Not good, very bad, six-game road trip and Christmas vacation in the rearview mirror, portland trailblazers Back at Moda Center tonight, Charlotte HornetsAfter a 2-4 record from home, the Blazers hold a record of 17-16. It looks disappointing until we see the Hornets go straight to Wenbanyama his Nirvana on his 9-24.
Notes: Two of their nine wins have come in Charlotte’s last three games, thanks to the return of Lamelo Ball, who posted 23 each. Even without the ball, the Hornets were able to crack his 120 points.With him in tow, they took the 125 Sacramento Kings and 134 los angeles lakers in victory. Portland’s defense hasn’t been doing well lately, so the puncher’s chances could be capitalized tonight.
Trail Blazers vs. Hornets – Monday, December 26 – 7:00 PM PT
How to watch on TV: Root Sports Plus, NBA League Pass, NBA TV
Blazer injuries: Justice Winslow (out), Gary Payton II (out), Nasir Little (out)
Hornets Injuries: Dennis Smith, Jr. (Daily), Cody Martin (Daily)
SBN Affiliates: in the hive
Things to watch out for
About Rebound: The Hornets have one of the least efficient offenses in the NBA, but they make up for it by dominating the offensive grass. It’s not the distinction you want, but it can cause problems for the Blazers.If Portland doesn’t control the board, they tend to lose control of the game as well. Charlotte’s rebounding prowess also gives him one of the best scoring in the league on his goal attempts on the field. If Portland doesn’t perform well defensively on average, giving opponents all sorts of extra shots is a disaster, negating the Blazers’ natural offensive advantage in this contest.
Beware: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, Luka Doncic… The Blazers have faced a horde of energetic guards over the past two weeks and almost nobody was able to stop them. Charlotte fields the scoring backcourt with the ball and Terry his Rosier. Without Justise Winslow, Nassir Little and Gary Payton II, Portland lacks defenders on the wing. Blazers starters should be ready to defend at least a little bit.
Victory of the Trinity: Lamelo isn’t the only ball in question tonight. A long ball should also come out. The Hornets have three points. The Blazers can’t let Charlotte look wide open, but even a little pressure should be enough to pry a big edge over the arc.
One by one: The same is true for free throws, albeit to a lesser extent. Charlotte gave up a lot of foul shots. If they haven’t shot for long, the Blazers will push towards the bucket and try to earn the cheap stuff.
Note the ‘TO: The Hornets don’t flip the ball often, but they rank third in steals and ninth in forced turnovers in the NBA. If the game is looking to move away from the Blazers, this could be where it slips.
what others are saying
So, literally no one is talking about the Hornets, but you can hear the difference LaMelo Ball makes in this game recap From the Hornets Kings a few days ago.
Be sure to join the Gameday thread starting at 6pm PT.
