It appears Carmelo Anthony has been watching Charlotte Hornets basketball. He recently talked about the team's improvement on his podcast and offered high praise for LaMelo Ball. Anthony even explained why Ball's style of play cannot be described as carefree, an unfair criticism that has been thrown the Hornets star's way too often.
"LaMelo really cares about the game," the Hall of Famer asserted about Ball. "That's how he fell in love with the game. ... If I feel like shooting this (expletive) with one leg from three, I'm gonna do it. It's not that I don't care. But I feel so free playing this game that this is comfortable to me — coming off a pick, shooting a one-legged three fadeaway, one-dribble lob with the left, with the right, from half, which makes him electrifying."
It could be easy to misconstrue the 2021 Rookie of the Year as anything but a serious hoopster because of his penchant for making highlight-reel (or even Shaqtin' A Fool-worthy) plays. However, as Anthony pointed out, Ball doesn't do it just for fun. He is simply being himself, and the Hornets have actually benefited from it.
A look at Melo's net rating proves how impactful he has been on their chances of winning games. On top of that, when you watch Charlotte play, you can see how well the offense runs with Ball running the show. Sure, he continues to commit some baffling mistakes, but he more than makes up for it with his elite playmaking and improving shot-making.
Carmelo Anthony wants Hornets to stay the course
The major reason Buzz City kept losing before is the lack of a healthy supporting cast around Ball. This season, though, we have witnessed how well the club can compete with any opponent if its main attractions are healthy and its rotation decisions are sound.
Even Anthony has apparently tuned in, remarking that there's a "sick energy" surrounding the Hive. He also said, "I just hope Charlotte do what they do to continue building around Shorty (Ball) 'cause Shorty is legit."
The funny thing is, despite the Hornets' recent success with Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel in the lineup, some folks still want the organization to shake up the roster. Fortunately, it doesn't look like Jeff Peterson and company plan on acquiescing to that demand. The core players deserve to see the season through because of the promise they have shown when playing together.
It doesn't mean that the roster should stay as is in the long run. There are a few holes that need to be addressed.
For one, the offense typically lacks cohesion and creativity whenever Ball sits. As such, adding a playmaker who can steady the ship in those situations should be a priority. The starting power forward spot held by Miles Bridges also remains a question mark, as his connectivity on offense and effectiveness on defense have often been unreliable.
What matters is that Charlotte has a solid foundation in place, led by Ball. Hopefully, he can prove to Anthony and all of his fans who have persistently defended him that they are right.