Charlotte Hornets Struggle with Starting Lineup Chemistry

The Charlotte Hornets have faced a challenging NBA season, with their desired starting five rarely sharing the court due to injuries. Key players like Mark Williams, Miles Bridges, and LaMelo Ball have all missed significant time, disrupting the team’s rhythm. Now, with all starters healthy, including Josh Green, the Hornets are struggling to find cohesion as a unit.

In the three games where the starting lineup of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Josh Green, Miles Bridges, and Mark Williams has played together, the results have been disappointing. Despite an offensive rating of 114.6, ranking fourth among Hornets lineups with at least 30 combined minutes, their defensive rating of 122.0 has been a glaring weakness. For context, the league’s worst defensive team, the Utah Jazz, has a rating of 118.3.

Individually, the starters have shown promise. Ball is averaging nearly 30 points per game, Miller has emerged as a reliable three-point shooter, and Williams has consistently posted double-doubles. However, their collective performance has fallen short, with the team losing all three games they’ve started together, including a defeat to the struggling Washington Wizards.

Defensive struggles have been a significant issue. Only Josh Green ranks in the top 10 in defensive rating among Hornets players this season. Ball, Bridges, Miller, and Williams all rank among the team’s worst defenders, highlighting a lack of balance in the lineup.

The Hornets’ front office and coaching staff face a critical decision: whether to stick with the current starting five or make adjustments to improve team chemistry. With the season progressing, finding the right mix of players to maximize both offensive and defensive efficiency will be crucial for the Hornets to turn their fortunes around.