Charlotte Hornets 🐝

They’ve actually got a few. In fact, Bridges got a T in this very game for punching Bane. Some people think Bridges goes overboard at enforcing at times. Also, Diabate went head to head with Duren earlier in the season. He definitely wasn’t intimidated or backing down from Duren. Plus, they added Grant Williams specifically to help with this enforcer role.

But I agree, in this particular game they looked soft. I “think” rather than soft, I believe they were just undersized. Diabate is a skinny 6’10" center, Bridges is a short 6’7" PF. Banchero is a beast. He’s a handful for anybody in the league. Orlando probably has the biggest frontline in the league at 6’10", 6’10" and 6’10".

Having said all of that, I’m not sure what the answer is going forward. I believe both Kalkbrenner and Diabate need to put on weight/muscle. Brandon Miller needs to be more assertive. AND the biggest question is what to do with Ball. He’s still immature and I’m just not sure he’s who you want leading your team. But you have to get something really good in return. You can’t just let him go for nothing.

The Orlando game was more of a football game than basketball. A lot of Hand Checking and shoving that should have been fouls. If we were hitting those open 3’s it would have changed the Style of play from Orlando.

This…..I’m amazed there has not more discussion of how Orlando seemed to be allowed to bump, grab, hold, push-off, etc. without calls 90% of the time while CLT was called 5 times in the 1Q for very soft “illegal offensive screens”. Even Lee mentioned this in the post-game……..They did it to a lesser degree against Detroit, I assume because that is the Pistons style as well.

https://x.com/i/status/2046686378746945983

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Something of a consolation prize with KK getting screwed out of ROY.

https://x.com/NBA/status/2049897231591862345

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https://x.com/SBJ/status/2051440539896090762

https://x.com/i/status/2053557454235910578

https://x.com/i/status/2053557843748409610