Hornets All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball has developed a good relationship with reserve point guard Isaiah Thomas, writes Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer.
Earlier today, it was officially announced that Thomas signed a rest-of-season deal with Charlotte. The 33-year-old Thomas, a former two-time All-Star, has already served as a mentor to Ball.
“I feel like on the court, he’s just helped Melo slow down,” forward Miles Bridges said. “It’s certain plays, Melo, he makes the flashy plays or he tries to force something. But I.T., he’s been talking to Melo, making sure he makes the right play at all times. And off the court, just staying professional.”
Thomas addressed his Hornets role in relation to Ball. The duo occasionally share time on the floor together.
“Just knowing how important the possession is … obviously we want him to push the pace,” Thomas said, “but there are times where we don’t get things three or four possessions. We’ve got to slow it down. Get us in a set that’s going to get the ball moving side-to-side, then attack downhill. So I think it’s easier for him to relate to me because I’ve been in those situations.”
In seven games for Charlotte, the 5’9″ veteran guard is averaging 9.9 PPG, 2.0 APG and 1.3 APG in 13.4 MPG. As a shooter, Thomas’s output has reached an efficiency level unseen since his Boston days. He boasts shooting splits of .462/.480/1.000 with the Hornets.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- The 36-36 Hawks appear in desperate need of a defensive upgrade next season, as was evinced in a 117-112 loss to the Pelicans on Sunday, writes Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. What New Orleans exhibited in perimeter defensive effort, the Hawks lacked, per Kirschner. “They have a lot of guys who have size and length on the wing,” Atlanta All-Star point guard Trae Young said. “They made some good reads. They were really pulling in to help on the roller, and the guy who had to guard two did a good job of picking the right one. I made a couple of turnovers picking the wrong one. You have to tip your hat to them in making the right reads.”
- Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal recently discussed what he thinks Washington requires to return to contention in the East, writes Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Beal expressed his enthusiasm for new Wizards addition Kristaps Porzingis, added at the trade deadline, but there are areas where he sees particular room for improvement. “I think we need bigger guards,” Beal said. “We need more guys that can get in the paint for us, more ball-handlers, more guys that can really create and get two feet in the paint, but also who can knock down threes.” Beal also wants additional two-way perimeter help: “Just some dog wings, some 3-and-D guys who can get after it and accept those challenges come playoff time when we play the Jayson Tatums, all the elite primetime wings.”
- As the 47-25 Heat gear up for the playoffs, the top-seeded team in the East continues to tinker with its rotation. That decision-making extends to how Miami opts to dole out minutes to its reserve big men Markieff Morris and Dewayne Dedmon, writes Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. Chiang explains that Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is letting opponent matchups dictate whether he decides to use Morris or Dedmon on any given night.
What Trae did tonight vs NYK just shows how special Herb Jones is defensively. He shut Trae down on Sunday night. On the other hand the Knicks had zero answers for Trae… rip Taj Gibson’s career
Taj gibsons career has been over. Nothing new has came from that and trae is the reason the hawks need defensive upgrades
Taj had a nice lil resurgence playing for his hometown team the past few years but that’s completely over now. Trae slayed that man & swallowed his soul like Highlander or something. And Kev is moreso the reason we need to upgrade the defense
Kev’s defensive metrics are better than Mr 3&D Hunter and Trae both. He is not league average defensively, but stating he is the problem is just not correct. The problems defensively all start with Trae. Everyone else in and around basketball knows it. He is small and has periods of just not putting the effort in. The combination drags down the entire defense.
Mr 3&D Hunter is arguably the worst nickname ever. Please don’t call him that & please don’t compare Dre’s defense to Kev’s. Kev is very bad defensively & Dre is very good defensively. It don’t take a genius to figure that out for anyone that has seen those 2 guys play this season. Kev has been targeted by opposing scorers all season long & it’s killed us all season long. Trae is obv terrible defensively as well but at least he’s great offensively & more than makes up what he gives up as a minus defender. Kev on the other hand gives us 2 weak defenders & is much harder to hide bc we already have to help on Trae’s man. Shading our defense to help Trae is doable but it leaves Kev to be eaten alive by opposing wings. It’s not effort that’s lacking with Kev or Trae tbh. It’s a lack of strength & frankly a lack of toughness. Neither guy will ever be a good defender consistently. Kev could get better by getting stronger but in reality he’s always gonna be a defensive liability bc of his physical limitations & the fact that he doesn’t have that inherent toughness that a guy like Hornacek had
Trae hates the Knicks and every time he goes to MSG he plays amazingly. Love how he’s embraced being the bad guy there too
I don’t think Trae could care less about the Knicks lol. What excited Trae is the spotlight. Being on national TV always perks him up. Plus MSG is the perfect stage for him… The fact that Knicks fans would ever see themselves as the good guys & Trae as the bad guy is extremely laughable & also a bit disturbing. His existence alone is apparently enough to be “bad”. Knicks fans serenaded him with “Fxck Trae Young” chants ok literally the first possession of our playoff series last yr. They’re clearly the bad guys in this scenario
Ok Rayford Sr. Lol. What fan is ever going to look at themselves as the bad guy? That’s not how it works breh.
And thanks for telling us Taj Gibson is no longer a superstar. Where did you buy your time machine btw?
Anyone with a capacity for anything beyond surface level thought should be able to see that they’re the bad guy when they’re screaming obscenities at a person they’ve never met for trying to do his job… When did I say anything about Taj Gibson being a superstar?
you know the word “fan” comes from “fanatic” right? surface level thought is not part of the equation. you’re wrong on this one, just take the L
Hornets I think are in a position this offseason we’re they need to be busy making trades and using FA to build this roster.
Hayward is on a big deal but he’s played well and you can probably get a return for him. Scary Terry will get you a good return if offers come in on him from teams needing a starting point guard. Washington holds value but hasn’t been a fit so far. Bouknight is in a similar position…
Centre and the lack of interior defence is obviously the biggest hole that needs to be filled. But I think long term they could try find a backcourt partner to Melo and a forward partner to Bridges.
I think Clint Capela could be available and not to expensive.
I know it’s not going to be a fan favourite idea but maybe if Utah plans to make big changes you send Hayward back here for Gobert. Hayward, Bouknight, Washington and this years first?
Another idea could be Hayward and Bouknight plus 2 firsts for Shai and Favours.
Lastly and most unlikely what about Zion. Do you roll the dice on him? I think fit wise he would be great. Cost, idk Terry Rozier, Bouknight, Washington and 3 firsts for Zion and Hayes?
Clint Capela would definitely be expensive. By next season’s trade deadline his price might go down a bit but it would still be something like Plumlee plus 2 1sts & only way we’d trade him to a team in our division is if he was disgruntled & nobody else made an offer. I think Okongwu is ready to start but I still doubt Capela gets moved this off-season & it def won’t be to a division rival unless they’re putting Miles Bridges in the deal
Nah I don’t think he will be worth all that.
You’re supposed to say what you think he’s worth.. if u disagree, say why u disagree
Washington has KCP and Krispert that can play at the 3, but their 4s all dont play defense, except Gill, or arent good enough, like Kuzma. They also need a guard that can playmake and defend. They got rid of Holiday, who is a really good catch and shoot guy that defends adequately, and fits next to Beal. There are still guards that would fit like that in FA right now.
I think beals one of the most overrated players in the league.
That said, Washington is in a good position moving forward. Got a lot of youth and a couple guys capable of carrying a team. Worst case they blow it up and beal nets you a haul and Kuzma and kcp get you some solid value.
If DC has anyone capable of carrying a team it’s the guy that you just called overrated. They’re pretty trash without him as the past few seasons have shown. If Beal is overrated then I guess scoring is overrated bc he’s definitely one of the very best scoring guards in the game
Anything else Beal wants? Sounds like he wants completely new teammates. He left nothing untouched excepting he ran out of time to say. He’s an difficult teammate, regardless of how smooth and malleable his style seems. He does not overcome.
Beal needs highly paid teammates to appreciate, which would pinch his own income in a salary-capped NBA.
Well Boss Leonsis has his creation. His hyped super sports academy of a few years back— I forget the pompous name— kind of disappeared, much like Beal slowly will (though hopefully not covid-related). He will keep his ppg up though with a heighth-oriented scheme that will need a shooter, his skill.