Charlotte Hornets head coach James Borrego will demand better defense from his team in the 2019-20 season.
Not much is expected from the Hornets in the upcoming season. Especially since they lost two of their top scorers in Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb. But this doesn't mean that they won't be working on several things. From the looks of it, defense is the priority for Borrego and company.
“I control the minutes. Our guys are going to be committed to the defensive end from day one,” Borrego said Tuesday, per Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. “If not, they’re just not going to play. That’s the bottom line.”
Borrego, who was a long-time assistant for Gregg Popovich in the San Antonio Spurs, employed a similar defensive package last year — the one that required quick and efficient communication from its players. He discovered that the Hornets weren't up to it. This year, he's going to keep it simple and stay true to the identity of his team.
“What could I have done better to help that group last year?” Borrego said. “This year I’m going to keep it simple, aggressive and very clear. We’re not going to change our coverages, and try to protect (both) the 3 and the rim, to be this perfect defense we had in San Antonio. We’re not built that way.”
Indeed, it'll be an exciting year for the rebuilding Hornets squad.
They won't be lighting up the win-loss column this year but they will take it step-by-step.
Follow Us
Subscribe