Who imagined that the Hornets would be ahead of the Nets, the Heat or the Sixers and the Bulls after 12 days of the regular season? And yet, Michael Jordan’s franchise is indeed 8th with a balanced record: 3 wins and 3 losses. All without LaMelo Ball since the start of the season, but also Terry Rozier and Cody Martin tonight against the Warriors.
Back-to-back, and the day after a nasty defeat in Orlando, Steve Clifford’s players were clearly not favorites before challenging the NBA champions. And yet, it was they who imposed their enthusiasm on the disappointing Warriors.
“Usually the teams that suffer in back-to-back are the older teams” notes Hornets coach. “We have a younger team. This shows that you have to be ready to play. You have to play when you don’t feel good in the league, you have to play when you’re tired. We had talked about it. »
“I think Dennis Smith Jr. was the key to the game”
In front of a packed house, the Hornets went for the victory in overtime, with unlikely heroes like the revenge Dennis Smith Jr..
“I think it’s special for two reasons” believes the former Knicks and Mavericks point guard. “First, it’s a back-to-back. We had been slapped, and we had to come home to protect our balance sheet in our room. We gain a back-to-back whereas last year, we were at 2v-13d in these configurations. Then there was an overtime, and I think we were bad at that last season. We just had a game plan, and we have the discipline to execute it. »
Even though PJ Washington led the way with his 31 points, Smith Jr. was the player who hurt the Warriors the most. This is the opinion of Steve Kerr. “I think Dennis Smith Jr. was the key to the game tonight,” says the Warriors coach. “He scored two important 3-pointers. His defense was really impressive throughout the game. Steph put in his points, but Dennis made him work. »
“A lot of people were saying I shouldn’t be in the NBA”
Compliments that go straight to the heart of the person concerned, who explained this week that he had considered embarking on an American football career. “It means a lot to me, and it feels good. I had to work like crazy this summer. A lot of people were saying I shouldn’t be in the NBA, and things like that. I had to put all that aside and focus… Winning a game against these guys means a lot to me. »
All under the eyes of his loved ones: “It’s important for my family to see me do this and I’m grateful for this opportunity. »
| Dennis Smith | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | DAL | 69 | 30 | 39.5 | 31.3 | 69.4 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 5.2 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.3 | 15.2 |
| 2018-19 * | All Teams | 53 | 29 | 42.8 | 32.2 | 63.5 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 4.8 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 13.6 |
| 2018-19 * | DAL | 32 | 28 | 44.0 | 34.4 | 69.5 | 0.6 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 0.3 | 12.9 |
| 2018-19 * | NYK | 21 | 29 | 41.3 | 28.9 | 56.8 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 5.4 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 14.7 |
| 2019-20 | NYK | 34 | 16 | 34.1 | 29.6 | 50.9 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 5.5 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 23 | 18 | 40.0 | 32.8 | 73.1 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 6.7 |
| 2020-21 * | TED | 20 | 20 | 41.5 | 35.2 | 70.0 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 7.3 |
| 2020-21 * | NYK | 3 | 9 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 83.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 3.0 |
| 2021-22 | ORP | 37 | 17 | 41.8 | 22.2 | 65.6 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 5.6 |
| 2022-23 | CHA | 5 | 28 | 49.1 | 45.5 | 33.3 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 5.8 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 11.6 |
| Total | 221 | 24 | 40.4 | 31.4 | 65.1 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 4.3 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 10.8 | |
