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Hornets Fall Hard Against Timberwolves Amid Frustrations and Fouls
📉 The Bottom Line
The Hornets struggled without their key centers, Nick Richards and Mark Williams, putting veteran Taj Gibson in the starting lineup. While Gibson’s presence was helpful early, the lack of a dominant rim protector allowed Minnesota to control the paint, with Nas Reid and Anthony Edwards making big plays.
LaMelo Ball’s foul trouble compounded the Hornets’ problems. His two costly fouls late in the third quarter seemed to deflate any momentum the Hornets tried to build. Meanwhile, Coach Charles Lee’s visible frustration with LaMelo’s mistakes raises questions about their dynamic and how the young point guard will respond to more public critiques from his head coach.
🎯 Key Takeaways
• LaMelo’s Fouls and Frustrations: LaMelo ended with three fouls, but the timing and impact of those fouls were critical. The third-quarter mishaps, including an unnecessary transition take foul, led to a benching by Lee, whose frustration with Ball was plain to see. Charles Lee addressed LaMelo’s defense and decision-making post-game, noting that he’s working on “reaching” his player with patience and high expectations.
• Lack of Depth Hurts Hornets: The Hornets went into this game with a thin frontcourt, relying on Gibson and Tidjane Salaun to hold the middle. This proved problematic against Minnesota’s size, as Reid dropped 25 points off the bench and Edwards capitalized on the Hornets’ defensive gaps. Without reliable big men, Charlotte struggled to keep the Wolves out of the paint and off the 3 point line, getting outmatched in size and physicality.
• Offensive Struggles Continue: With Brandon Miller’s return, the Hornets still couldn’t find their rhythm, particularly from three. Despite Lee’s emphasis on “higher quality threes,” Charlotte was taking hurried shots that led to a pathetic offensive performance. The ball movement was choppy, and playmaking dropped off significantly when LaMelo played with the bench and when he went to the bench.
đź—Ł My Take
This game exposed some critical issues the Hornets need to address, including decision-making under pressure and defensive lapses. LaMelo’s foul trouble is becoming a trend, and if he wants to keep his team competitive, he has to be more mindful of how he impacts the flow of the game. Charles Lee’s approach may be getting the message across, but time will tell if LaMelo responds positively to the tough love.
There’s still a silver lining—this loss wraps up a particularly tough stretch against playoff-level competition. With games against Detroit and Indiana coming up, the Hornets have a chance to rebound and prove they can be more disciplined and efficient, especially in their shot selection.
👀 What’s Next?
The Hornets return home to face the Pistons, a matchup that feels like a must-win after last night’s performance. Can they adjust their defensive approach and make the most of Miller’s skill set alongside LaMelo? If they don’t find a way to rally and fix these issues, the season could take an early downturn.
Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.
Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.
This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.
Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Rumor Gilbert Arenas suggests LaMelo Ball could fit well with the Los Angeles Clippers, sparking trade speculations. (Sports Illustrated)
Analysis Charlotte Hornets face their third consecutive defeat, with key takeaways highlighting defensive struggles. (Sports Illustrated)
Feel Good The Pistons had to take the subway to their game in Brooklyn because of the NYC marathon (ESPN)
Analysis Will the NBA pinpoint its 3 point problem? (TSA, Substack)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Hornets podcasts.
LaMelo Ball & Charles Lee Clash in Latest Frustrating Charlotte Hornets Defeat Can the Hornets regroup after a blowout against the Timberwolves? The Charlotte Hornets faced their toughest loss of the season with a 114-93 blowout by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Once again LaMelo Ball’s fouls and turnovers were a story, leading to a VERY interesting public display of correction from Charles Lee and his star player. We explore how the absence of big men hurt Charlotte’s ability to handle Minnesota’s size and why the Hornets’ three-point attempts missed the mark. Is there hope for the Hornets to bounce back?
Can LaMelo Ball Solve Foul Trouble & Carry the Charlotte Hornets? Plus Bridges’ Shooting Woes LaMelo Ball is lighting up the scoreboard, but foul trouble is keeping him off the floor when the Hornets need him most.
Charlotte Hornets Bench Dominates with 72 Points, LaMelo Ball’s Heat Check & Defensive Concerns With 72 points off the bench, the Charlotte Hornets explode on offense and survive a rocky defensive night. Can they carry this firepower into tougher matchups?
