” It’s now or never “. It has now been four years since Terry Rozier continues seasons without playoffs with the Hornets. Before this new exercise, all the elements seemed (almost) there to ward off fate, until Miles Bridges started talking about him again in the legal section.
LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward are back from injuries and the former Celtics guard is in top form, as he showed in the preseason by finishing as his team’s top scorer and passer against the Wizards, and best passer against OKAY.
“He is in a very good phase,” said his coach, Steve Clifford. “He had a great summer and his training camp is excellent, on both ends of the field. He plays well on all levels. It all starts with the hard work he put in over the summer. Not only does he play well, but he brings a lot to the team. Leadership, mindset and everything else.”
Its main room for improvement
To try to help Charlotte get through this postseason milestone, Terry Rozier will continue to invest in leadership. As his teammate PJ Washington mentioned, he is one of those who experienced the playoffs, with Boston, and is listened to when he speaks in the locker room.
“Yes, he’s just more vocal,” pointed out Gordon Hayward, with whom he also played at the Celtics. “That’s the most important thing I think, as he gets older and he’s going to pass the 30-year mark this year, it’s his natural margin for progression. But he is doing well (…). For many of us, we’ve been here four years, and for my part I haven’t made the playoffs yet. So we’re tired of the refrain, ‘We’re a young team,’ and I imagine he thinks the same way.”
Terry Rozier put words into action during the Hornets’ first preseason victory (117-115) against OKC, with 19 points on 7/9 shooting, 6 assists, 1 rebound, 1 interception and 1 block in 26 minutes. “Scary Terry” in all his glory, more determined than ever to take Charlotte to the next level.
“I don’t want to let a single day go by without making the most of it. Even as I begin my ninth year, it doesn’t matter. I always want to improve”he confided. “I have goals for myself, goals for the team, and I really want to make the playoffs. Last year was a real test for me, and I know that I can’t do another season with just my energy and other things like that. I have to lead these guys. So that’s where you see a difference in me and that’s what I’m going to do all year.”
Steve Clifford’s troops play their last preseason match this evening, against Boston at home.
| Terry Rozier | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2015-16 | BOS | 39 | 8 | 27.4 | 22.2 | 80.0 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.9 |
| 2016-17 | BOS | 74 | 17 | 36.7 | 31.8 | 77.3 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.5 |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 80 | 26 | 39.5 | 38.1 | 77.2 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 11.3 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 79 | 23 | 38.7 | 35.3 | 78.5 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 9.0 |
| 2019-20 | CHA | 63 | 34 | 42.3 | 40.7 | 87.4 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 18.0 |
| 2020-21 | CHA | 69 | 35 | 45.0 | 38.9 | 81.7 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 20.4 |
| 2021-22 | CHA | 73 | 34 | 44.4 | 37.4 | 85.2 | 0.8 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 19.3 |
| 2022-23 | CHA | 63 | 35 | 41.5 | 32.7 | 80.9 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 21.1 |
| Total | 540 | 27 | 41.7 | 36.7 | 81.9 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 13.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
