The Charlotte Hornets' bout against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday wasn't just any regular-season game; it was also their second contest in the group stage of the NBA Cup.
Entering the matchup with a 0-1 record after losing the in-season tournament opener to the Orlando Magic, the Hornets needed to come out with the win to have the slightest of chances to advance to the knockout stage.
But the loss to the Nets brought them down to 0-2. As such, they have virtually been eliminated from the NBA Cup, regardless of the results of their games against the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. Unfortunately, Hornets coach Charles Lee's decision extinguished their in-season tournament hopes.
Hornets' substitution pattern needs refinement
Charlotte started the Tuesday contest hot, outscoring the opponent 37-23 behind, thanks in large part to good ball movement in the first half of the opening period.
However, in true Hornets fashion, the squad let go of the gas pedal and gradually allowed another comeback. Brooklyn even went up by 11 points in the third quarter before a bench platoon helped Charlotte take an 87-85 lead heading into the fourth stanza.
A lineup headlined by Brandon Miller and reserves Tre Mann, Cody Martin, Tidjane Salaun, and Moussa Diabate was the only reason the Hornets were still in the game late.
Miller broke out of his slump, finishing the match with 29 points on 11-17 shooting (5-9 from 3-point range). His defense was also top-notch, as he recorded three steals and two blocks.
Mann displayed anew why he is a bona fide contender for Sixth Man of the Year. Martin facilitated the offense from time to time, although his defense was again his main weapon. Salaun was two rebounds shy from securing his first-ever double-double and was aggressive throughout the evening. Diabate didn't score but proved why he is the Hornets' best big man at the moment.
Folks can talk about how the atrocious officiating was unfair to Charlotte. However, this loss is undoubtedly on Lee.
The rookie coach found a five-man lineup that worked but didn't give them an extended run in crunch time. To wit, Grant Williams and Miles Bridges had no business playing over Salaun and Diabate late in the fourth quarter.
In addition, Lee's possible attempt to make a statement by benching a struggling LaMelo Ball in the closing minutes didn't pan out well. He put in his star point guard at the 7:15 mark of the fourth, with the contest tied 100-100. For some reason, he pulled Ball out with 3:48 remaining on the clock and the Nets leading 107-106.
Even though the 2022 All-Star poured in just 12 points and shot 3-13 from the field in the meeting, there's a reason he has been dubbed the king of the fourth quarter this season.
Of course, Lee didn't have the benefit of hindsight when drawing up his rotation versus the Nets. However, his decision not to ride any of the players with the hot hand or even Ball doomed Charlotte and its NBA Cup dreams.