Charlotte Hornets rising star Brandon Miller picked up where he left off in his return to the court after being sidelined by a wrist injury. However, a strong performance was not enough to stop some folks from pointing out that his ball-handling still needs plenty of work.
Saying that his handles remain one of his weaknesses might be a case of nitpicking. After all, his 25 points led all players in the Hornets' dominant victory over the Brooklyn Nets in their regular-season opener, in which eight of his teammates also scored in double digits.
What surprised some viewers was Miller dishing out seven assists, although facilitating the offense is nothing new for the third-year pro. However, he will be a more effective shot-creator and initiator if he can break down defenses, especially against more formidable matchups.
To be fair, Miller has shown flashes of his ability to attack the paint. For instance, against the Nets, two of Moussa Diabate's surprisingly successful floaters came on the heels of his teammate driving and attracting his defender. There were also possessions when the 22-year-old swingman was able to will his way to the basket and score at the rim or pass to open teammates at the perimeter. No offense to Brooklyn, but he needs to prove that he can still do his magic when facing stingier defenses.
Brandon Miller's bag still appears limited
When you watch Hornets' games, it's common to see Miller struggle against elite perimeter coverages. Sure, he is good for some ankle breakers here and there, but he needs to develop a bag consisting of quicker crossovers and in-and-outs, akin to when his idol, Paul George, was in his prime. Perhaps the low-hanging fruit Brandon can improve is his hesitation dribble, as his elite outside shooting can make it a more threatening weapon.
In his defense, Miller is still years away from reaching his peak. So, he is bound to become even better on offense, as long as he remains committed to sharpening his skills.
The scary proposition for opponents is that he is already a guy they need to adjust their defenses to. Imagine if Miller becomes an exceptional ball-handler; that could make the Hornets difficult to gameplan for.
Personally, for Miller, progressing in that area could help him ascend to become the All-Star-level player some analysts expect him to be and the kind of franchise cornerstone Charlotte needs him to be.