In a surprising turn of events, the Charlotte Hornets have strung together a winning streak. They also have three victories in their last four games, defeating the Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz, and Chicago Bulls.
The offense has looked sharper than usual, as the Hornets have scored at least 113 in each of the past four contests. Against the Bulls, they surpassed the 120-point mark for only the fourth time this season and the first time since late November.
Only time will tell if Charlotte has finally turned things around on offense after ranking in the bottom three in the league in average points made.
LaMelo Ball has been dreadful from beyond the arc in Hornets' recent games
Hopefully, the team can sustain its offense despite LaMelo Ball's slump in one area of his game.
The leading vote-getter among all Eastern Conference guards has generally been playing well of late. In his previous four appearances, he scored a bit less than his season average, putting up 27.5 points per contest. However, his average assists went up, dishing out 9.0 dimes per match during that stretch.
Perhaps the only knock on Ball's recent performances is his efficiency, as he has been shooting just 41.9 percent from the field. From long distance is where it has been more concerning for the 2021 Rookie of the Year. He has converted 13 of his last 51 3-point attempts, good for 25.5 percent.
With Brandon Miller out indefinitely because of a wrist injury, Ball remains the Hornets' only high-volume threat from downtown. Of course, other players are expected to step up on offense, as was the case in their Friday win versus the Bulls when Miles Bridges, Mark Williams, and Nick Smith Jr. helped in the scoring department. But if the star guard cannot find his rhythm from long distance, he has one less weapon against opponents.
The good news is that Ball has a deep bag on offense and can find other ways to get buckets. For instance, he didn't take his foot off the pedal against Chicago, resulting in his tying of his season-highs in free throws made (11) and attempts (13). Still, efficient outings from beyond the arc can help Melo keep defenses honest and set himself and his teammates up for better scoring opportunities.
Maybe Ball can snap out of his funk soon and regain his shooting touch. After all, it's tough to bet against him, considering what he has done all season long.