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

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

Hi, friends, and welcome to today's episode of the Hornet Podcast, the official podcast Love the Charlotte Hornets, brought to you by Santa Charlotte, I ear Nose and Throat Associates, the official I ear Nose and Throat Care provider of your Charlotte Hornets. Rob Longo with you on a Silver Linings episode of the HC. Charlotte Falls in Miami last night, one twenty two to one oh five now eighteen and fifty three on a season and with the loss officially eliminated from postseason contention, he win the season series three games, the one Miami, also snapping a ten game losing skid in the process. But we will break this game down for you to provide you with our silver linings, and a couple of the younger players had some pretty good performances in this game, so we're gonna touch on nose as well and helping me out with all these topics here on this episode of the Hornet iodcast the one and only lead writer at Hornets dot com, Sam Perl, and Sam thank you for joining me on this episode of the Hornets I've cast. This was a little bit of an odd one yesterday here for Charlotte. Hornets led this one by as many as twelve early on in the second quarter. Looked like Charlotte may have been able to run away with this one a little bit, but the Heat closed the second frame on a twenty eight to six run in the final eight minutes and fifty one seconds and Miami never looks back in this one, outscores the Hornets by eleven and the third quarter and everything else the rest of the way was marginal for the most part, and Charlotte squanders a chance here. But you got to give credit credits due a big night from Andrew Wiggins forty two points. That's a season high, the second most point total he's ever scored in his career. So just kind of a culmination of several things that happened here in the game for Charlotte yesterday.

Hi, friends, and welcome to today's episode of the Hornet Podcast, the official podcast Love the Charlotte Hornets, brought to you by Santa Charlotte, I ear Nose and Throat Associates, the official I ear Nose and Throat Care provider of your Charlotte Hornets. Rob Longo with you on a Silver Linings episode of the HC. Charlotte Falls in Miami last night, one twenty two to one oh five now eighteen and fifty three on a season and with the loss officially eliminated from postseason contention, he win the season series three games, the one Miami, also snapping a ten game losing skid in the process. But we will break this game down for you to provide you with our silver linings, and a couple of the younger players had some pretty good performances in this game, so we're gonna touch on nose as well and helping me out with all these topics here on this episode of the Hornet iodcast the one and only lead writer at Hornets dot com, Sam Perl, and Sam thank you for joining me on this episode of the Hornets I've cast. This was a little bit of an odd one yesterday here for Charlotte. Hornets led this one by as many as twelve early on in the second quarter. Looked like Charlotte may have been able to run away with this one a little bit, but the Heat closed the second frame on a twenty eight to six run in the final eight minutes and fifty one seconds and Miami never looks back in this one, outscores the Hornets by eleven and the third quarter and everything else the rest of the way was marginal for the most part, and Charlotte squanders a chance here. But you got to give credit credits due a big night from Andrew Wiggins forty two points. That's a season high, the second most point total he's ever scored in his career. So just kind of a culmination of several things that happened here in the game for Charlotte yesterday.

Yeah, great start for the Hornets, six point lead after the opening frame, got a lot of good shots. Turnovers were a little bit of an issue early on, and that little bit of a sign of things to come. But it felt a little bit like the Knicks game, at least to start out with. You felt like there was the right approach, the right intensity, the right awareness. It felt like the Heat were making some uncustomary mistakes, you know, fouling three point shooter at one point, some bad turnovers, little stuff like that. And it started right around with about nine minutes left in the second quarter, the Hornets just offensively went dry. I mean, they just could not buy a basket. I think they only hit one shot from the nine to twenty one mark of the fourth quarter on and it was uncontested. Mark Williams dunk so well. It wasn't even really like making a three pointer or something like that. They did hit a handful of free throws, but it was just such a big swing there and that that second quarter, you know, and Wiggins played really well, Tyler Harroll played really well. Not having Josh Green available for the Hornets, and they think factored in a little bit just you know, having that size and that presence out on the on the wing, you know, with your wing defense, it just puts a little bit more pressure and obligation on some of those other guys, But Wiggins and Hero were terrific in this one. You saw Wiggins two in the third quarter, kind of continued it on and that second quarter. At the end of that second quarter, or I should say it was most of the second quarter for the Hornets, I mean, they just went so dry offensively and gave the a lot of transition opportunities to the heat, whether it was live ball, rebounds, turnovers, and they just were never able to recover in the third quarter and it just kind of got away from them at that point.

Yeah, great start for the Hornets, six point lead after the opening frame, got a lot of good shots. Turnovers were a little bit of an issue early on, and that little bit of a sign of things to come. But it felt a little bit like the Knicks game, at least to start out with. You felt like there was the right approach, the right intensity, the right awareness. It felt like the Heat were making some uncustomary mistakes, you know, fouling three point shooter at one point, some bad turnovers, little stuff like that. And it started right around with about nine minutes left in the second quarter, the Hornets just offensively went dry. I mean, they just could not buy a basket. I think they only hit one shot from the nine to twenty one mark of the fourth quarter on and it was uncontested. Mark Williams dunk so well. It wasn't even really like making a three pointer or something like that. They did hit a handful of free throws, but it was just such a big swing there and that that second quarter, you know, and Wiggins played really well, Tyler Harroll played really well. Not having Josh Green available for the Hornets, and they think factored in a little bit just you know, having that size and that presence out on the on the wing, you know, with your wing defense, it just puts a little bit more pressure and obligation on some of those other guys, But Wiggins and Hero were terrific in this one. You saw Wiggins two in the third quarter, kind of continued it on and that second quarter. At the end of that second quarter, or I should say it was most of the second quarter for the Hornets, I mean, they just went so dry offensively and gave the a lot of transition opportunities to the heat, whether it was live ball, rebounds, turnovers, and they just were never able to recover in the third quarter and it just kind of got away from them at that point.

Yeah, taking a deeper look at this second quarter here, Miami outscored Charlotte thirty seven to twenty one. Let it fifty seven to forty seven at halftime. He shot sixty eight percent from the field, two for four from three, five for eight the free throw line in that quarter. The Hornets were thirty percent from the floor, two of eight from three and made all seven other free throws in that frame. But again, like you mentioned, it was basically Andrew Wiggins and Tyler Hero for the most part in this game. After the third quarter play, Andrew Wiggins had thirty two points, Tyler Hero had twenty five. Hero finishes with twenty nine, Wiggs finishes with forty two, and in that third quarter for Miami, Wiggins had fifteen points, Hero had twelve points, so that's twenty seven of the thirty nine that Miami had in that third frame. So again, just kind of a disappointing game in that sense where it felt like for the most part of this game that the Hornets were getting beat by two guys in Wiggins and Hero, and then the rest of the supporting cast later on came in and stepped up a little bit more when you look at some of the total numbers, as they ended up finishing with five players in double figures, and the Hornets had some pretty good contributions as well nixt to but Junior finished with a team high nineteen points. Mark Williams had fourteen points, Miles bridge Is seventeen points, thirteen rebounds, LaMelo Ball eighteen points, eleven assists despite going to to ten from three seth Curry had ten points as well coming off the bench. So again the Hornets got contributions up and down the lineup. They shot forty seven percent from the field, but again Miami just a little bit too easy in this one, and the Buckets seemed like they came a little too easy for the Heat, as Miami ends up shooting fifty seven percent from the field despite taking five fewer field goal attempts than Charlotte did in a one twenty two to one ZHO five loss.

Yeah, taking a deeper look at this second quarter here, Miami outscored Charlotte thirty seven to twenty one. Let it fifty seven to forty seven at halftime. He shot sixty eight percent from the field, two for four from three, five for eight the free throw line in that quarter. The Hornets were thirty percent from the floor, two of eight from three and made all seven other free throws in that frame. But again, like you mentioned, it was basically Andrew Wiggins and Tyler Hero for the most part in this game. After the third quarter play, Andrew Wiggins had thirty two points, Tyler Hero had twenty five. Hero finishes with twenty nine, Wiggs finishes with forty two, and in that third quarter for Miami, Wiggins had fifteen points, Hero had twelve points, so that's twenty seven of the thirty nine that Miami had in that third frame. So again, just kind of a disappointing game in that sense where it felt like for the most part of this game that the Hornets were getting beat by two guys in Wiggins and Hero, and then the rest of the supporting cast later on came in and stepped up a little bit more when you look at some of the total numbers, as they ended up finishing with five players in double figures, and the Hornets had some pretty good contributions as well nixt to but Junior finished with a team high nineteen points. Mark Williams had fourteen points, Miles bridge Is seventeen points, thirteen rebounds, LaMelo Ball eighteen points, eleven assists despite going to to ten from three seth Curry had ten points as well coming off the bench. So again the Hornets got contributions up and down the lineup. They shot forty seven percent from the field, but again Miami just a little bit too easy in this one, and the Buckets seemed like they came a little too easy for the Heat, as Miami ends up shooting fifty seven percent from the field despite taking five fewer field goal attempts than Charlotte did in a one twenty two to one ZHO five loss.

Yeah, I definitely agree it. Now you look at the offensive numbers and to finish at forty seven percent, I mean, you know, eleven to thirty three from three, those are certainly manageable numbers when you look at it, and you don't, you know, kind of watch the game in itself. But you know what got the Hornets a little bit too. I think the Heat did a very good job defensively on the mellow ball. Miles Bridges I don't think hit a basket until maybe midway through the th third quarter, back to back possessions, and you know, you look at the final box and it looks pretty balanced. But it just it doesn't really tell necessarily the whole whole story of kind of how this one played out. You know, LaMelo and Miles just you know, didn't have their best shooting nights. You know, turnovers were obviously an issue for the Hornets as a team. They finished with twenty for twenty one points. On the other way, Miami was very very active in the passing lanes and just put their activity as they as they usually were. And you know, there's something to be said for a team that is, you know, like Miami that you know, they don't go on ten game losing streaks very often. I think this was one loss away from being the longest since two thousand and eight, which I believe is the season where Dwayne Wade got hurt almost instantly into the season and they only finished with fifteen wins. So you know, it was a team that was certainly desperate for a victory. I'm sure that factored into It's a team that also lost to the Hornets two weeks ago, and you know, it's just it's one of those ones that you know, the Hornets they've at the point right now they've got to play as complete or as close to forty eight minutes of really solid, good basketball, and they had about an nine minute stretch in that second quarter where they most certainly did not, and then the third quarter was a little bit better, but just not enough to make up that ground. So I agree with you, it was kind of a weird game just in the sense if you look at the final numbers and it's you know, you're kind of looking at it and it doesn't really look like it'd be a point lost. But then you know, Miami, fifty seven percent from the field is obviously a big number, and they shot, you know, they were really effective at all three levels. They were eight of nine in the mid range, thirteen of twenty in the non restricted paint area, and then fourteen of twenty four at the rim. So they you know, were able to be efficient just about everywhere. Was a good thing for their offense.

Yeah, I definitely agree it. Now you look at the offensive numbers and to finish at forty seven percent, I mean, you know, eleven to thirty three from three, those are certainly manageable numbers when you look at it, and you don't, you know, kind of watch the game in itself. But you know what got the Hornets a little bit too. I think the Heat did a very good job defensively on the mellow ball. Miles Bridges I don't think hit a basket until maybe midway through the th third quarter, back to back possessions, and you know, you look at the final box and it looks pretty balanced. But it just it doesn't really tell necessarily the whole whole story of kind of how this one played out. You know, LaMelo and Miles just you know, didn't have their best shooting nights. You know, turnovers were obviously an issue for the Hornets as a team. They finished with twenty for twenty one points. On the other way, Miami was very very active in the passing lanes and just put their activity as they as they usually were. And you know, there's something to be said for a team that is, you know, like Miami that you know, they don't go on ten game losing streaks very often. I think this was one loss away from being the longest since two thousand and eight, which I believe is the season where Dwayne Wade got hurt almost instantly into the season and they only finished with fifteen wins. So you know, it was a team that was certainly desperate for a victory. I'm sure that factored into It's a team that also lost to the Hornets two weeks ago, and you know, it's just it's one of those ones that you know, the Hornets they've at the point right now they've got to play as complete or as close to forty eight minutes of really solid, good basketball, and they had about an nine minute stretch in that second quarter where they most certainly did not, and then the third quarter was a little bit better, but just not enough to make up that ground. So I agree with you, it was kind of a weird game just in the sense if you look at the final numbers and it's you know, you're kind of looking at it and it doesn't really look like it'd be a point lost. But then you know, Miami, fifty seven percent from the field is obviously a big number, and they shot, you know, they were really effective at all three levels. They were eight of nine in the mid range, thirteen of twenty in the non restricted paint area, and then fourteen of twenty four at the rim. So they you know, were able to be efficient just about everywhere. Was a good thing for their offense.

Hornet's end up falling last night in Miami one twenty two to one oh five, No. Eighteen and fifty three on the season, officially eliminated mathematically from postseason potential here moving forward. So we'll see how Charlotte's able to spawn here over the next couple of games, kind of putting off the inevitable base off of the record, but again officially official, Charlotte will be out of the postseason here this season. Hornet's fall one twenty two to one oh five, still some silver line to go through in this one last night. We'll pick those next here on the Hornet Pod cast, brought to you by Senta. It's a silver Linings episode of the HHC Charlotte Falls in Miami last night, one twenty two to one OHO five. Rob Longo and the lead writer of Hornets dot Com Sam Perley with you on this episode of the Hornets Toodcast. Sam. Some of the candidates here for our silver lining selections. There's a couple to go through. Seth Curry ten points off the bench, did go two for two from beyond the Ark. So the hunt for the potential to lead the league in three point percentage continues as he needs to get to eighty two makes here coming up by the end of the season. I believe he's in the seventies now off the top of my head, So I'm sure Sam Farber is keeping a tally somewhere and he will provide you with all of those numbers here, whether it's on the podcast, we're on the broadcast at some point. LaMelo Ball eighteen points, eleven assists for a double double. Miles Bridges a double double as well with seventeen points and thirteen rebounds, Mark Williams fourteen points, five boards in the contest, and Nick Smith Junior had a team high nineteen some of the candidates. Are you picking one of those? Are you going completely off the board?

Hornet's end up falling last night in Miami one twenty two to one oh five, No. Eighteen and fifty three on the season, officially eliminated mathematically from postseason potential here moving forward. So we'll see how Charlotte's able to spawn here over the next couple of games, kind of putting off the inevitable base off of the record, but again officially official, Charlotte will be out of the postseason here this season. Hornet's fall one twenty two to one oh five, still some silver line to go through in this one last night. We'll pick those next here on the Hornet Pod cast, brought to you by Senta. It's a silver Linings episode of the HHC Charlotte Falls in Miami last night, one twenty two to one OHO five. Rob Longo and the lead writer of Hornets dot Com Sam Perley with you on this episode of the Hornets Toodcast. Sam. Some of the candidates here for our silver lining selections. There's a couple to go through. Seth Curry ten points off the bench, did go two for two from beyond the Ark. So the hunt for the potential to lead the league in three point percentage continues as he needs to get to eighty two makes here coming up by the end of the season. I believe he's in the seventies now off the top of my head, So I'm sure Sam Farber is keeping a tally somewhere and he will provide you with all of those numbers here, whether it's on the podcast, we're on the broadcast at some point. LaMelo Ball eighteen points, eleven assists for a double double. Miles Bridges a double double as well with seventeen points and thirteen rebounds, Mark Williams fourteen points, five boards in the contest, and Nick Smith Junior had a team high nineteen some of the candidates. Are you picking one of those? Are you going completely off the board?

Yeah, I'm picking one of those. I'm gonna go with Nick Smith Junior. Like you said, nineteen point are efficient seven to fourteen, five of nine from three I've said, three rebounds, three assists, and a steal. I think he had nine points there in that first quarter. Was a big part of why the Hornets got off to such a good start in this one. And that's back to back, you know, pretty nice shooting games from three point range for Nick Smith. And you know, I know he was in the starting lineup for you know, quite a long time once Brandon Miller got hurt and they made a little bit of a switch, I think starting with the Cleveland game back on March seventh, and kind of taking him back off the bench. Obviously, has plenty of starting experience this year, and you know, played well so over his last two games now nine of eighteen from three point range. Obviously that's taking up just a little bit. He was about three of twelve in his previous three games coming off the six to seven game in San Antonio. So yeah, good performance from Nick Smith, and you know it was a big reason why they got off to this. This the start they did.

Yeah, I'm picking one of those. I'm gonna go with Nick Smith Junior. Like you said, nineteen point are efficient seven to fourteen, five of nine from three I've said, three rebounds, three assists, and a steal. I think he had nine points there in that first quarter. Was a big part of why the Hornets got off to such a good start in this one. And that's back to back, you know, pretty nice shooting games from three point range for Nick Smith. And you know, I know he was in the starting lineup for you know, quite a long time once Brandon Miller got hurt and they made a little bit of a switch, I think starting with the Cleveland game back on March seventh, and kind of taking him back off the bench. Obviously, has plenty of starting experience this year, and you know, played well so over his last two games now nine of eighteen from three point range. Obviously that's taking up just a little bit. He was about three of twelve in his previous three games coming off the six to seven game in San Antonio. So yeah, good performance from Nick Smith, and you know it was a big reason why they got off to this. This the start they did.

I screened for Mark Leias Junior dials it up from distance and another three Hornets course a time out out of Miami. It's a thirteen to oh run and the engine behind it is Nick Smith Junior.

I screened for Mark Leias Junior dials it up from distance and another three Hornets course a time out out of Miami. It's a thirteen to oh run and the engine behind it is Nick Smith Junior.

Really like to play if Nick Smith Junior thought it was a good bounce back game in a sense that he was back into the starting lineup because of Josh Green being held out with a shoulder injury, and he was able to respond in a big way. And I'm sure we'll hear more from Nix MTh Junior a little bit later on here in this podcast, so I don't want to dive too much into the weeds of him. But for me, in terms of my silver lining selection, it doesn't look great at first, but my silver lining selection is LaMelo Ball.

Really like to play if Nick Smith Junior thought it was a good bounce back game in a sense that he was back into the starting lineup because of Josh Green being held out with a shoulder injury, and he was able to respond in a big way. And I'm sure we'll hear more from Nix MTh Junior a little bit later on here in this podcast, so I don't want to dive too much into the weeds of him. But for me, in terms of my silver lining selection, it doesn't look great at first, but my silver lining selection is LaMelo Ball.

Famelo Ball twisting inside past the defender, up for the LA and it's good and the Hornets are blowing out the heat early. They're up a dozen with nine to twenty left in the second quarter. LaMelo Ball all ten of his points have come in the second timeout heat.

Famelo Ball twisting inside past the defender, up for the LA and it's good and the Hornets are blowing out the heat early. They're up a dozen with nine to twenty left in the second quarter. LaMelo Ball all ten of his points have come in the second timeout heat.

LaMelo Ball was incandescent in the first two minutes and forty seconds of the second quarter. He was held without a bucket in that first quarter. He goes oh for three from the floor, but he did have four assists in that first rain and the Hornets led at twenty six to twenty after the first quarter. So Lamello was making an impact in different ways early on, and then in that second quarter he just got hot in a hurry ten points right off of the rip there. The Hornets had their largest lead at the nine to twenty mark to make it a forty one to twenty nine advantage, and the subs came in, the rotations got switched up a little bit, LaMelo Ball came out of the game, and then all of a sudden, the heat go on that massive run that we talked about twenty eight to six in the final eight minutes and fifty one seconds. So I'm not saying that because LaMelo Ball came off the floor, Miami was able to make this massive run. But it seemed like with Lamello out there in the first ten to twelve thirteen minutes of game action, he was basically the difference maker. And it's just interesting on how maybe it's the coincidence I don't know, or maybe Lamello was just playing that good at defense. I'd have to go back and look at some of the defensive stats, but I thought that LaMelo was playing a really solid game. He was making impacts left and right differently in the contest. You could tell by the four assists he had there in that first quarter, and then he was able to rip off ten quick points in the second frame as well. He finished the first half with ten points and seven assists despite going one to five from beyond the ark. And again he only goes to to ten from three point land in the contest yesterday, but he's able to facilitate. He finishes with those eleven assists, like I talked about, was able to also go six to nineteen from the field in totals, so ends up being what four to nine from inside the three point line, made all four of his free throws, had a couple of rebounds two steals in there as well. I thought he played a pretty solid game all things considered, because again Miami's calling card is being a tough nosed, defensive minded team, and I know that's changed over the years with no Jimmy Butler now and no Kyle Lowry, which were always really two defensive stalwarts in there, but bam Autemaio is still around. Hilil Ware is a big body in there. Also, Davion Mitchell comes off the bench. He was always touted for his defensive pressure when he was coming out of Baylor as well. So again there's a lot of defensive pressure on the other side there for Miami to make things difficult, and I thought LaMelo was able to handle it pretty well all things considered.

LaMelo Ball was incandescent in the first two minutes and forty seconds of the second quarter. He was held without a bucket in that first quarter. He goes oh for three from the floor, but he did have four assists in that first rain and the Hornets led at twenty six to twenty after the first quarter. So Lamello was making an impact in different ways early on, and then in that second quarter he just got hot in a hurry ten points right off of the rip there. The Hornets had their largest lead at the nine to twenty mark to make it a forty one to twenty nine advantage, and the subs came in, the rotations got switched up a little bit, LaMelo Ball came out of the game, and then all of a sudden, the heat go on that massive run that we talked about twenty eight to six in the final eight minutes and fifty one seconds. So I'm not saying that because LaMelo Ball came off the floor, Miami was able to make this massive run. But it seemed like with Lamello out there in the first ten to twelve thirteen minutes of game action, he was basically the difference maker. And it's just interesting on how maybe it's the coincidence I don't know, or maybe Lamello was just playing that good at defense. I'd have to go back and look at some of the defensive stats, but I thought that LaMelo was playing a really solid game. He was making impacts left and right differently in the contest. You could tell by the four assists he had there in that first quarter, and then he was able to rip off ten quick points in the second frame as well. He finished the first half with ten points and seven assists despite going one to five from beyond the ark. And again he only goes to to ten from three point land in the contest yesterday, but he's able to facilitate. He finishes with those eleven assists, like I talked about, was able to also go six to nineteen from the field in totals, so ends up being what four to nine from inside the three point line, made all four of his free throws, had a couple of rebounds two steals in there as well. I thought he played a pretty solid game all things considered, because again Miami's calling card is being a tough nosed, defensive minded team, and I know that's changed over the years with no Jimmy Butler now and no Kyle Lowry, which were always really two defensive stalwarts in there, but bam Autemaio is still around. Hilil Ware is a big body in there. Also, Davion Mitchell comes off the bench. He was always touted for his defensive pressure when he was coming out of Baylor as well. So again there's a lot of defensive pressure on the other side there for Miami to make things difficult, and I thought LaMelo was able to handle it pretty well all things considered.

I don't totally disagree with you. I mean, again, you look at the numbers and you know it's not a super efficient shooting and you know, the turnovers obviously pretty high, and kind of goes back to what you said in the previous answer of just kind of being a little bit of a strange game, Like you said, didn't score in the first quarter, had ten quick there in the second quarter, and once the game kind of started to kind of get away from the Hornets there and the third for good. I mean, they're trying to score. You got to start scoring points a little quicker, get some more shots up, playing with a little bit more tempo, try and get you know, that was one of the things I thought the Hornets did very good to start this game. Is they really controlled the tempo of the game, and then when you know they they just weren't able to score for the longest time. Miami wrestled control away, wrestled the lead away, and they're kind of again playing at the pace they wanted to play at. So kind of an again interesting game. But I thought, I agree with you, like the mellow did some good stuff, and you know you're not going to have the you know, the most efficient shooting night going six of nineteen. The eleven assists obviously looks good, and you've seen some a lot of growth in that area in particular in recent games or even this season as a whole too, you know, finding ways to contribute when the SHOT's not falling. Not the most efficient game, but it'll have eight, nine, ten assists or something like that, or a bunch of rebounds and things. So yeah, I thought it was overall solid. And again third quarter, fourth quarter, and the game starts to kind of get away from you. The play and everything. It just it changes a little bit. But you know, overall a solid performance for sure.

I don't totally disagree with you. I mean, again, you look at the numbers and you know it's not a super efficient shooting and you know, the turnovers obviously pretty high, and kind of goes back to what you said in the previous answer of just kind of being a little bit of a strange game, Like you said, didn't score in the first quarter, had ten quick there in the second quarter, and once the game kind of started to kind of get away from the Hornets there and the third for good. I mean, they're trying to score. You got to start scoring points a little quicker, get some more shots up, playing with a little bit more tempo, try and get you know, that was one of the things I thought the Hornets did very good to start this game. Is they really controlled the tempo of the game, and then when you know they they just weren't able to score for the longest time. Miami wrestled control away, wrestled the lead away, and they're kind of again playing at the pace they wanted to play at. So kind of an again interesting game. But I thought, I agree with you, like the mellow did some good stuff, and you know you're not going to have the you know, the most efficient shooting night going six of nineteen. The eleven assists obviously looks good, and you've seen some a lot of growth in that area in particular in recent games or even this season as a whole too, you know, finding ways to contribute when the SHOT's not falling. Not the most efficient game, but it'll have eight, nine, ten assists or something like that, or a bunch of rebounds and things. So yeah, I thought it was overall solid. And again third quarter, fourth quarter, and the game starts to kind of get away from you. The play and everything. It just it changes a little bit. But you know, overall a solid performance for sure.

Hornets drop one in Miami yesterday one twenty two to one oh five, will come home for one of the final five home games on the schedule, taking on the Orlando Magic tomorrow. We will preview the Hornets and Magic matchup on tomorrow's episode of the Hornet Podcast seven o'clock tip at Spectrum Center. By the way, get your tickets at Hornets dot com for that just a quick one off homestand before the Hornets hit the road for a couple of more games, so see your Hornets while you can get your tickets at Hornets dot com for tomorrow's game. But still one more segment to go here on this episode of the Hornetsove Cast, we're going to discuss some of the play recently of the younger guys here on this roster. I comes your way right after this here on a Hornets pod cast brought to you by Senta, rob Log and Sam Purley, the lead writer of Hornets dot Com. Putting a button on this episode of the AHHC. As we take a look at some of the final tallies from yesterday's game, a couple of interesting storylines to follow along in this one. T Jon Salon is one of them. Tjon back into the fold after dealing with sometime in Greensboro, where unfortunately he didn't play because of an ankle injury, but was able to at least get some practice time in there as well. He returned back into the fold, ended up playing twenty four minutes and thirty two seconds, and yesterday's contest ended up being the only player a positive and a plus minus out there on the floor for Charlotte, he was a plus two and a plus minus. Musa Diabate wasn't even in their plus minus. He played about five minutes and sixteen seconds. But one of the players that we wanted to touch on here, kJ Simpson, had a little bit of a rough go of it, but did some good things there early on in a contest as well. And then Nickson Junior in a starting role with a team high nineteen points out there on the floor off of seven or fourteen shooting in a five to nine clip from beyond the arc. So just wanted to touch on some of these younger guys here over the course of the last couple of game games, last couple of weeks, and how there's a little bit of a common thread between all of them. But before we move along any further on that aspect, wanted to touch on Knicks MC junior and what he's been able to accomplish here over the last couple of games. And after the game yesterday, Knicks mc junior was asked what has contributed to that, and he said, it's mostly his work ethic.

Hornets drop one in Miami yesterday one twenty two to one oh five, will come home for one of the final five home games on the schedule, taking on the Orlando Magic tomorrow. We will preview the Hornets and Magic matchup on tomorrow's episode of the Hornet Podcast seven o'clock tip at Spectrum Center. By the way, get your tickets at Hornets dot com for that just a quick one off homestand before the Hornets hit the road for a couple of more games, so see your Hornets while you can get your tickets at Hornets dot com for tomorrow's game. But still one more segment to go here on this episode of the Hornetsove Cast, we're going to discuss some of the play recently of the younger guys here on this roster. I comes your way right after this here on a Hornets pod cast brought to you by Senta, rob Log and Sam Purley, the lead writer of Hornets dot Com. Putting a button on this episode of the AHHC. As we take a look at some of the final tallies from yesterday's game, a couple of interesting storylines to follow along in this one. T Jon Salon is one of them. Tjon back into the fold after dealing with sometime in Greensboro, where unfortunately he didn't play because of an ankle injury, but was able to at least get some practice time in there as well. He returned back into the fold, ended up playing twenty four minutes and thirty two seconds, and yesterday's contest ended up being the only player a positive and a plus minus out there on the floor for Charlotte, he was a plus two and a plus minus. Musa Diabate wasn't even in their plus minus. He played about five minutes and sixteen seconds. But one of the players that we wanted to touch on here, kJ Simpson, had a little bit of a rough go of it, but did some good things there early on in a contest as well. And then Nickson Junior in a starting role with a team high nineteen points out there on the floor off of seven or fourteen shooting in a five to nine clip from beyond the arc. So just wanted to touch on some of these younger guys here over the course of the last couple of game games, last couple of weeks, and how there's a little bit of a common thread between all of them. But before we move along any further on that aspect, wanted to touch on Knicks MC junior and what he's been able to accomplish here over the last couple of games. And after the game yesterday, Knicks mc junior was asked what has contributed to that, and he said, it's mostly his work ethic.

You know, I've put a lot of work in my game, so I expect the high expectations on myself as far as you know other people. But you know, I got good high expectations for myself and I put the work in, so you know, I'm going I'm gonna get better naturally. And I'm still I'm still young. I stick, I like to learn, but I'm gonna be good in this league for sure.

You know, I've put a lot of work in my game, so I expect the high expectations on myself as far as you know other people. But you know, I got good high expectations for myself and I put the work in, so you know, I'm going I'm gonna get better naturally. And I'm still I'm still young. I stick, I like to learn, but I'm gonna be good in this league for sure.

I love the confidence of Nick. I don't think there's many young players in their second season out there saying, yeah, I'm gonna be really good in the NBA, because it's just such a hard league to break into, in a hard league to establish yourself in, especially when you're a first round pick and you don't start right away and you don't gather all that seasoning right off the bat here. But I think that's something that I noticed here, and there's a little bit of a trend over the course of I guess you can say this entire season now maybe season and a half depending on some of these players. Sam, but it seems like everybody is kind of developing at their own pace, and nothing seems rushed, and everything seems like the development and the plan of this development is really starting to work. Great example of that, of course, has most to Dabata. I know he didn't play a lot yesterday in a game, but throughout the progress, comes into training camp, gets a two way contract, works his way up to a full time deal. Now he's part of the main roster. kJ Sipson had some pretty good games down in the G League in Greensboro. Was able to work his way back up top here to the NBA level and again have to be a little bit careful because of the number of games remaining on his two way deal, but still able to get a lot of valuable playing time. Nick Smith Junior spent a lot of time here in Greensboro this season. Beginning of the year, Nick, if we're being honest, looked a little lost out there a couple times, didn't have the shooting stroke down, wasn't being able to score at a highly efficient clip. He goes down to Greensboro, works on a couple of things they don't move the three point arc between the G League and the NBA, and he goes out there and is able to have a lot of really good contests and all of a sudden backup top at the NBA level, he's putting up double digit contest night in a night out on highly efficient scoring clips as well. So just a couple of guys to touch on here at t John Salon, I think, is another guy that has been able to be a benefactor of a lot of development in Greensboro. It just seems like, again whatever path these guys were on, whether they were at the beginning stage of being developed or they were trying to work on a couple of smaller things here there, it just seems like everything's kind of starting the round and form. And I thought all of those guys had a couple of flashes in that game.

I love the confidence of Nick. I don't think there's many young players in their second season out there saying, yeah, I'm gonna be really good in the NBA, because it's just such a hard league to break into, in a hard league to establish yourself in, especially when you're a first round pick and you don't start right away and you don't gather all that seasoning right off the bat here. But I think that's something that I noticed here, and there's a little bit of a trend over the course of I guess you can say this entire season now maybe season and a half depending on some of these players. Sam, but it seems like everybody is kind of developing at their own pace, and nothing seems rushed, and everything seems like the development and the plan of this development is really starting to work. Great example of that, of course, has most to Dabata. I know he didn't play a lot yesterday in a game, but throughout the progress, comes into training camp, gets a two way contract, works his way up to a full time deal. Now he's part of the main roster. kJ Sipson had some pretty good games down in the G League in Greensboro. Was able to work his way back up top here to the NBA level and again have to be a little bit careful because of the number of games remaining on his two way deal, but still able to get a lot of valuable playing time. Nick Smith Junior spent a lot of time here in Greensboro this season. Beginning of the year, Nick, if we're being honest, looked a little lost out there a couple times, didn't have the shooting stroke down, wasn't being able to score at a highly efficient clip. He goes down to Greensboro, works on a couple of things they don't move the three point arc between the G League and the NBA, and he goes out there and is able to have a lot of really good contests and all of a sudden backup top at the NBA level, he's putting up double digit contest night in a night out on highly efficient scoring clips as well. So just a couple of guys to touch on here at t John Salon, I think, is another guy that has been able to be a benefactor of a lot of development in Greensboro. It just seems like, again whatever path these guys were on, whether they were at the beginning stage of being developed or they were trying to work on a couple of smaller things here there, it just seems like everything's kind of starting the round and form. And I thought all of those guys had a couple of flashes in that game.

Yesterday, starting with Nick. I definitely agree, And you know, we touched on it on the previous answer. But the thing you said that really kind of sets out the most, or stands out the most for me, is it just doesn't look like things are as sped up for him this year compared to last year. You know, we go back to his college college season, you played a lot more off the ball, you only played eleven games because of a knee injury, and then last season because of injuries, you know, was was thrust into probably a much larger role at times than maybe the team had initially envisioned for him coming into the season. I think a very similar situations happened to t John Salon this year. And then you see these guys and you see, you know, getting thrown right into the fire right away, and it's not the easiest thing in the world. You know. It's obviously getting those reps at the NBA level is going to be a little bit different than getting them at the G League level, just in terms of competition and stuff. But you might see the growing pains a little bit more at the NBA level than you do down in Greensboro. That's just something that's naturally going to happen, and you know, sometimes the best you know, there's no other option but to do the trial by fire just because you don't have bodies available because of injuries. So again back to Nick, I think the game looks like he's slowed down more, He's creating more off the dribble, He's not just a catch and shoot guy in the corners anymore like he was last year. He's developed a little bit more to his offensive game, got a nice little mid range game. He does a good job creating space shooting from the elbow. You certainly see some of the flashes of once the team can get healthy and get a little bit more around him, I think his offense is really really going to take off, you know more. I think it's still obviously going to be a challenge when he's out there as kind of the lead, you know, primary initiator, just because of where the Hornets are in terms of injuries and everything like that. But and again it same with Tijhon. I think he's had He had a good little stretch four game stretch from March third to March eighth, average eight points, four and a half rebounds to assists, in half a steal, and shot seven to thirteen from three point range, and fifty seven percent overall. So again, very small sample size. I know he didn't take a ton of shots in this particular stretch, only eighteen. But I noticed in the game last nighting in Miami looks a little bit more comfortable creating off the dribble and driving. You know, he's still getting stripped in the lane and kind of dribbling into traffic a little bit too much, I think, knowing when to pass or take the shot or Miami's a tough team to kind of have to do that against because you know they're so good with their hands. But you see the progress. Again. We want these guys, with these rookies to come in right away and score thirty points a game and be All Stars. And those are just those are the exces. Those are not regular situations that you know, guys come in and completely take the league by storm. There is a process to this, and sometimes it takes a little bit and it's it's not linear. Certainly could take it a couple of years or two. But I like the progress we've seen from Nick, seen from Tijon and then kJ as well. I've been really impressed with his defense and competitive drive this year. One of the things about him in the draft, I'm sure was just the size and being you know, how is that going to hold up defensively on the NBA level. But he really competes on defense. I mean he's not just an offensive shot taker kind of player. I mean he gets up on guys. He's competing on that side, and you know the offense too. He's hat some a lot of big efficient games at the G League level this season, thirty points, six seven, eight, three pointer kind of games. So I'm excited for his future too, and excited to see I know he hasn't played a ton of rotation minutes for the Hornets lately because he has been in Greensboro, but I'm excited to see where he can kind of finish this season over these final three or four weeks.

Yesterday, starting with Nick. I definitely agree, And you know, we touched on it on the previous answer. But the thing you said that really kind of sets out the most, or stands out the most for me, is it just doesn't look like things are as sped up for him this year compared to last year. You know, we go back to his college college season, you played a lot more off the ball, you only played eleven games because of a knee injury, and then last season because of injuries, you know, was was thrust into probably a much larger role at times than maybe the team had initially envisioned for him coming into the season. I think a very similar situations happened to t John Salon this year. And then you see these guys and you see, you know, getting thrown right into the fire right away, and it's not the easiest thing in the world. You know. It's obviously getting those reps at the NBA level is going to be a little bit different than getting them at the G League level, just in terms of competition and stuff. But you might see the growing pains a little bit more at the NBA level than you do down in Greensboro. That's just something that's naturally going to happen, and you know, sometimes the best you know, there's no other option but to do the trial by fire just because you don't have bodies available because of injuries. So again back to Nick, I think the game looks like he's slowed down more, He's creating more off the dribble, He's not just a catch and shoot guy in the corners anymore like he was last year. He's developed a little bit more to his offensive game, got a nice little mid range game. He does a good job creating space shooting from the elbow. You certainly see some of the flashes of once the team can get healthy and get a little bit more around him, I think his offense is really really going to take off, you know more. I think it's still obviously going to be a challenge when he's out there as kind of the lead, you know, primary initiator, just because of where the Hornets are in terms of injuries and everything like that. But and again it same with Tijhon. I think he's had He had a good little stretch four game stretch from March third to March eighth, average eight points, four and a half rebounds to assists, in half a steal, and shot seven to thirteen from three point range, and fifty seven percent overall. So again, very small sample size. I know he didn't take a ton of shots in this particular stretch, only eighteen. But I noticed in the game last nighting in Miami looks a little bit more comfortable creating off the dribble and driving. You know, he's still getting stripped in the lane and kind of dribbling into traffic a little bit too much, I think, knowing when to pass or take the shot or Miami's a tough team to kind of have to do that against because you know they're so good with their hands. But you see the progress. Again. We want these guys, with these rookies to come in right away and score thirty points a game and be All Stars. And those are just those are the exces. Those are not regular situations that you know, guys come in and completely take the league by storm. There is a process to this, and sometimes it takes a little bit and it's it's not linear. Certainly could take it a couple of years or two. But I like the progress we've seen from Nick, seen from Tijon and then kJ as well. I've been really impressed with his defense and competitive drive this year. One of the things about him in the draft, I'm sure was just the size and being you know, how is that going to hold up defensively on the NBA level. But he really competes on defense. I mean he's not just an offensive shot taker kind of player. I mean he gets up on guys. He's competing on that side, and you know the offense too. He's hat some a lot of big efficient games at the G League level this season, thirty points, six seven, eight, three pointer kind of games. So I'm excited for his future too, and excited to see I know he hasn't played a ton of rotation minutes for the Hornets lately because he has been in Greensboro, but I'm excited to see where he can kind of finish this season over these final three or four weeks.

Speaking of finishing up the season, the Hornets are now eighteen and fifty three. The cake is baked. The Hornets are officially eliminated from postseason contention. So seventy one games down, you're looking at eleven games left here, Sam, what is the ceiling? What do you want to see out of these young guys out of the last eleven games.

Speaking of finishing up the season, the Hornets are now eighteen and fifty three. The cake is baked. The Hornets are officially eliminated from postseason contention. So seventy one games down, you're looking at eleven games left here, Sam, what is the ceiling? What do you want to see out of these young guys out of the last eleven games.

I think it's you know, it's not just the young guys, it's the whole team. I think you want to see the right approach coming into games, starting games right, starting the games like you did against New York, even starting the game like you did against Miami, even though there's technically nothing to play for from a playoff or postseason chance. You still need to approach these games like there is you know, play spoiler or somebody. You have to continue to play with that competitive energy, competitive spirit, put yourself in good situations because you know, if that's sports, that's what you do. So I think that's what I want to see. I just want to see competitive, But I you know, you never want to be one of these teams. It kind of is is kind of going through the motions down this stretch of the season and coming out losing my thirty forty fifty points or something like that. You want to continue to see progress, especially from the young guys. You want to be able to see Okay, you see the play at the end of the season, Okay, I can see where they've made steps compared to back in early October and early November. So I think you just want to say progress and you know, have a handful of games or performances you can kind of work with to go into the offseason with some momentum and continue to compete every single night. I don't want to say it's not over till it's over, because obviously, you know, the Hornets postseason chances are over at this point, at least officially, but you still got to finish the season strong. It's important and it's it's important to take advantage of the rest of the way, even if it's again with nothing technically at stake.

I think it's you know, it's not just the young guys, it's the whole team. I think you want to see the right approach coming into games, starting games right, starting the games like you did against New York, even starting the game like you did against Miami, even though there's technically nothing to play for from a playoff or postseason chance. You still need to approach these games like there is you know, play spoiler or somebody. You have to continue to play with that competitive energy, competitive spirit, put yourself in good situations because you know, if that's sports, that's what you do. So I think that's what I want to see. I just want to see competitive, But I you know, you never want to be one of these teams. It kind of is is kind of going through the motions down this stretch of the season and coming out losing my thirty forty fifty points or something like that. You want to continue to see progress, especially from the young guys. You want to be able to see Okay, you see the play at the end of the season, Okay, I can see where they've made steps compared to back in early October and early November. So I think you just want to say progress and you know, have a handful of games or performances you can kind of work with to go into the offseason with some momentum and continue to compete every single night. I don't want to say it's not over till it's over, because obviously, you know, the Hornets postseason chances are over at this point, at least officially, but you still got to finish the season strong. It's important and it's it's important to take advantage of the rest of the way, even if it's again with nothing technically at stake.

Hornets have an opportunity to play spoiler tomorrow against the Orlando Magic or Orlando kind of fighting for its play in tournament lives will most likely make the play in tournament, but trying to figure out the seating there. So the Hornets have an opportunity to respond well and see what they can do against a very good Magic team that's been up and down as of late, but a little bit more down than up, so it'll be an interesting one tomorrow at the High Be sure to get your tickets at Hornets dot com or through the Hornets apt for that one. Sam Farbar and Terrence Oglesby of Hornets on FanDuel Sports Network will provide you with the pregame podcast for that one. But today on this episode of the AGHC with me the one and only lead writer of Hornets dot Sam Pearli. Sam, thank you, as always, thank you for having me, and thanks to all of you for tuning in as well. For Sam Perli, I'm Rob Longo saying so long, Thank you so much for joining us on this episode of the Hornet Podcast. We will talk to you tomorrow to preview Hornets and Magic once again here on EHHC.

Hornets have an opportunity to play spoiler tomorrow against the Orlando Magic or Orlando kind of fighting for its play in tournament lives will most likely make the play in tournament, but trying to figure out the seating there. So the Hornets have an opportunity to respond well and see what they can do against a very good Magic team that's been up and down as of late, but a little bit more down than up, so it'll be an interesting one tomorrow at the High Be sure to get your tickets at Hornets dot com or through the Hornets apt for that one. Sam Farbar and Terrence Oglesby of Hornets on FanDuel Sports Network will provide you with the pregame podcast for that one. But today on this episode of the AGHC with me the one and only lead writer of Hornets dot Sam Pearli. Sam, thank you, as always, thank you for having me, and thanks to all of you for tuning in as well. For Sam Perli, I'm Rob Longo saying so long, Thank you so much for joining us on this episode of the Hornet Podcast. We will talk to you tomorrow to preview Hornets and Magic once again here on EHHC.

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