A significant chunk of the Charlotte Hornets' top-ranked offense has consisted of the 3-point shot. However, it's not like they have been hoisting long-range shots indiscriminately. Charles Lee appears to have established an offensive system that gets his players open looks from beyond the arc.
As Dylan Jackson of SportCLT noted, based on numbers from NBA.com, 43.4 percent of the shots the Hornets have attempted are "open" or "wide open" tries from three. That's certainly a healthy shot diet, and Lee deserves a ton of credit for how he has transformed the squad's offense.
It has also helped that Charlotte has several threats from deep. That was in full display in its recent win over the Washington Wizards when LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel combined for 20 of its 25 3-pointers. Aside from the core trio, there are also the likes of the returning Miles Bridges and newcomer Coby White, who can make it rain from downtown. Veterans, such as Grant Williams and Josh Green, can also catch fire from three and benefit from clean looks generated by their teammates' gravity and Lee's coaching.
Vindication for Charles Lee
A roster filled with competent shooters isn't usually enough for a team to be an elite offensive squad, though. It's just one part of the equation, of which an important component is the coaching. Fortunately for Buzz City, Lee has shown himself to be more than capable of crafting the proper gameplan to maximize all the shooting talent.
And now, the perception surrounding the second-year head coach has shifted.
Last season, there was a bit of a concern about whether he was the best man for the job. Then, earlier in this campaign, some fans were quick to call for his head. It was wild how Lee was prematurely placed on the hot seat, even though he had displayed incredible promise and the Hornets players had sung nothing but his praises. The front office was right all along in putting its complete trust in the longtime assistant coach.
Of course, there are still instances when some of his decisions can be frustrating, such as when he benched Ball and whenever he rolls out five-man lineups that make little sense. Charlotte has also sometimes been too reliant on the outside shot, like when Ball and Miller went a combined 2-18 from 3-point range in its loss to the Houston Rockets on Thursday.
Then again, based on what we have seen from Lee, he deserves more leeway every time he makes mistakes and has earned the right to guide the team as he sees fit.