Charlotte Hornets: Miles Bridges should be a starter

With the lack of production from the forward spot from the starting lineup, the Charlotte Hornets must look for a new and energized starter.

After the terrible loss to the New Orlean Pelicans, the Charlotte Hornets need to find a way to reenergize the starting lineup. A person that can change things and who should start, is rookie Miles Bridges.

In the loss to the Pelicans, Bridges managed to score sixteen points and pull down eight rebounds. The game even featured an off the backboard alley-oop from Malik Monk to Miles Bridges for a dunk in the first quarter.

It’s no secret that the Charlotte Hornets have a special player who comes off of the bench. Bridges has been consistent with his minutes, and he has the energy needed to spark a change with how the starting unit plays.

In the final ten games, Bridges has averaged 7.1 points and four rebounds per game. This is great for a player who plays with limited minutes, while the current starter Nicolas Batum, averages 8.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Batum may have better numbers, but Bridges has been the more efficient player for his position. Also, Bridges is a player who can energize his fans, just as his teammate Kemba Walker can. When you think of energy, Nic Batum is just not the person to expect it from.

Perimeter Shooting

Another statistic that may jump out at you is the number of threes made by both Batum and Bridges. Batum has made twenty-eight threes, while Miles Bridges has made twenty on the year.

Bridges also has a higher three-point percentage with 35.7, compared to Batum’s number of 35.4. With the NBA becoming a perimeter shooting league, having an efficient outside scorer is vital for any starting lineup.

Miles Bridges has not been known for his perimeter shooting so far this year, but he definitely has made a name for himself with his electrifying dunks. While dunks may not seem like much, they are actually perfect for a team’s motivation and momentum during a game.

Just Start Bridges

Miles Bridges has worked hard so far with the Hornets, and he has earned a shot with the starting unit. Since Coach Borrego often likes to bench Batum for long periods of time during games, he should try a new starter from the bench.

WIth Bridges, he will free up the paint for Kemba when he is out on the perimeter; NBA teams will know that he is better there than Nic. Could you imagine Miles getting more minutes, and having three or more electrifying dunks per game as a starter?

With the Charlotte Hornets having three days off until their game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, they definitely have enough time to come up with a new rotation. It’s time to put #0 in the starting unit and revive Hornets basketball.