Say it with me: Rookies can't play defense. Atlanta Hawks Jeremy Lin certainly understands that NBA reality, and took full advantage of it on this pinpoint lob pass to DeAndre' Bembry for a nasty dunk off a baseline out-of-bounds play.
Lin ➡️ Bembry for the out-of-bounds alley-oop 😳 pic.twitter.com/vA5jAvCMxk
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 10, 2019
See Miles Bridges here? After successfully executing a switch with Kemba Walker, the Charlotte Hornets' high-flying rookie is tasked with guarding Bembry. All it takes for Bembry to lose Bridges is a relatively tame backdoor cut, leading to a nearly-uncontested finish.
This is fantastic play design from Lloyd Pierce, too, clearing out the weak side of the floor by using an “elevator” decoy with big men Omari Spellman and John Collins setting a double screen for Taurean Prince on the strong-side wing.
Unfortunately for Bembry, these were his only points in Atlanta's 129-120 loss. He went 1-of-5 from the field with four rebounds and one assist. Lin fared far better for the Hawks, contributing 13 points, four assists, and two steals on 5-of-9 shooting in 20 minutes off the bench. Walker, meanwhile, paced Charlotte with 37 points and seven assists, including a season-high nine three-pointers. The All-Star starter had far more help than he normally does, too, with Marvin Williams and Jeremy Lamb combining for 51 points on just 30 shots.
With the win, Charlotte moves to 27-28, one game back of the Brooklyn Nets for sixth in the Eastern Conference.
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