By Sam Perley, hornets.com
Tune In
These games can be heard on WFNZ or the Official Charlotte Hornets app.
Key Matchup vs. Knicks: Frank Kaminsky vs. Kristaps Porzingis
Saturday at Time Warner Cable Arena could feature an enticing showdown between two Top 10 picks from the 2015 NBA Draft when Charlotte’s Frank Kaminsky squares off against New York’s Kristaps Porzingis… Selected ninth overall out of the University of Wisconsin, the seven-foot Kaminsky has posted averages of 6.0 points on 31.8 percent shooting (55.5 percent from 3-point range) and 5.0 rebounds in 15.8 minutes through the Hornets first four preseason games… The rangy and versatile Kaminsky could be facing a very similar-style player in Kristaps Porzingis, who was selected fourth overall by the Knicks in June. Porzingis is questionable coming into Saturday night’s game (quad) and while New York could err on the side of caution with their prized rookie, a showdown between the Latvian Porzingis and Kaminsky could be a rather intriguing matchup between these two rookie power forwards who can both shoot from the perimeter. Through two preseason games for the Knicks, Porzingis has averaged 8.0 points on 40.0 percent shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks… If Porzingis is able to go on Saturday, a matchup against Kaminsky could be the first of many enticing showdowns between these two versatile seven-footers that are to come over the next few NBA seasons.
Key Matchup vs. Bulls: Jeremy Lamb vs. Jimmy Butler
Jeremy Lamb will have a great opportunity to stake his claim as the Hornets starting shooting guard as he matches up against one of the best players at the position in the league in Chicago’s Jimmy Butler on Monday in Charlotte… Through four games this preseason, Lamb is averaging 10.3 points on 35.1 percent shooting from the field (35.7 percent from 3-point range), 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 24.8 minutes. Hoping to kickstart his career after being buried on the bench in Houston and Oklahoma City for the last three years, Lamb’s play against the All-Star Butler could go a long way in helping him solidify that starting shooting guard position in the Hornets lineup… Now in his fifth season out of Marquette University, the talented and aggressive Butler continues to get better every year and is arguably one of the best two-way shooting guards in the entire NBA. Butler averaged career highs in points (20.0), rebounds (5.8) and assists (3.3) last season for the Bulls while racking up his first All-Star appearance, the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award and his second-consecutive NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors… Lamb will have a great chance to prove himself on Monday in Charlotte and a strong showing against Jimmy Butler could go a long ways in helping further his chances in securing Charlotte’s starting shooting guard position when the regular season begins.
Scouting the Hornets (4-0):
Kemba Walker is averaging 12.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists through the Hornets first four preseason games. Walker was also one of only 10 players last season to average 17+ points, 5+ assists, 3.5+ rebounds and 1.5+ steals during the 2014-15 NBA season (minimum of 60 games played)… Nicolas Batum has posted averages of 13.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 steals per game so far this preseason. Batum dished out 4.8 assists per game last season as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, which was ranked third amongst all forwards in the league… Al Jefferson has tallied 9.7 points and 7.0 rebounds so far this preseason although he continues to noticeably move much better on the court following a substantial offseason weight loss. Jefferson tallied a team-high 22 double-doubles last season, which was tied for seventh most in the Eastern Conference… Cody Zeller continues to stake his claim for the Hornets starting power forward spot as he has posted 10.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.4 minutes per game so far this preseason. Zeller missed most of March and April last season with a shoulder injury, which was surgically repaired during the offseason… Marvin Williams has posted averages of 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds so far this preseason after knocking down a career-high 95 3-point field goals during the 2014-15 NBA season… Troy Daniels is doubtful to play against the Knicks (hamstring) but could be ready against Chicago on Monday… P.J. Hairston (calf) and Elliot Williams (hip) are questionable to play Saturday night… Charlotte recorded its largest victory in preseason history with its 113-71 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on October 14, 2015 in Shanghai, China.
Scouting the Knicks (3-0)
Charlotte took the season series from the Knicks last season, 3-1… Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks last season in scoring (24.2 points) although played just 40 games for New York after his season was cut short because of knee injuries… New York also had major roster turnover in the 2015 NBA offseason as it signed Aaron Afflalo and Robin Lopez away from the Portland Trail Blazers and Derrick Williams away from Sacramento Kings. The Knicks also added Kevin Seraphin from the Washington Wizards and Kyle O’Quinn from the Orlando Magic while adding Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia) and Jerian Grant (Notre Dame) in the 2015 NBA Draft… New York also added NBA veteran Sasha Vujacic, (Istanbul BSB of the Turkish Basketball Super League) and Thanasis Antetokounmpo, (NBA Development League) as well… Aaron Afflalo (hamstring), Kristaps Porzingis (quad) and Kevin Seraphin (knee) are all day-to-day for the Knicks… Charlotte’s Jeremy Lin was a member of the New York Knicks during the 2011-12 NBA season. Lin is also a former teammate of New York’s Lou Amundson (Golden State Warriors from 2010-11) as is Tyler Hansbrough (Indiana Pacers from 2011-12) … Nicolas Batum and Aaron Afflalo were teammates on the Portland Trail Blazers at the end of the 2014-15 NBA season.
Scouting the Bulls (2-3)
Charlotte and Chicago split the season series last year, 2-2… The Bulls return largely the same roster from last season, when they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals before being eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games… Pau Gasol (18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks) and Jimmy Butler (20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists) both return to Chicago after All-Star appearances last season… Joakim Noah (7.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks) along with Nikola Mirotic (10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds) also return for the Bulls this season… Point guard, Derrick Rose, and power forward, Taj Gibson, hope to rebound this year after they both endured injury-plagued 2014-15 campaigns. Rose is already sidelined again this season after fracturing his left orbital bone in an early season Bulls practice, which required surgery… Kirk Hinrich (foot) and Tony Snell (ankle) are considered day-to-day right now for the Bulls… Chicago selected forward Bobby Portis out of the University of Arkansas with the 22nd overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft. Portis was chosen as the 2015 SEC Player of the Year last season in his sophomore season with the Razorbacks… Chicago fired head coach, Tom Thibodeau, at the conclusion of the 2014-15 NBA season. Thibodeau posted a 255-139 regular season record with the Bulls from 2010-15 and also worked on the Houston Rockets coaching staff with Hornets head coach, Steve Clifford, from 2003-07… Thibodeau was replaced by Iowa State University head coach, Fred Hoiberg, who played for the Bulls from 1999-2003… Charlotte’s Frank Kaminsky and Chicago’s Doug McDermott were both recipients of the NCAA Naismith National Player of the Year Award. Kaminsky won in 2015 with the University of Wisconsin while McDermott won in 2014 with Creighton University.