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The Charlotte Hornets suffered a loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, and while there were positive takeaways, head coach Charles Lee acknowledged that several areas still require improvement, particularly ball security. The Hornets committed 30 turnovers, which directly resulted in 27 points for Boston.
In his postgame press conference, Lee addressed the media, sharing his thoughts on the game and the team's progress. He began by commending his players for limiting the Celtics to just nine offensive rebounds, calling it a tremendous effort and a testament to their attention to detail. Lee noted that Boston is one of the league's top offensive rebounding teams and praised his squad for executing the game plan effectively in that regard. However, he expressed regret over the 30 giveaways, which undermined their overall performance.
Brandon Miller's Vital Role
When asked about Brandon Miller's importance to the team, Lee emphasized Miller's two-way mindset and his ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. According to Lee, Miller's defensive presence is palpable, and offensively, he can score in a variety of ways while also creating opportunities for his teammates. Lee highlighted Miller's crucial role in setting the team's pace, noting that when Miller runs the floor, his teammates look for him and trust him with the ball. Miller's presence, Lee said, opens up numerous offensive possibilities for the Hornets.
Looking Ahead to the Preseason Finale
As the team looks ahead to its preseason finale, Lee expressed a desire for a more consistent effort across all four quarters. He pointed out that while the middle two quarters were strong, the first and fourth quarters fell short of the team's standards. Lee stressed the importance of building winning habits and avoiding a pattern of turning effort on and off. He believes the players are aware of this need and are committed to improvement.
Dennis Schröder's Contributions
Lee also praised Dennis Schröder for his defensive tenacity, noting that Schröder picks up opponents full-court and disrupts their ability to initiate offense. Offensively, Lee said Schröder excels at organizing the team, getting players into the right positions, and penetrating the paint. With his playoff experience and comfort in high-pressure environments, Schröder brings a steady presence and understands what is required on every possession.
Schuyler Callihan is the publisher of West Virginia On SI and has covered the Mountaineers since 2016. He hosts Between The Eers, The Walk Thru Game Day Show, and In the Gun Podcast. A Wheeling, WV native, Callihan moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2020 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Panthers.