Getting into the game of basketball back in the 90’s, the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets were key figures in my brain development.
Orlando had foot lockers lit. Shaq and Penny packing out arenas. Highlights of Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning glued to ESPN Top 10 highlights.
The 90’s came back to destroy these organizations. Pat Riley made Miami the hot spot in Florida while Michael Jordan tried to build around Adam Morrison.
The Orlando Magic—potential championship contender if they figured out how to get ball in hole—traded for Desmond Bane—who now, upon his arrival to Orlando, also cannot shoot.
The Charlotte Hornets—ready to start their trek into the hardships of annual playoff highs and lows—still anchored by regular-season highs and lows—already missing their second-best player, Brandon Miller, again.
Orlando won their Thursday matchup in Charlotte 123-107—ending their 4-game losing streak.
Charlotte started 3 rookies for the first time in franchise history—performing like 3 rookies starting an NBA game together for the first time in a franchise’s history.
LaMelo Hail Mary’s
I want so badly to watch LaMelo Ball play high-pressure, all-eyes-on-me basketball—against a higher-seeded opponent, leading the heroic kamikaze mission like Cade Cunningham in Detroit last season—or Blake Griffin when he 1-v-5’ed the Bucks in 2019—or when the Pistons traded for Tobias Harris in 2016.
Basically anytime the Detroit Pistons qualified for the playoffs in the era post-Co-Defendent no. 8 running point.
LaMelo Ball is still playing around.
Here’s his night in the loss to Orlando:
- 17 points
- 7 rebounds
- 13 assists
- 8-for-19 from the field
- 1-for-9 from 3
1-for-9 from 3 is sociopath shit.
Ball was 4-for-12 earlier this week against Miami.
He’s shooting 34% from 3 on 10.4 attempts. It takes LaMelo 10 tries to make three 3’s.
And I feel him.
The Hornets are still a year away from competing for anything—they don’t have enough good NBA players yet.
Mason Plumlee was their rain-soaked bandaid over a shotgun wound at center—a coach’s DNP in their 5th game of the season.
He’s already out of the rotation.
Brandon Miller injured.
An empty fridge where the depth ought to be.
I watched this game hoping to understand why the Orlando Magic are underperforming—ended up watching an open gym workout, rarely a defender or any real shot contention whenever a Magic player left his feet.
I’m okay with LaMelo believing he must solve the Hornets with one-legged fadeaways deep 3’s. He’s playing with Ryan fucking Kalkbrenner. He sounds like a Long Island injury attorney. And he’s probably only, like, 10-15 months from becoming one. LaMelo has to innovate the game of basketball, create brand new moves, to carry this G-League club.
Yet, LaMelo still leads the NBA with 51 assists.
Surrounded by young guys with no specific roles or full understanding of what they’re capable of on a basketball court—a running mate in need of a second opinion on his shoulder injury, famously bad news—LaMelo Ball is doing everything he can with the tools in his box.
And Orlando, a basketball team unable to shoot basketballs—ran them out of the gym.
Looks like a good draft again, though. So.
Orlando wasting a perfectly fine Desmond Bane
Through 6 games, Desmond Bane is averaging his lowest 3-point attempts a game since his rookie season.
On Thursday night, Desmond Bane was 4-for-11 (0-for-2 from 3) with only 9 points.
Orlando acquired Bane to fix their 3-point shooting but it feels like they’re asking him to initiate offensive sets and drive to the rim—where he’s had 9 layups blocked this season.
Desmond Bane’s ability to beat his defender off the trouble and get to the paint works best when he has shooters around the perimeter to kick out to.
But Desmond Bane is the 3-point shooter on the team.
So now he’s getting into the paint, having to finish with tiny arms—getting his shit swatted into photographers beneath the hoop.
Why isn’t he running off screens doing JJ Redick/Kyle Korver stuff?
Charlotte had no rim protection—except against Bane. They had plenty for Bane.
If Orlando wants to beat the teams with NBA players in their starting 5, then Desmond Bane needs to get his little ass out of the paint.
Catch.
And.
Shoot.
That’s it.
Thanks for reading.
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