GT #3: HORNETS @ WIZ 10/26 at 6 pm eastern

[BearlyBallin]

It’s the Wizard’s home opener, following a fun win Friday in Dallas and a big night from Kyshawn, Tre & Sarr. The Hornets arrive in DC and will play the second game of a back to back after losing at Philly & seeing Miller leave after 9 minutes with a shoulder injury.

Some Hornet fans are calling Knueppel “Kon Air” and have been pleasantly surprised by the play of Kalkbrenner at center. Can Sarr use his quickness to take advantage of Kalkbrenner’s slower foot speed? Will Tre continue to look like a ROY candidate? And how will Ky look in front of the home crowd, after a career night in Dallas?

Just think the best is yet to come from this young team.

Go WIZ !!!

[9 and 20]

Only a couple games in and we've reached a critical point. Must lose game. Hornets will be competition for a bottom five record. Brooklyn is playing the Spurs so they will be 0-3 today and are trying to lock up that bottom spot early.

That said, Wiz by 27. Can't wait to see what Kyshawn does this game. Too bad if Miller is out - that would have been a good challenge for him. Would like to see Bub step up against LaMelo and hopefully get back on track.

[gesa2]

It’ll be interesting yo see how we defend Lamelo. Milwaukee’s guards had no trouble getting into the lane against us. Dallas literally has no nba level guard play.

[Zonkerbl]

Keys to winning every game: establish physicality early. Play defense with one mind, and that mind is focused and undistractable. Defense creates the easy offensive opportunities necessary to win. Defense grinds down the will and passion of your opponent. Defense first.

[9 and 20]

Keys to winning every game: establish physicality early. Play defense with one mind, and that mind is focused and undistractable. Defense creates the easy offensive opportunities necessary to win. Defense grinds down the will and passion of your opponent. Defense first.

We crush our enemies and see them driven before us. And we hear the lamentations of their women!

[nate33]

I'm hoping Sarr can have a good game on offense. I'm very happy with his production so far on defense, but his offensive numbers don't looks so great on paper (just a .530 TS%) because he has faced a murderer's row of matchups (Giannis and Anthony Davis) in his first two NBA games. It would be nice to see him score something like 20 points on 8-11 shooting and 4-4 from the line.

[tontoz]

Miller played only 27 games last year now he's hurt again.

Not a fan of Lamelo. He takes too many bad shots. One legged 3s? Smh

They have only one winning season in the last 9.

[tontoz]

I'm hoping Sarr can have a good game on offense. I'm very happy with his production so far on defense, but his offensive numbers don't looks so great on paper (just a .530 TS%) because he has faced a murderer's row of matchups (Giannis and Anthony Davis) in his first two NBA games. It would be nice to see him score something like 20 points on 8-11 shooting and 4-4 from the line.

I'm not worried about it. We have a lot of wings trying to get shots up so he won't get a lot of opportunities. He is clearly trying to get to the rim and that will pay off eventually.

[nate33]

It’ll be interesting yo see how we defend Lamelo. Milwaukee’s guards had no trouble getting into the lane against us. Dallas literally has no nba level guard play.

That was because the whole team shaded toward Giannis whenever he touched the ball. Milwaukee's guards were getting wide open looks from late closeouts, or attacking closeouts of off-balance defenders. Charlotte doesn't have a defense-bender like that so I expect fewer open looks.

The Wizards are built to be able to switch defensively with ease because they have no diminutive guards and they have a mobile big when Sarr is in the game. It's actually less complicated to do that than it is to hedge and recover while providing weak side help to tag the roll man and getting all the rotations right on the drive and kick.

A team like Charlotte, who lacks a really burly offensive threat to compromise the interior defense (like Giannis), or a first-rate superstar wing who can score in isolation against our second tier defenders after a switch (like Luka or Cade), doesn't really matchup well with us. Obviously, 3-point variance means that any team can beat any team, but I like our chances.

[nate33]

I'm hoping Sarr can have a good game on offense. I'm very happy with his production so far on defense, but his offensive numbers don't looks so great on paper (just a .530 TS%) because he has faced a murderer's row of matchups (Giannis and Anthony Davis) in his first two NBA games. It would be nice to see him score something like 20 points on 8-11 shooting and 4-4 from the line.

I'm not worried about it. We have a lot of wings trying to get shots up so he won't get a lot of opportunities. He is clearly trying to get to the rim and that will pay off eventually.

Oh, I agree. I'm just hoping to see Sarr have a good confidence-building game. Though I suppose it doesn't really matter much. Sarr seems to have impressive mental toughness. He doesn't ever dwell on mistakes or missed shots. He just plays the next play.

[closg00]

Teams will start Keying on Keyshawn TM who will be the next-man up?

[Zonkerbl]

Keys to winning every game: establish physicality early. Play defense with one mind, and that mind is focused and undistractable. Defense creates the easy offensive opportunities necessary to win. Defense grinds down the will and passion of your opponent. Defense first.

We crush our enemies and see them driven before us. And we hear the lamentations of their women!

Lol!

I also feel the team, as constructed, is long and versatile at every position, ideal for playing disruptive defense. Eventually the other team is forced into a bunch of one on one's against Sarr. Even if the pg wins that match up, you're forcing the other team out of their offense.

[Despy]

With the emergence of Keyshawn and to a lesser extent tre I don't think we need to rely on offensive superstardom from sarr like we were hoping for last year. That said he will probably still have to be a good 2/3rd option

[WallToWall]

When was the last time we were an above .500 team? I can’t recall. We get that chance now. After this, I hope we drop below .500 while still seeing more development from the kids.

I’d like to see how our defense matches up again their guards. Lot to learn from this.

[tontoz]

If any Hornets fans visit this thread I just want apologize in advance. I just can't help myself.

The first vid is Kon getting his pocket picked by noted ball hawk Andre Drummond. Then a minute later he attempts to shoot a pull-up jumper.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[AFM]

If any Hornets fans visit this thread I just want apologize in advance. I just can't help myself.

The first vid is Kon getting his pocket picked by noted ball hawk Andre Drummond. Then a minute later he attempts to shoot a pull-up jumper.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

so would you rather draft him or tre johnson

[tontoz]

The Hornets totally choked that game away. They had a 9 pt lead with 5 minutes left and they just kept jacking 3s.

In the last 5 minutes they missed 7 3s, two of them were wide open by Kon.

Tie game 37 seconds left and plenty of time on the shot clock Lamelo gets the ball. What does he do? He takes a one legged step back contested 3 which of course misses. I would never want that guy on my team. Low IQ player.

[GoneShammGone]

The Hornets totally choked that game away. They had a 9 pt lead with 5 minutes left and they just kept jacking 3s.

In the last 5 minutes they missed 7 3s, two of them were wide open by Kon.

Tie game 37 seconds left and plenty of time on the shot clock Lamelo gets the ball. What does he do? He takes a one legged step back contested 3 which of course misses. I would never want that guy on my team. Low IQ player.

Lamelo is Jordan Poole with more narcissism.

[Despy]

When was the last time we were an above .500 team? I can’t recall. We get that chance now. After this, I hope we drop below .500 while still seeing more development from the kids.

I’d like to see how our defense matches up again their guards. Lot to learn from this.

2022 Nov. Even when wizards are mega ass we beat the hornets though at 2-1 might have to worry about our pick

[doclinkin]

I'm hoping Sarr can have a good game on offense. I'm very happy with his production so far on defense, but his offensive numbers don't looks so great on paper (just a .530 TS%) because he has faced a murderer's row of matchups (Giannis and Anthony Davis) in his first two NBA games. It would be nice to see him score something like 20 points on 8-11 shooting and 4-4 from the line.

I don’t care about his box score stats. It’s not just his defense, his off ball offensive game is having an effect. Last year he was a leader in screen assists. I noticed in FIBA play he was working that aspect of his game. Both him and Vuk have set timely and smart screens that make it easier for everyone. Relay passes for the hockey assist. Diving toward the basket to draw defenders while incidentally screening like a Gortat double screen. Watch him on offense away from the ball and you notice he stays involved. Making things happen. Flashes in the pick and roll are nice. I’m just overall pleased with how veteran his game looks. Low ego. Just effective. Smart play.