What we learned in LaMelo's first career start
Down two starters and riding Malik Monk's continued resurgence, the Hornets earned their third straight victory in Ball's debut with the first unit
Walking inside AmericanAirlines Arena didn’t bring back the greatest of flashbacks for James Borrego on Monday, even if it happens to be a place the Hornets emerged victorious in during their most recent visit
See, that was the last venue Charlotte played in last March prior to the rest of the NBA’s season being suspended due to the pandemic. That night, as word began trickling in about games being postponed, is one the Hornets coach will never forget.
“It feels like forever ago that we were here,” Borrego said. “It’s like the world has changed and I think it probably has. We are still not where we need to be … It’s a different time.”
Light years almost.
Although the Hornets boast most of the same core from a season ago, back then they didn’t have LaMelo Ball or Gordon Hayward. And with Terry Rozier sitting this one out with an ankle injury, it thrust Ball into his first career start. That created the buzz leading up to tipoff, enough to get Charlotte the TMZ treatment. However, by the time the final horn sounded, it was an electrifying performance by the guy who’s wearing the number Ball sported in high school and while playing in Australia that wound up grabbing the spotlight in the Hornets’ 129-121 overtime win over Miami.
Monk poured in a career-high 36 points, canned a career-best nine 3-pointers, and hit the shot to force the extra session. In a game the Hornets also lost PJ Washington to a right foot sprain, leaving his status murky for Wednesday’s tilt with Philadelphia, Monk rescued them repeatedly.
“Man, it was great seeing Malik doing that,” Ball said. “I’ve known that boy for a minute now. Even when I was mad young, I haven't seen him hoop like that. So we all knew he could do it. Obviously he had the time tonight, did it. So yeah, we are all proud of him.”
Monk’s output was the most off the bench in franchise history, beating Devonte’ Graham’s 35-point effort versus Indiana on Feb. 5, 2019. And it’s also tops this season, marking the highest by a reserve since Austin Rivers dropped in 41 for Houston against Sacramento during bubble action in Orlando, Fla. in August.
Monk tossed darts through the nets from the moment he checked in during the first quarter. Making an appearance in just his eighth game of the season, he once again stated his case to be a key part of the rotation, following up Saturday’s 18-point performance.
What an emotional rollercoaster he’s experienced over these last couple of months.
“I had corona, set me back for a little bit,” Monk said, referring to the beginning of training camp in December. “Then came back, thought I was going to be in the rotation and I was pissed. Very, very, very pissed. But I just stuck with it and like I say, you can’t take what Coach is doing personal because he’s trying to win. It’s all together. We are all trying to win. But if you look at it personal, take it personal, you are going to mess yourself up and be down, get in the game and don’t be ready. And I finally realized that this year. And I didn’t take it personal and realize it’s just a business.
“Coach can’t make everybody happy, so once I realized that I was steady and just locked in.”
Those latter two words accurately described how Ball was playing leading into his first start, coming off a career-high 27 points after going 8 of 10 and 9-for-9 at the free throw line. He’s among the rookie leaders in important statistical categories and is also one of five players to post at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals in a game this season.
All that and more further fueled a growing crescendo on the exterior from fans stating it was time to insert him into the starting lineup. Minus Rozier, Borrego turned to Ball in the opening unit alongside Graham, Hayward, Washington and Cody Zeller.
Although he had some good moments to help them pull out their third consecutive win, he certainly had his fair share of struggles in posting 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Plagued by foul trouble throughout, Ball kept finding himself on the bench for huge portions of the first three quarters and didn’t break free offensively until putting up eight points in the third. Overall, he made just 3 of 11 attempts and had five fouls.
“It’s his first start — I seen a little nervousness,” Monk said. “I think he won’t say he is, but I seen a little bit.”
That could be the reason for some of the Ball’s fouls. Admittedly, distinguishing between when it’s necessary to be physical and those occasions where playing it smart is the right move are among the lessons the 19-year-old can take from his latest outing.
“For sure,” Ball said. “I just feel like I had some easy little ones tonight. I mean, some ones I shouldn’t have got.”
While his connection with Miles Bridges wasn’t the same we’ve grown accustomed to, given they weren’t checking into the game together and teaming as a tandem for those highlight reel alley-oops, Ball did have nice link going with Zeller. He was the recipient of three of Ball’s assists, making easy conversions out of them right at the hoop.
Perhaps most the notable thing? Zero turnovers for Ball in the fourth quarter and overtime combined.
“I thought he had a solid game,” Borrego said. “He got into foul trouble. I think that hurt his rhythm a little bit early. He made some big plays for us down the stretch. I trust him out there. He fits with that group. So I thought it was a very good start for him. But I thought overall the foul trouble probably disrupted him a little bit early. But he closed that game and was very good down the stretch.”
Unfazed being one foul shy of being disqualified, just like seemingly everything else, Ball remained as positive as the rest of his teammates when things might’ve appeared bleak and they were staring at multi-possession deficits in the closing minutes. He was actually among those being vocal.
“I told nobody to hold their head down,” Ball said. “I even told Malik, ‘You are about to hit this last shot and we are about to go into overtime.’ It happened and right then from when we got to overtime we damn near pretty much knew what it was going to be. We said we are here now. We obviously aren’t going to lose. We came this far. So yeah the mentality was definitely to dig deep and get the win.”
And it’s a victory that gives them even more proof (see: Brooklyn, Indiana, Milwaukee) of just how good they can be when they collectively come together.
“Nobody was worried about who was in, who wasn’t in,” Borrego said. “The group just kept battling. In the timeouts, ‘We got this.’ Everybody is pushing in the right direction. I love the spirit of this group. They don’t die. They don’t quit. They believe, they trust each other. More than anything, the are talking, they are communicating. I’m giving them directions in time outs, I’m giving them directions on the court. But they are starting to figure things out on the court together. Devonte’s talking, Gordon’s talking. LaMelo’s talking, Miles is talking. But it’s fantastic. This is the growth that I’ve been waiting for and we are seeing it right before our eyes.”