Draymond Green kicked the shit out of the Hornets in a game where we started Cody Martin in place of the injured Cody Zeller. Kind of a weird move for Borrego to start Martin over Bridges, especially considering LaMelo and Miles chemistry. Oh well we got out played by a team that is better than us, and got exposed for our lack of size again. Draymond had 19 fucking assists and Curry went off for 29 points, It should not be a big surprise the Hornets lost the game but it should piss us off tha Kelly Oubre added 27 points. It’s one thing to let the stars get their buckets, and sometimes that even works; it’s another thing to let the other team shoot over 60% from the field. The only positive defensive take i can have is that the press at the end seemed to create some turnovers and confusion for the Warriors.
-LaMelo and Monk continued their hot streaks with 20 point games
3 in a row! All three wins versus 2020 playoff teams to boot (wtf are the origins of this saying(it’s not interesting something about ye olde English law)). Malik Monk had a career game, including 36 points on 61% shooting from the field. Monk looked as confident and comfortable as I have ever seen him in the NBA. We needed Monk to make up for Rozier being out with an ankle injury, we really fucking needed Monk when PJ went down in the second half. Monk had our back. Hornets’ players being able to catch fire might be one of this teams’ greatest strengths. Bridges, Ball, Graham, Rozier, Hayward and now Monk have all had games where they went TF off and took over, most of the time from 3 point range too.
I did think Jimmy G(g stands for gets) Buckets had us in the fourth quarter when he rattled off 4 shots in a row immediately followed by a 3 from Duncan Robinson, putting the Hornets down 10 with 3:49 left in the game. Monk followed with an and one that caused Spoelstra to call a time out and design a play for Herro to hit a 3, which he did. Gordon had enough of Herro so he decided to bully the shit out of him on the next two possessions for two easy layups. Heat missed a few more threes (died by it last night), Graham hit a 3 and pair of free throws that brought the game to within 3 with 38 seconds left. Iggy missed a three and the Hornets headed the other way. Borrego made a smart move in letting the guys have 10 or so seconds of run to see if they could get an open shot. Even though the Hornets didn’t get a clean look and had to call a timeout this was one of the smarter moves Borrego has made this year, especially considering Spoelstra is on the other side. Borrego drew up a play for Monk that worked to perfection, and Monk and his steel balls tied the game up at 113. Butler settled for a 3 and missed it to end regulation.
OT was rather chill for the Hornets. Hornets started off with a dime from Ball to Zeller, then bullied Herro some more, then made we last 4 free throws to wrap up the game.
-Eric Collins and Del are a delight to listen to on the broadcast
-Confident Malik is here to stay
-Random ass Max Strus lit us up for 19 points, but we still won, because Monk lit them up more. Is Max Strus Big Truss????
LaMelo started off slow but did not let it ruin the rest of the game for him. 3 TOs in the first half, 0 in the second. Ball once again showed us his ability to affect the game in other ways than scoring.
Another 6 Hornets had double digits and BOOM the Hornets upset the Bucks somewhat confidently. The Hornets came out wet from three, hitting 8 out of their 11 in the first quarter. That’s a ridiculous ass clip to shoot at but in order to beat one of the best teams in the league that’s what we had to do and did. We were out to a 20 point lead at one point, before Giannis euro stepped his way through our defense and to the foul line 50ish times. Terry Rozier rolled his ankle on the last play in the second quarter and the Hornets went into the half up 4.
LaMelo got his first chance to start a half this year and did not let that shit go to waste. He shot 5-7 in the second half and was driving to the hoop at will. The game seemed to slow down for LaMelo as he sized up which defenders he was going to blow by and if he was going to finish at the rim or dish it out. Hayward was consistent all night long and got some difficult buckets that helped slow down some of the Bucks Giannis fueled runs. Devonte’ and LaMelo were able to hold the Bucks off in the fourth with some clutch defense by the rook.
-Another dope highlight oop from LaMelo to (sky)miles
-Monk is really starting to get his feel back and playing well at a perfect time because Terry will probably be out for a bit
-Caleb Martin was ⅔ and made a great defensive play in a big moment in the game. He brought some energy and played about as well as you could expect from him
-Gordon put up 27 and acted as a steady option when it turned into a half court game
-LaMelo had 4 steals, 2 of them in crunch time. They were great effort plays and it was great to see he still had the juice late in the 4th quarter
Hugo CLT 