The Charlotte Hornets are set to face off against the Atlanta Hawks in the 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament on Wednesday after both teams managed to win their season finales. The 10th-seeded Hornets will travel to Atlanta for this game, and both teams finished the regular season strong to wind up at 43-39.
Charlotte won 10 of its last 16 regular-season games to lock in the No. 10 spot. While Gordon Hayward's latest injury woes are unfortunate, the Hornets are still in good position to steal this do-or-die game on the road.
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Why Hornets will beat Hawks
Trae Young struggles against Charlotte
Trae Young is one of the best point guards in the league. Whether you need him to score or find the open man, he has a knack for both traits in spades. This season, Young was the first player since Tiny Archibald in 1973 to lead the NBA in total points and assists. The guy is a major threat with the ball in his hands … usually.
In Young's last six games vs. the Hornets, though, he has a scoring average of just 17.5 points per game while shooting 34 percent from the field and 30 percent from deep. This coming from a guy who has averaged over 25 points in his career.
If Charlotte can force Young to take tough shots, a victory can be had. Of course, the Hawks have other weapons who can do damage, but Young is the head of the snake. Once the head is cut, the rest of the body moves frantically because it can't function properly without the brain. So, the game plan for James Borrego and his guys should be to make someone else beat them. Young is a great playmaker and will still likely move the ball effectively, but you would rather live with that than him dropping an efficient 30 points.
LaMelo Ball is playing his best basketball now
LaMelo Ball has been the catalyst of the Hornets' success all season long, but even more so as of late. In his last 10 games, Ball averaged 23.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists, fueling his team to the position they're in now. After the All-Star break, it looks like he flipped a switch following some midseason struggles. The high basketball IQ started to show night after night, and that eventually resulted in wins.
LaMelo just looks more confident. Even with him knowing the stakes that his team needs to win two road games to get into the actual playoffs, he's unfazed by the pressure.
“As long as it's not overseas, it feels like a home game. If it's in the States, we good. I feel like I've been on the road all my life.”
The Hawks are just a stepping stone for Ball. Playing in Atlanta, Cleveland, or Brooklyn is not an issue for him. He just wants to hoop and win while doing it.
The Hornets match up well
With Ball and Young canceling each other out, it's up to the rest of the guys to get the job done. Terry Rozier and Miles Bridges have been key cogs to the Hornets' success alongside Ball, putting forth big performances down the stretch of the season to get Charlotte in this position. They are two guys who can take advantage of players like Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari, who might find themselves on an island with those two. Sure, the Hawks have Clint Capela to shut down lanes to the rim, but the Hornets' small-ball lineup can take away that shot blocker.
It's easier said then done, but the slight edge has to be given to Charlotte. Outside of those three guys, PJ Washington has stepped up as of late. Key bench guys like Cody Martin and Isaiah Thomas check into games and turn the tide instantly. Since signing Thomas, the Hornets are 12-5, so he has had a positive impact on this team. The veterans and coaches have them playing winning basketball, even with such a key player in Hayward hurting.
When you're hot, it's hard to be slowed down. The Hornets won their last few games coming into the play-in tournament, which should be a confidence boost for a young group. Borrego has emphasized all season that his team loves to play on the road. They get a thrill of beating a team on their home floor, which is ultimately the task at hand here. It is win-or-go-home time for Charlotte, and there should be plenty of faith in LaMelo Ball and Co. to get the job done to set up another play-in matchup on Friday.
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