The Charlotte Hornets have been pretty awful so far this season. Charlotte currently sits at 4-11 and hosts 11-3 Portland on Wednesday. The offensive performances and defensive performances have been spotty all season. They are simply finding ways to lose games instead of finding ways to win them.
One bright spot for the Hornets has been the play of guard Gary Neal. Neal is having a career season for the Hornets, and he has been the only consistent scoring option off the Hornets’ bench. Through the first fifteen games of the season, Neal is averaging 12.3 PPG and is shooting 42.9% from 3-point territory. Shooting has always been the key component of Neal’s game. He is a career 39.5% shooter from 3, which is right at the 40% threshold that is characteristic of the best shooters in the NBA. He and Dirk Nowitzki have the same 3-point percentage this season, and everyone knows Dirk is a lights out shooter.
Neal came to Charlotte at the trade deadline last season, and he quickly found his way into the Hornets rotation. With a stable team and an entire offseason to grow with his teammates, Neal’s game has continued to flourish. He is exactly what the Hornets need: a spot up shooter. Charlotte’s offense revolves around Al Jefferson and all of his fabulous post moves. However, just as you and I know this, so does every other NBA team. Most teams have begun immediately double-teaming Jefferson whenever he receives the ball on the low block.
This is where Neal comes in handy. Jefferson is able to pass out of the double-team and Neal is wide open for the 3-point jump shot. Luckily for Charlotte, Neal has been on fire so far this season. Neal is one of the few “floor spacers” that the Hornets have on their roster. Guards Gerald Henderson and Lance Stephenson are more adept at driving the ball into the paint, not shooting. When either of these two players is on the floor, the offense gets clogged up and is easier to defend. Neal’s ability to consistently nail the 3-ball makes defenses respect him from outside.
Many of Neal’s best games have come on the road this season. He scored 21 points in New Orleans, 17 points in New York, and 14 points in both Pheonix and Los Angeles. Although the Hornets have not won many of these road games, Neal’s veteran precense has certainly helped the team out. He brings a winning attitude from his years playing with the San Antonio Spurs.
Personally, I believe that the Hornets should give Neal the chance to start at shooting guard. I understand that the team has invested a lot in Lance Stephenson, but Neal is a much better shooter than Stephenson. Stephenson has taken a slight step back this season, and his game is too similar to PG Kemba Walker’s for the two to co-exist in the starting lineup. I belive that starting Neal and brining Stephenson off the bench would be the best course of action for the struggling Hornets. Stephenson could dominate the ball with the second unit, and Neal could provide the spacing that Al Jefferson needs. Either way, I know that Gary Neal has been lighting it up from 3-point land and should get more playing time as the season progresses.
Update: This has nothing to do with Gary Neal, but I thought Hornets fans would enjoy this video. Watch Kemba Walker almost make Chris Paul fall on this crossover…
Watch: The @hornets' @KembaWalker crosses up @CP3 and drains a jumper against the @LAClippers: https://t.co/c3XemYqXxy
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 25, 2014
Good stuff, from a team that has not had much to cheer for this season.
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