The Charlotte Hornets' core players, LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel, are finally getting an extended run playing together. On offense, they have been as formidable as advertised. The defense is the problem, though, and it could persist until the organization pulls off key roster moves.
Against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, each of them shot well from the field. Ball led the pack with 23 points on 8-16 shooting in just 24 minutes. Miller and Knueppel scored 20 apiece while hitting more than half of their field-goal attempts and not playing over 31 minutes.
Unfortunately, the Hornets still lost 139-132 because of their porous defense. If it weren't for a late garbage-time run by the bench unit, the final scores wouldn't have been that close.
Cleveland's guard duo of Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland combined for 57 markers and 11 threes, highlighting how difficult it was for the Hornets to stop perimeter players when they get hot from the field. It didn’t help that reserve swingman De’Andre Hunter also caught fire, finishing with 27 points and four 3-pointers.
Looking for a solution
Only time will tell if Charlotte’s foundational pieces can eventually make up a strong defensive unit. For now, they’re still all about potential.
Knueppel has proven to be a solid team defender and consistently tries on that end of the floor. It might only be a matter of time until he becomes a respectable perimeter stopper. Miller has the tools to be a great two-way player and has said all the right things about being one, but we have yet to really see him make strides in that endeavor. Ball is more of the wildcard among the three. He has sometimes displayed the ability to use his length and quickness when defending. But more often than not, he has lacked the defensive discipline and IQ that fans hope would be a part of his game.
If the starters can’t cover opposing guards or wings well, particularly when the squad is up against foes with multiple elite perimeter players, such as the Cavs, the Hornets will continue to bleed points and losses. Sion James and Josh Green have looked serviceable at the wing as reserves, but the coaching staff likely wants Ball, Miller, and Knueppel together on the floor as often as possible.
Perhaps finding an upgrade at power forward and even at the five is the ideal course of action for Charlotte. Miles Bridges rates as a negative defender and is too undersized and undisciplined to be a help defender. Ryan Kalkbrenner has shown promise as a rim protector, but his slow-footedness prevents him from becoming an effective outside the paint. Drop coverage won’t always work, especially against opponents with at least a couple of ball-handlers or shot-creators who can attack inside.
The organization has a lot of work to do to improve its bottom-ranked defense. And if the plan is to continue building the roster through Ball, Miller, and Knueppel, it has to come to grips with the reality that it needs to bring in defensive reinforcements at the big man positions.