Hornets are not Buzzing

LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, and Mark Williams are all out. Rookie Brandon Miller is questionable. Before facing the Lakers on Thursday night, Charlotte had an eight-game losing streak. That’s how the Hornets are entering Phoenix this weekend. Charlotte’s issues begin with the NBA’s second-worst defensive rating. Foes have a 57.2% effective field goal percentage against them which is 27th in the league. Opponents take 37.6% of their shots at the rim against Charlotte (25th) and hit 38.8% of threes (28th). The Hornets are also 24th in defensive rebounding percentage and 25th in free throw attempts against per game. Getting stops is a major issue for this squad.

Yet, scoring isn’t any easier, as the Hornets are 26th in offensive rating. The team is 25th in true shooting percentage and averages the second-fewest free throw attempts per contest. They’re also below average when it pertains to ball security and offensive rebounding. Only 34.7% of Charlotte’s shot attempts come from beyond the arc, which ranks 28th in the NBA. They connect on 34.6% (25th) of those three-point attempts. Losing LaMelo Ball was always going to hurt the offense, but he alone shouldn’t be responsible for such a low level of play.

Suns Ready to Rise?

The Suns ended a three-game losing streak on Tuesday, winning 129-113 in Houston. Kevin Durant, the subject of discontent rumors, paved the way with a triple-double. Phoenix still doesn’t have Bradley Beal but will hunt for more wins using a lineup that’s 13th in offensive rating. The Suns average the third-most free throw attempts per game and have the fifth-highest free throw percentage. Phoenix is also fifth in offensive rebounding percentage. Even with the second-highest volume of midrange shot attempts in the NBA, the Suns are 10th in true shooting percentage. There’s a lot to love about Phoenix offensively. If only they could improve upon a turnover percentage that ranks 27th league-wide.

On the other end, the Suns are 19th in defensive rating. Phoenix’s defense also struggles to win the turnover battle. The team is also 20th in defensive rebounding percentage, allowing second-chance scoring opportunities. Those areas betray a strong ability to force misses. No team is better at defending the midrange than Phoenix. They’re 11th at forcing misses on three-pointers. Allowing teams to get to the rim and finish is a slight weakness, but overall the Suns defend shot attempts well. Can it translate to another win?