Though you probably wouldn’t have guessed it from the way each team began the 2012-13 campaign, the New Orleans Hornets and Charlotte Bobcats finished last season with the worst records in the Western and Eastern Conference, respectively. Following a few fortunate bounces of the ping-pong balls at the NBA draft lottery, the Hornets and Bobcats earned the top two picks in the June 28 draft. Both teams selected a University of Kentucky standout, with New Orleans choosing Anthony Davis, followed by Charlotte tabbing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. It was the first time in NBA history that picks 1 and 2 came from the same college, but the 2011-12 Kentucky Wildcats were a special team, one that captured the national title in dominant fashion. Four other Wildcats were drafted into the NBA in June, including Hornets second-round pick Darius Miller.
Friday’s Hornets-Bobcats game was supposed to mark the first time Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist met in an NBA regular season contest, but Davis’ playing status is uncertain due to the concussion he sustained a week ago vs. Utah. Kidd-Gilchrist started the Bobcats’ first three games, averaging 8.0 points and 6.7 rebounds.
New Orleans finished 21-45 overall in 2011-12, but opened the current season with two victories in its first three games, highlighted by a Nov. 3 road victory over Chicago, 89-82. Meanwhile, Charlotte went 7-59 last season – representing the worst regular season record in NBA history – including losing its final 23 games. The Bobcats ended that frustrating 23-game losing skid in their ’12-13 opener, however, by edging a quality Indiana club, 90-89. Charlotte lost in Dallas the next night, then dropped a 117-110 shootout against Phoenix on Wednesday.
Intriguing matchup: Small forward, Al-Farouq Aminu vs. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Aminu is off to the best start of his three-year NBA career, serving as a catalyst in New Orleans victories over Utah and Chicago. The 6-foot-9, 215-pounder has been an all-around force in the early going, averaging 12.5 points and 9.3 rebounds, but perhaps just as importantly, contributing 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. The rookie Kidd-Gilchrist is a similar type of player, projected by many NBA analysts to deliver in various aspects, including rebounding and defending. The Bobcats have utilized a pressing, trapping defense under new coach Mike Dunlap, which plays into the strengths of the versatile 6-foot-7, 232-pound Kidd-Gilchrist.
