The Charlotte Hornets found themselves trailing by double-digits against the Zion Williamson-less New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. It's unfair to pin the blame on just a single factor, but the Pelicans were able to erase a 17-8 deficit and go up 26-22 in the four minutes KJ Simpson played in the first quarter.
To be fair to the second-year point guard, Moussa Diabate also registered a -13 plus/minus during that span. But a huge reason the Hornets struggled to maintain their rhythm was the lack of playmaking, as Simpson has yet to show that the team can trust him in that department.
To reiterate, Simpson should not be pointed to as the reason behind Charlotte losing momentum. With LaMelo Ball continuing to nurse an ankle injury on the sidelines, coach Charles Lee has had no choice but to put the guard on a two-way contract on the floor.
It serves as a painful reminder of a roster flaw that the Hornets have no straightforward answer to. The Spencer Dinwiddie signing last summer should have been the fix, but that move obviously did not pan out well.
Now, they have a full roster with no one else other than Ball who is a true point guard. Maybe they can open a spot or trade for one using Josh Green, although he still brings value as a potential 3-and-D piece to Buzz City. Waiving Mason Plumlee might also be an option, but that would leave them vulnerable to an untimely injury to Ryan Kalkbrenner and Moussa Diabate.
It's unclear what the Hornets have in mind to deal with the roster hole. Perhaps they are hoping Simpson can eventually develop into a reliable point guard by continuing to give him reps.
Hornets still on track to win in New Orleans
Despite the early huge deficit on Tuesday, Charlotte has managed to claw back into the contest late in the second period and even retake the lead in the first minutes after halftime. The quartet of Kon Knueppel, Miles Bridges, Collin Sexton, and Kalkbrenner has proven to be strong for the shorthanded home club.
Unless a disaster happens, the Hornets are likely going home with the dub, especially since Williamson is missing. Moreover, they probably do not want to be the team that gives New Orleans its first win of the campaign.
Still, whatever the outcome of the game may be, the Hornets face a major conundrum that they need to address as soon as possible, given its impact on their offense last season.