Game Thread: Hawks @ Hornets -- Into the Snyderverse

[Jamaaliver]

Hornets open the season against the Hawks



It’s time for some Hornets basketball, and they’re already debuting the classic unis too. For the second straight year, I can say that the offseason has mercifully come to a close, though some of its fallout still may yet be felt. We’ll cross those bridges when we get to them. For now, it’s time to talk about actual basketball.

The Hornets, who were badly bitten by the injury bug last season, start the 2023-24 season on a similar note. They’ll be without expected starter Miles Bridges for 10 games (for now) and key bench piece Cody Martin for who knows how long.

Rookie second overall pick Brandon Miller should lead the bench unit in minutes. He looked more composed in the preseason than he did in the summer league. It’ll be interesting to see how he looks now that the games count and the rotations are set.

The Hawks look a lot like the Hawks we’ve known for a couple of years now. They notably unloaded forward John Collins for just a second round pick after years of supposed tension between he and Trae Young. It’s hard to gauge what they’re going to do with their starting lineup given how much they rotated the squad during the preseason, but Saddiq Bey seems the most likely candidate to get the starting PF spot. He and Hunter will provide spacing for the Hawks pair of ball dominant guards while Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu are the prototypical rim defenders. Bogdan Bogdanovic and Patty Mills are scary microwave scorers off the bench.

The Hornets have won their last two when they opened the season at home. Tonight is the first of three straight winnable home games to open the season, so the Hornets have every opportunity to get the season started on the right foot.

Injuries:
Hornets – Cody Martin-out (knee), Miles Bridges-out (suspension), James Bouknight-out (knee), Frank Ntilikina-out (leg), Bryce McGowens-doubtful (ankle)

Hawks – Wesley Matthews-out (calf)

At The Hive

[jayu70]

You are missing 'All of the Above'

[Jamaaliver]

[HMFFL]

Hawks are 3.5 point favorites
GO Hawks

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[jayu70]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[jayu70]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[jayu70]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[jayu70]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[jayu70]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[jayu70]

Sound off 1....2......3....Dunks in a row!

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Jamaaliver]

Tweet of the Day:

Read on Twitter

[HMFFL]

Jalen Johnson!!! Keep bringing the energy

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[Jamaaliver]

Helluva Highlight

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

[dms269]

Trae is awful. He is forcing drives and trying to play hero ball.

Sent from my SM-G975U using RealGM mobile app

[luciano-davidwesley]

This year will be the Jalen Johnson breakout party.

[jayu70]

We reverted to Trae/DJ hogging the ball instead of ball movement.

Read on Twitter

Quin On what slowed the offensive rhythm in 2nd and 3rd...the things we know we want to do are not habitual yet and need to keep working: moving the ball early in possessions, not trained the way they need to be yet. Just didn't do the things enough.

17% from 3 will not win many games. Trae and DJ can't have these horrible shooting games in the same game and expect to win.

On the very bright side:

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Jamaaliver]

Trae is awful. He is forcing drives and trying to play hero ball.

It was not a good game from TY or DjM.

Read on Twitter

[jayu70]

Miscommunication on defense:

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Missed wide open 3 after a great pass

Read on Twitter

?s=20

The story of the night.

[Jamaaliver]

First possession of the new season -- 10 straight seconds of Trae pounding the ball into oblivion...

Read on Twitter