The Charlotte Hornets celebrated their 30th NBA season during their season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks, and Kemba Walker put on a show. Walker poured in 41 points, two rebounds and four assists in a 113-112 loss. This was Walker's tenth 40-point game as a member of the Hornets.
His astonishing night put him in the record books not once, but twice. He's currently tied with Glen Rice for most 40-point games in franchise history. Walker also surpassed the father of Stephen Curry, Dell Curry, who held the Hornets' record for most points scored on opening night, with a mark of 38 points. The crazy part is, Walker wasn't even aware of his accomplishments until his postgame interview.
“I didn't even know that,” said Walker. “It's crazy to think that I'm surpassing these greats and receiving these accolades. A lot of people didn't think I would be this successful in the NBA. I'm going to continue to prove people wrong.”
Kemba Walker has been an NBA All-Star for the past two seasons, and he kicked off the 2018-19 season with a statement that makes it hard not to predict a three-peat. The new system James Borrego brought in appears to be working wonders for the Hornets. While they didn't get the result they wanted, they were able to battle back against a Bucks team that lead by as much as 20 points during one stretch.
Borrego has been emphasizing that he wants the team to push the pace and shoot more three's. Walker connected on seven three point attempts on the night. The team as a whole connected on 13, which was one less than the 14 the Bucks made. Borrego even experimented with a lineup featuring Walker, Malik Monk and Tony Parker together. Nic Batum, who has never played a second of center in his NBA career, found himself guarding Brook Lopez. It's unorthodox, but it's an exciting new way to play as well. The Bucks are considered to be potential 3 or 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. For a team that didn't make the playoffs last season, they put up a great fight.
“We've got a lot of work to do,” said Borrego. “I'm proud of the group. The way they fought, the way they came back. We've got a long way to go, but I think what we saw in the second half was encouraging. We have to build on it on Friday night. We have to learn from it, but I need to see more out of that starting unit.”
The Hornets trailed by 13 points after the first quarter, but continued to gain momentum as the game progressed. The team's youth showed their value early on. Malik Monk was used sparingly during his rookie year, but the 33 minutes he logged on the night were the second most on the team. His final numbers were 18 points, four rebounds and two assists. The thunderous dunk he threw down in the closing minutes brought life back into the arena when they were falling behind. It's clear that Borrego meant it when he said Monk was a focal point on this team.
Rookie forward Miles Bridges scored 1 point in his 14 minutes, but his versatility was valuable on the defensive end. He had the highest plus/minus (+6) of any Hornets player, and he'll only improve moving forward. He has a couple specific things he's actively working on.
“Decision making. I want to make the right decisions,” said Bridges. “Limiting turnovers and making good defensive plays. I know all the plays for the 3 and the 4 spot, so I'm just trying to key in on those things.”
All in all, the Hornets showed a lot of promise in their first regular-season game under their new head coach. Coming into the season, James Borrego said Kemba Walker was the only guaranteed starter. Everyone else will be constantly battling for minutes, as the Hornets move towards becoming a finished product. Borrego is part of Gregg Poppovich's illustrious coaching tree, so he's got a lot to live up to.
Four years ago, the Hornets upset the Bucks shortly after shedding their former Charlotte Bobcats moniker. They came very close to giving them a blast from the past in a night centered around honoring their history. Hornets legends like Muggsy Bogues, Dell Curry and other classic Hornets players were in attendance, cheering them on.
The residents of Buzz City rose to their feet in excitement as the final seconds on the clock ticked down to 0. They got a good look at a game-winning shot from Batum, but luck just wasn't on their side. The Hornets fans of old were once of the most passionate groups in the NBA, and Kemba Walker will play a vital role in their resurgence.
Follow Us
Subscribe