In a game against the Indiana Pacers this past Thursday, the Charlotte Hornets shocked everyone when LaMelo Ball started on the bench. This was surprising because Ball has not come off the bench since 2021.
Head coach Charles Lee, his staff, and Ball decided that it was the right decision for that game. Ball was coming off an injury, so their unique strategy was focused on him playing his limited minutes most optimally. Unfortunately, it did not work because they lost to the Pacers.
Lee commends Ball for being willing to adjust
As one of the best players on the Hornets, it is commendable that Ball would do that. It is easy to get caught in starting lineups and be worried about losing a spot in the long-term future. Of course, the Hornets know that Ball is a building block, so they won't need to worry about that.
In that particular game against the Pacers, the Hornets wanted him to be fresh by the fourth quarter. They were correct in their assessment, but they still lost the game after some mistakes in crunch time. In fact, Ball himself admitted that he made mistakes, including bad passes and ill-advised shots.
More: LaMelo Ball explains why he came off the bench against the Indiana Pacers
The Hornets are always looking to be mindful of their roster, especially with Ball. He is one of the most talented guards in the league, but he does have issues when it comes to injuries. As long as the Hornets can maintain his health while protecting his availability, they will do what is needed.
"Props to him. He wanted to do it. He agreed to come off the bench to allow himself to be there for his teammates. He's so competitive; he wants to help us win as much as he possibly can, in any way he possibly can," Coach Lee said ahead of the Hornets' game against the Utah Jazz.
It also seems like the experiment ended after that Pacers game because the starting lineup against the Utah Jazz on Saturday had Ball at point guard. It was probably a thoughtful experiment from the Hornets, but they would prefer Ball starting at point guard moving forward.
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