a bit of a matchup nightmare for the Rockets. They got a lot of pieces all over the board, they don't really have someone who matches up with a six ' eight shooter like Brandon Miller. This is going to be a fun matchup and one that he can really have an impact on. The season. Tips off here for the Charlotte Hornets as they'll take on the Houston Rockets. Of course, tomorrow we will have a game review podcast for you, Rob Blongo in the anchor chair, and we'll give you the PostScript on this one, hopefully a winning edition of the Hornets IIBE Cast. Thanks to Rob Blango for joining me for the game preview extra special. Thank you to Rich Nal and Gay Plockin for joining us in studio to tip off this new season with their kind of State of the Hornets franchise, a true pleasure and privilege to speak with them, and again we encourage you in the coming days to go to the Hornets YouTube page. You can see all of their reactions here. On this episode of the HHC for Roblongo, rich Naal, Gay Plockin and everyone. Here, I'm Sam Farbers saying it's been a pleasure and privilege having you along. We'll talk to you next time right here on the Hornets Iidecast.

Second half at all against Indiana, he still put up those kinds of numbers. This is a guy who in the back half of his rookie season was averaging twenty points a night and was an elite three point shooter throughout his rookie campaign, but his career high to this point in the game is seven made threes. I think he's gonna blow that out of the water, possibly in the first week. He looks spectacular. I can't wait to see what he does here in year two. I know most the league is talking about Victor webbin Yama and what he might be capable of in year two. I think if there was a Sophomore of the Year, Brandon Miller looks poised and ready to try and make a run for that fictitious award. But if it did exist, I wouldn't sleep on Brandon Miller going out and getting it because this is a very confident player who is playing excellent basketball and I just can't wait to see what he does here on Night one against Houston. Also, I think he's a bit of a matchup nightmare for the Rockets. They got a lot of pieces all over the board, they don't really have someone who matches up with a six ' eight shooter like Brandon Miller. This is going to be a fun matchup and one that he can really have an impact on. The season. Tips off here for the Charlotte Hornets as they'll take on the Houston Rockets. Of course, tomorrow we will have a game review podcast for you, Rob Blongo in the anchor chair, and we'll give you the PostScript on this one, hopefully a winning edition of the Hornets IIBE Cast. Thanks to Rob Blango for joining me for the game preview extra special. Thank you to Rich Nal and Gay Plockin for joining us in studio to tip off this new season with their kind of State of the Hornets franchise, a true pleasure and privilege to speak with them, and again we encourage you in the coming days to go to the Hornets YouTube page. You can see all of their reactions here. On this episode of the HHC for Roblongo, rich Naal, Gay Plockin and everyone. Here, I'm Sam Farbers saying it's been a pleasure and privilege having you along. We'll talk to you next time right here on the Hornets Iidecast.

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.