Charlotte Hornets: Willy Hernangomez should play well as a starter
With Cody Zeller injured, who should start for the Charlotte Hornets? The Hornets can solve this problem by starting Willy Hernangomez.
On New Year’s Eve, the Charlotte Hornets suffered a terrible blow with the injury to starting center, Cody Zeller. Cody has been a player who has played energetic basketball for the Hornets all season.
Zeller, who suffered a fractured right hand, will miss a lot of time due to the injury to his shooting hand. It is up to Coach Borrego, to come up with a starting lineup that can fill the void left behind by Zeller.
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A player who has earned a starting role is no other than Willy Hernangomez. Willy, who is playing his second season in Charlotte after being traded by the New York Knicks, has been great coming off of the bench.
Hernangomez has had limited playing time throughout the season, as he has shared the backup center position with Frank Kaminsky, and Bismack Biyombo. While coming off of the bench, Hernangomez has managed to average a number of 7.4 points, and 4.9 rebounds per game.
His numbers may not seem appealing, but as of late, he has been balling out for the Charlotte Hornets. In his previous five games, Hernangomez has averaged 8.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while only averaging fifteen minutes per game.
Hernangomez has only started two games for the Hornets since being traded to Charlotte. He started in the blowout win over the Memphis Grizzlies last season in place of Dwight Howard, and he started in the loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in early December of this season.
In both of the games that he has started, Hernangomez has averaged 10.5 points and ten rebounds per game. As a starter, Hernangomez is averaging a double-double with the Hornets.
Hernangomez is the best option to replace Cody Zeller while he is hurt. Hernangomez is a young player that is hungry, and it is time for him to get a shot at being the dominant big that he has the potential to be.
If Hernangomez is the starter, I feel that he will make the most of these increased minutes, as well as becoming a reliable post scorer for the team. He also seems to play very well in the pick and roll game with star point-guard, Kemba Walker.
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The Hornets will have their hands full as they take on Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday in Uptown. If the Hornets are to win, they must find a way to contain Luka Doncic and DeAndre Jordan.