Charlotte Hornets: Can Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham Coexist as Starters?

When the Charlotte Hornets start Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier together, they are 2-5. Can the two guards coexist in the starting unit?

Over the last 7 games we have seen Devonte’ Graham injected into the starting five for the Charlotte Hornets. Terry Rozier has been a starter since joining the Hornets, but Devonte’ was initially the 6th man. Since Terry Rozier and Devonte Graham took over the starting guard spots, the Hornets are 2-5.

There are a couple of reasons why coach Borrego inserted Devonte’ into the line-up. One reason was because Dwayne Bacon got side-lined with an injury. Dwayne was certainly struggling before the injury, anyway. The second reason is because Devonte’ has been absolutely incredible.

Just 17 games into the season, Devonte’ Graham is averaging 18.2 points, 7.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game. He is also shooting 41% from deep, as well as 41% overall.

Terry Rozier, on the other hand, is averaging 17.4 points, 4.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. Terry is then shooting 35.2% from deep and 42.8% overall.

If it simply came down to the numbers, you would think Devonte’ was the main earning $19 million a year, and not Terry.

Devonte’ and Terry both have their primary positions down as point guards. Both are supposed to dominate the ball handling duties. Both are meant to initiate the offense.

Playing the two of them together absolutely gives you two playmakers on the floor at the same time. It does have its merits, but is it enough to actually justify starting the two?

The question needs to be asked, can both Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham continue to start games together for the Charlotte Hornets?

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For starters, they both measure 6’1″. Instantly, whoever is starting at the shooting guard position for the Hornets is going to become a potential mismatch on the defensive end. A typical shooting guard in the NBA generally sits around the 6’5″ mark. Not only taller, but they’ll likely be stronger, longer, and faster too.

The Hornets as a team have a defensive rating of 112.7. Devonte’ has rating at 109.9 whilst Terry has a rating of 114.8. The advanced stats would tell us Devonte’ is the better team defender than what Terry is, but if you watch them play, neither of the two are particularly strong defenders. However, they both give a lot of effort on that end of the floor.

Of all the line-ups that feature both Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier, only one has a positive net rating, and it isn’t by much (0.8) and it has only played 1.7 minutes as a line-up. Literally all other line-ups feature a negative rating.

This isn’t what you are after in your starting line-up.

On the offensive side of the ball, it is an interesting story. Whilst both would like to dominate the ball handling duties, Devonte’ Graham assumes primary ball-handling responsibilities and Terry Rozier plays off-ball. Especially for this starting unit.

When one is on the bench, obviously the other takes primary duties.

The main issue when running the two of them together is the reality that Terry is having to play off-ball. Terry is no knock-down shooter by any means, he’s fine. But the player you really want running around those screens is your knock-down shooter.

Devonte’ Graham is shooting over 40% from three, but unfortunately, Devonte’ can’t pass the ball to himself.

The problem with Terry initiating the offence is that you can’t trust him to make the correct basketball play. Often he gets settled into tunnel vision and last-minute passes out of his shot, into a turnover. Just watch the end of the Wizards loss and you’ll see us lose a very winnable game.

Well, what’s the solution?

Someone needs to start, and someone needs to come off the bench.

The reality is that it doesn’t matter which is which. Allowing each player to run the offense in the way they feel the game is flowing will have a huge impact. Absolutely play them together at times, but both need to have the opportunity in-game to get going.

It just won’t happen naturally when both are on the floor together. It will feel forced, just as it has felt.

Having Rozier or Graham come off the bench will instantly give that second unit a huge boost. They’ll arguably be the best player on the floor during those spurts. Both would thrive in those situations.

The stats for Devonte’ off the bench are impressive. He averaged over those 10 games 17.9 points, 7.6 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game. He’s proven he can do it off the bench as well as a starter. For the sake of Terry’s ego, it would probably have to be Devonte’ coming off the bench.

Having a proper point guard to run the show for the likes of Malik Monk would do wonders for the unit. Everyone has to admit, whenever Devonte’ is running the show, the Hornets look far more in control of their offense.

It’s time to shake it up a bit. Start one, 6th man one. It’ll work, coach.