Charlotte Hornets; Takeaways From Second Preseason Game

Even though the Charlotte Hornets lost to the Boston Celtics in their second preseason game, there were a few positives in the match.

The Charlotte Hornets fell to the Boston Celtics, 107-92, in their second preseason game this year. They have not lost both of their exhibition matches and while people may look at the negatives, there were a few positives. It is a bit disappointing that the team is struggling but it still is only the preseason so it should only be taken with a grain of salt.

The tough loss came at home for Charlotte as they played in the Greensboro Coliseum for the first time. They will get a chance to avenge their loss to Boston as the two sides will face off again in their next match this preseason. These will be interesting match-ups as the Hornets and Celtics will play four times during the regular season.

While some may not pay close attention to the preseason, there are a lot of important things going on for the team. The Hornets have plenty of position battles going on and many players are fighting for roster spots. Here are my takeaways from the team’s second preseason game:

Positives:

Jeremy Lamb Was Impressive

Jeremy Lamb was Charlotte’s best player last night, plain and simple. He led them in scoring with 16 points (7/11 FG) and in rebounds with 10. Not only that but he recorded four assists which was second best for the Hornets. He may have been in Steve Clifford’s dog house last season but if he continues to play this well then he could be carving out the sixth man role for himself.

Kemba Walker‘s Return

Kemba Walker made his return to the Hornets’ lineup after recovering from offseason knee surgery. He only played in nine minutes but he recorded four points, two rebounds, and three assists. It’s good to see him back out on the court but coach Clifford and company will be cautious in his return.

Frank Kaminsky Continues to Play Well

After scoring 13 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the team’s first preseason game, Frank continued his great play by scoring ten points and adding six rebounds to his name. He had an above average rookie season but Kaminsky looks improved during the first two exhibition games. His play is a positive sign for the Hornets heading into the regulars season.

Negatives:

Horrible Third Quarter

Charlotte had one of the worst third quarter that you will ever see. They played absolutely horrible and were outscored 40-19 in the period. The Celtics also went on a 29-4 run in the quarter and eventually won the game because of the Hornets’ poor play in the third. This was definitely a quarter to forget and hopefully there are no repeat performances going forward.

MKG and Nic Batum Struggle to Find Their Shot

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has been improving his shot but struggled in this one as he only shot 3-10 (30%) from the field and 0-2 from the three-point line. After signing a five-year, $120 million deal this summer, Nicolas Batum struggled to find his shot in this one. He shot only 3-11 (27.3%) from the field and 2-6 (33.3%) from deep.

Roy Hibbert Wasn’t as Good as His First Game

Roy Hibbert was impressive during this first preseason game with Charlotte as he scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds but he was less effective against Boston. He finished the game with only two points and five rebounds on 1-4 shooting from the field. The interior defender has also not recorded a blocked shot throughout the first two games.

Next: Patrick Ewing Can Bring Out the Best in Roy Hibbert

After two preseason games, the Charlotte Hornets are 0-2 but they still have five more exhibition games ahead of them. They will want to get a win for their confidence and improve their play going forward. Of course, it isn’t time to panic just yet because it’s only preseason but it would be nice to see the team play better.

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Charlotte Hornets: Takeaways From Second Preseason Game

By Jerry Stephens | Oct 7, 2016