By Sam Perley, hornets.com
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Key Matchup vs. Pistons: Al Jefferson vs. Andre Drummond
Charlotte’s matchup with the Pistons on Wednesday night will be a great early season test for Hornets center, Al Jefferson, who is sure to spend plenty of time guarding one of the NBA’s best big men in Detroit’s Andre Drummond. Jefferson continues to impress in the preseason as his significant offseason weight loss already seems to be paying noticeable dividends with his on-court movement and conditioning. Jefferson has scored in double digits in two of his last three games and is averaging 10.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 22.8 minutes of play through five total preseason games… Jefferson will undoubtedly have his hands full posting up against the Pistons Andre Drummond, who is having a monster preseason following a breakout 2014-15 campaign when he averaged 13.8 points, 13.5 rebounds (second in NBA) and 1.9 blocks. Through Detroit’s first six preseason games, the former-UConn center is averaging 15.0 points and a NBA-high 12.2 rebounds in 29.8 minutes… With Drummond appearing to already be in midseason form for the Pistons, Jefferson will have quite a task in front of him if he wants to help assure the Hornets remain perfect in the 2015 preseason.
Key Matchup vs. Pacers: Marvin Williams vs. Paul George
Both Charlotte’s Marvin Williams and Indiana’s Paul George have spent a lot time so far this preseason making the transition to new positions, which should provide fans with a unique showdown when the Hornets travel to Fort Wayne, IN to take on the Pacers in their preseason finale on Thursday night. Williams, who has been accustomed to playing power forward for much of his 11-year NBA career, will likely be sliding over to small forward more often after Charlotte’s offseason acquisitions of Spencer Hawes, Tyler Hanbrough and rookie Frank Kaminsky, with the need becoming even more glaring after the season-ending injury to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Williams seems to still be adjusting to his new role at small forward as he has posted modest averages of 5.6 points and 4.8 rebounds over his last five games, although did have a preseason-high eight rebounds in Charlotte’s 94-86 win over Chicago on Oct. 19… Fortunately for Williams, Paul George will be in a similar situation as he makes the switch from small forward to power forward following the Pacer’s offseason signing of Monta Ellis. George, who has already been quite vocal this preseason about his comfort level toward playing power forward, seems to be adjusting just fine with 18.6 points (ranked sixth in NBA preseason overall) on 44.1 percent shooting and 5.0 rebounds in just 22.4 minutes through five preseason games…The matchup between Williams and George, who are both making the switch to the other’s former position, should certainly provide for quite an entertaining dynamic to the Hornets showdown with the Pacers on Thursday night as they wrap up their preseason schedule.
Scouting the Hornets (6-0):
Kemba Walker scored a preseason-high 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting in Charlotte’s 94-86 win over the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 19. Walker has scored in double figures five of the Hornets six preseason games. He injured his heel against the Bulls and missed Tuesday’s practice but is probable for Wednesday’s contest… Jeremy Lin posted preseason highs in both points (18) and (8) rebounds in Charlotte’s win against the Bulls. Lin also led the Hornets with five assists and has scored in double figures in all five preseason games he has played… Nicolas Batum matched his preseason-scoring high with 14 points against the Bulls on Monday night. Batum has now scored in double figures in four of five preseason games for Charlotte… Al Jefferson is averaging 12.7 points over his last three preseason games… Cody Zeller is averaging 7.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 20.4 minutes over his last five preseason games… Marvin Williams has connected on 4-of-12 three-point attempts over his last three preseason games (33.3 percent)… rookie Frank Kaminsky is averaging 6.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in 19.6 minutes over his last five preseason games… P.J. Hairston scored a preseason-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field against Chicago on Monday night… Spencer Hawes is averaging 6.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in five preseason games. Hawes also had a preseason-high three blocks against Chicago on Monday night… The Hornets allowed a preseason-high 13 offensive rebounds to the Bulls on Monday night… Charlotte is currently 6-0 in the preseason, which is already a franchise record for most wins in a single preseason… Jeremy Lamb (ankle) is questionable to play against Detroit on Wednesday night.
Scouting the Pistons (2-4):
The Hornets and Pistons split the season series last year, 2-2… Andre Drummond is averaging 15.0 points and a NBA-high 12.2 rebounds so far this preseason. Drummond pulled down a preseason-high 21 rebounds in Detroit’s 101-97 loss to Indiana on Oct. 13… Reggie Jackson is averaging a team-high 16.4 points this preseason for the Pistons, which is ranked 17th overall in the NBA… Detroit acquired power forward Ersan Ilyasova from the Milwaukee Bucks in the offseason in exchange for Shawne Williams and Caron Butler. Ilyasova is averaging 12.8 points and 4.5 rebounds over his last four preseason games… the Pistons received Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for a conditional 2020 second-round pick. Morris is averaging 12.4 points on 53.3 percent shooting from the field and 3.2 rebounds over his last five preseason games… Detroit lost starting power forward, Greg Monroe, in the offseason. Monroe, who signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, averaged 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds last season and was ranked 12th overall in the league in double-doubles (35)… Other notable additions for the Pistons this season include guard Steve Blake (acquired via trade with Brooklyn Nets), center Aron Baynes (signed via free agency from San Antonio) and forward Stanley Johnson (selected eighth overall in 2015 NBA Draft out of the University of Arizona)… Brandon Jennings remains sidelined for the Pistons. Jennings is still recovering from a torn left Achilles he suffered right before the All-Star Break last season… Hornets’ head coach, Steve Clifford, was an assistant coach under Pistons’ head coach, Stan Van Gundy, when he was head coach of the Orlando Magic from 2007-12... Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond were teammates at the University of Connecticut during the 2011-12 NCAA season… Anthony Tolliver played for Charlotte during the 2013-14 NBA season… Nicolas Batum and Steve Blake were teammates on the Portland Trail Blazers last season. Blake also played under Steve Clifford when he was an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2012-13 NBA season… Reggie Bullock and P.J. Hairston were teammates at the University of North Carolina from 2011-13.
Scouting the Pacers (4-1):
Indiana took the season series with the Hornets last season, 3-1… Paul George is ranked sixth overall in the NBA in scoring this preseason (18.6 points). George missed the majority of the 2014-15 NBA season because of a broken leg he suffered in August 2014 while playing with the USA National Team… Indiana signed Monta Ellis away from the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason. Ellis is averaging 9.8 points and 3.0 assists in 20.3 minutes over his last four preseason games for the Pacers… Indiana traded starting center, Roy Hibbert, to the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason in exchange for a future second-round pick. Ian Mahinmi is expected to be the Pacers’ new starting center… George Hill is averaging 9.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in four preseason games so far… C.J. Miles has posted averages of 8.0 points and 1.3 steals in four preseason games… The Pacers selected center Myles Turner out of the University of Texas with the 11thoverall pick and guard Joseph Young out of the University of Oregon with the 43rd overall in the 2015 NBA Draft… Indiana also added Chase Budinger (via trade with Minnesota Timberwolves) and Jordan Hill (via free agency from Los Angeles Lakers) this offseason… The Pacers declined to resign Luis Scola, who signed with the Toronto Raptors in the offseason… Jordan Hill is questionable to play against Charlotte (back)... Nicolas Batum and Ian Mahinmi played on the French National team together at 2009 EuroBasket and 2010 World Championships… Tyler Hansbrough was a member of the Indiana Pacers from 2009-13… Jeremy Lin and Jordan Hill were teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2014-15 NBA season. Hill also played under Hornets head coach, Steve Clifford, when he was an assistant with the Lakers during the 2012-13 NBA season… Lin played with Toney Douglas on the New York Knicks during the 2011-12 NBA season… Al Jefferson and C.J. Miles were teammates on the Utah Jazz from 2010-12.