This summer, the Charlotte Hornets made a good bit of roster changes. So many, in fact, that there are 7 new players on the roster right now for the 2015-16 season. You all know what the next statement usually is when there is a roster change as dramatic as this: It’s going to take time for this new group to mesh. The loss of Josh McRoberts and addition of Lance Stephenson warranted this comment. 8 new players will definitely earn the same. While I agree that there will be “growing pains”, I don’t know how drastic of a change will be with the starting 5. I believe that the beginning of the year will see the starting 5 consisting of Kemba Walker, Nic Batum, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Cody Zeller, and Al Jefferson. Do I think that this is the best starting 5? Not really. If you ask me why not, I have a series of answers. Some are direct answers, while others are questions.
Ready?
Do I think the aforementioned starting 5 is the best starting 5? My answer is a question. What do you want the starting 5 to do? For comfort and chemistry, I think the starting 5 mentioned will be the most comfortable together. A starting 5 of Kemba, Daniels, MKG, Zeller, and Al may be even more comfortable together, but Batum wasn’t brought in to come off of the bench. For the start of the season, comfort may be key, but we had better also come out to a fast start. The biggest flaw I have always seen with our team is that we come out and start the season slow. And I don’t mean just slow. I mean it looks like we haven’t practiced together and the other teams look like they’ve been playing together for a month or 2. We really have to start this season in high gear, beating every team that we can face. Do I think we can do it with that starting 5? I do, as long as we aren’t going to set the starters in stone. In saying that, we have to be ready to sub, as soon as we see problems with ball movement, shooting, or scoring. The pace of the game should be fast. Kemba shouldn’t be dribbling all over the place, not passing, and Al shouldn’t be on the block, holding the ball for 10-12 seconds. If it happens, there has to be a timeout to adjust. If a talk doesn’t do it, substitutions will. This is on our incumbent starters to completely change the 2-man game with Kemba and Al to a more fast-paced, ball moving, pick-and-rolling, drive-and-kicking, scoring team where the shot clock isn’t always expiring on us.
My second response about a best starting 5 changes now. If you ask me what the best scoring starting 5 would be, I’d say that you run with Kemba, Linsanity, Batum, MKG, and Frank. I think you can run Kemba and Lin together, which both can play pick-and-roll quite well. Frank will be able to score off of pick-and-rolls, spot up shooting on either side of the 3-point line, or even post-ups or drives. I trust MKG to be able to guard any position, and with him and Batum on the floor, I would still say we would have 4 scoring options for certain, and MKG can get to the basket and score while still providing defense. You may think I’m putting too much faith in Frank and Lin. I’ll say back that I don’t think you’re putting enough in them.
You ask me what I think we should do to get more defense on the floor. We can go Kemba, Batum, MKG, Zeller, and Kaminsky. I won’t argue this any further. This is my best 5 on defense…IMO
So you want to know what happens when we need to rest all 5 starters. I’m ready for that one too. Lin, Daniels or Lamb (training camp will allow one to step up consistently), Marvin Williams, Frank, and Hawes. I know what you’re thinking. Yes, the defense just dropped off a bit. Hopefully the scoring can make up the difference. Honestly, I’m just going with what we have at this point. While the bench is more talented I still have concerns in some spots. Let me transpose my lineups down here so that they are grouped together.
Comfortable Starting 5:
Kemba Walker
Nic Batum
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Cody Zeller
Al Jefferson
Best Scoring 5:
Kemba Walker
Jeremy Lin
Nic Batum
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Frank Kaminsky
Best Defense 5:
Kemba Walker
Nic Batum
MKG
Zeller
Kaminsky
Second Unit:
Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lamb or Troy Daniels
Marvin Williams
Frank Kaminsky
Spencer Hawes
There’s a bit of overlap in these lineups. Therein lies my concern. I think Aaron Harrison could fit here nicely, though I am not certain that he’s ready for the NBA yet.
PJ Hairston has to get his act together. While his defense looked improved in Summer League, it was Summer League. I liked that he hustled and was aggressive, but his horrendous 3-point shooting…that can’t happen this season. If he isn’t hitting, he can’t keep shooting.
Brian Roberts may fit better on a team where there are more players that can score the ball. Maybe he’s better at distributing, and last season we just didn’t have scorers. You can’t call him “Kemba-lite” because he can’t score at will like Kemba. He’s just the odd man out at PG, kinda like Elliot Williams. Williams is here for training camp…and just in case of a trade or injury.
Tyler Hansbrough and Spencer Hawes are just 2 more guys at the end of the bench. Either one could come in and get minutes in any given game. They’re just 2 tall guys that bring different aspects of the game to the court. Tyler brings toughness to the floor. He can scrap for rebounds and put backs. He can hit the occasional jumper if he needs to. Hawes can grab boards, shoot 3s…I mean, he’s 7’1”! Come on now. He and Tyler will back up the C position by committee.
Out of 16 guys, I’m coming flat out and stating that Roberts, Harrison, Hairston, and Elliot Williams will all struggle to get minutes. Most likely, Elliot will be gone after training camp. If you remove him, I’m stating that of the 15 on the roster, 12 will see minutes. Of the 12, Tyler may see the least. Hawes will see more just because of his size. Beyond that, I expect Kemba, Batum, Lin, MKG, Al, Kaminsky, Zeller, Daniels, and Lamb to get the most minutes. I have the names in the order that I think the minutes will go, by the way, most to least.
I’ve not seen these guys on the court one time. There are still rumors floating around that there are players being shopped around. Zeller’s name has been popping up again. Elliot Williams being brought in makes me wonder about Brian Roberts and how long he may be here. It is all way too soon to make any predictions, but man, don’t we all love to speculate. Just thin, if one of us is right, we get to claim we were right…and that means…well…nothing. We’re good guessers I guess. I just know that Media Day, Training Camp, and this season can’t get here soon enough. I’m so excited to see how everything falls into place.
In the meantime, all us fans will be on Twitter, stirring the pot and speculating on what the Hornets will do next. As close as the Hornets hold the cards, if any of us are right on a move, we just guessed correctly.
Until then…
Let’s Go Hornets!
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