The backup point guard situation for the Charlotte Hornets is set to change for the rest of the of the season with Briante Weber taking over for Brian Roberts.
After Steve Clifford choice to use Briante Weber instead of Brian Roberts in the Charlotte Hornets‘ recent game against the Chicago Bulls, looks to be a permanent change in the rotation from here on out. With only about a month left in the season and the team’s playoff hopes almost gone, Coach Clifford will look to give Weber an extended look. The young point guard will now man the backup point guard role behind Kemba Walker.
Even though he is still on his second 10-day contract, it seems as though the Hornets will sign Briante for the remainder of the season once that deal expires. The sentiment that Weber will close out the year as the backup came straight from Clifford himself. (Justin Thomas) In limited minutes, Weber has given Charlotte a bit of a scoring boost off of the bench and his tenacious defense brings some energy that the second unit previously lacked.
The 24-year old only played five minutes in the game against the Bulls but he came in during the third quarter instead of B-Rob. Fans had been calling for Weber to get some playing time but Clifford had chosen to ride with the veteran. Roberts’ struggles coupled with Ramon Sessions injury opened up the backup spot that Briante will now man in the rotation.
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With Sessions out, for what looks to be the rest of the season, it made the choice to choose Weber easier for the Hornets’ head coach. It may be the right decision as well because Briante has made the most of the opportunity so far. In his first full game as Kemba’s backup, the former VCU point guard scored eight points on 4-7 shooting, grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists in 20 minutes of action against the Indiana Pacers.
It might not seem like much but his performance was both promising and encouraging. Going forward, he will likely receive around 10-15 minutes per game. It is up to Briante to make the most of his shot with Charlotte as he could earn himself a spot on the team next season if he plays well enough to impress the coaching staff and the front office.
Weber not only provides a fresh look for the team but also gives them a scoring point guard with potential. The biggest thing that Briante has going for him is the mystery surrounding him. While he was ranked as the #1 overall prospect in the D-League earlier this season, he is still unproven at the NBA level.
Here’s a look at some of his highlights against the Pacers:
Fans seem to like Briante and with the added playing time a trust, Steve Clifford seems to be coming around to Weber as well. And to be honest, the Hornets have lacked fight in their style for most of the season but the new backup point guard gives them more of that when he’s on the court. He is fighting for not only minutes but for a roster spot in the NBA.
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A strong end to the season should bode well for Weber’s future with the team. It’s intriguing to watch a new player and a prospect play for Charlotte because they have lacked some of that youth recently. Briante’s got the skill, now let’s see if he can put it all together with this opportunity.