March 28, 2025 • 39 mins
Earlier this week, Hornets Sports and Entertainment officially broke ground on the Novant Health Performance Center, a multipurpose building that will be the new home of the Hornets practice facility. Sam Farber and Sam Perley of Hornets.com recap the monumental day for the franchise, and we also hear from Kemba Walker, Muggsy Bogues and Charles Lee on what this facility will provide for the franchise. Plus, the two Sam's preview Charlotte's next game, a road contest in Toronto.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Hornets Hoodcast, presented by Charlotte I ear
Nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear nos in throatcare
provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Sam Farber.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to another edition of the Hornet Timecast, your Hornets
podcast with all the notes, quote, san daily buzz around
your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it is
a pleasure and a privilege have you with us here
once again on the Hornet Time Cast, brought to you
by Santa Charlotte, I hear nos and Throat Associates, the
official I hero Nosen Throwcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets.
Really big episode of the HHC you might have heard
(00:34):
on Wednesday, the Hornets broke ground on what will soon
be the Novon Health Performance Center, a state of the
art practice facility for the Hornets basketball team, as well
as offices for the squad and a community asset in
a variety of ways as well. We'll get into that
shortly here on this episode of the Hornets have Cast.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Also, it is a game day.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Episode of the HHC, so we'll be giving you our
preview for Hornets Verse Toronto raptors, and because we had
so much fun talking to Miles Bridges yesterday. By the way,
if you missed the podcast, go back into the archives
check out yesterday's episode one on one exclusive sit down
with Miles Bridges. But we, as part of the groundbreaking
ceremony yesterday or two days ago, now had the opportunity
(01:17):
to talk to Hornet's head coach Charles Lee, all time
leading scorer, Kemba Walker and Charlotte and NBA legend Muggsy
Bogues about what a new practice facility really means to
any NBA city, let alone here in the Queen City.
So I'm excited to bring you that conversation here as well.
Helping me on all of these topics. One of our
favorites here on the Hornets podcast, a part of every
(01:39):
two Sam's episode of the AHHC. Senior writer for Hornets
dot Com, Sam Purley, Sam, thanks for joining.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Me, of course, thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Thrilled to have you here.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Let's start off with the biggest news maybe of the year,
quite frankly for the team, and that is that on Wednesday,
the Hornets broke ground on the Novent Health Performance Center,
which will be the next jewel in the crown of
the Queen City. If you'd like to see the entire
roundbreaking ceremony, all the pomp and circumstances and listen to
me hosting the thing, you can go to Hornets dot
(02:08):
com or the Hornets YouTube page and see the full ceremony.
All of the leaders of our community, including Mayor vy
Lyles as well as Hornets co Chairman Rich Nall and
Gabe Plotkin. President of Basketball Operations, Jeff Peterson was there.
President of Business Operations Shelley kayat Weston was there. A
lot of great speakers and talking about delivering a state
(02:28):
of the art practice facility for the players, coaches, for
the support staff of the Charlotte Hornets, but much more
than that, sam because it will also serve as home
base for the front office and staff, state of the
art in that way as well, and it'll be a
community asset providing medical services to the local area as
well as revitalizing the surroundings of Spectrum Center, so on
a variety of ways. This is a big undertaking and
(02:52):
a huge step forward, not just for the franchise.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
But for the city.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Absolutely and obviously echoing what everybody else is saying that's
been involved at the project, in and around the organization
right now. It's you know, very very exciting. It's you know,
this is a big investment, like you said, not only
for the franchise but also for the city of Charlotte.
(03:16):
It's you know, it kind of just continues to echo
the commitment and the determination that you know, Ricktional and
Gabe plot can have about making this a premiere NBA
franchise and to go through the arena renovations that are
you know, basically halfway done at this point, and then
to kind of also take on this project at the
same time. It's pretty rare, I think for both these
(03:39):
things to be happening concurrently, let alone separate. So it's
really exciting and it's crazy to think that, like, okay,
it's going to be in the gravel parking lot and
as soon as kind of it starts, you hit the
ball roll and you look over there and it's trees
are getting torn down and I mean they're hitting the ground,
running and going. So this is not something they're kind
of waiting around to do. It's it's ready to go,
and the you know, construction is already underway.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
The hitting the ground, running it and not sparing any
time is really remarkable. I mean, obviously it is a
major investment to assume ownership chairmanship of any professional sports franchise,
but in the NBA in particular, as strong as the
league as it is. That's quite the investment you're making
just to get in the door.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Then do, on top of.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
That, immediately put down a whole lot of money and
time and resources to build a practice facility, to revitalize,
reimagine the playing facility. That's a lot to put in,
particularly when you haven't had a lot of time to
start to, you know, recoup your initial investment for the team.
So it's notable, it's remarkable, and it's something we wanted
(04:44):
to note here on this episode of the AHHC. We
did hear from both co chairmen of Hornet Sports and Entertainment.
Want to let you hear from them. First up, Rick Schnall.
He talked about the difference that this building can make
towards becoming the premier franchise in the NBA and building
a winner here in the city of Charlotte.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
We think this is going to be the best practice
facility in the league. We think it's going to have
facilities that free agents are going to want to come
and play with us, that our players are going to
want to stay and be here, and that we'll be
able to develop our players into stars over time.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Sam, we'll talk in a little bit about all the
other things this is going to be for the community.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
But it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's a practice facility, a performance facility.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
This is about making.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
The Charlotte Hornets better, more competitive for the future, not
just with the guys already in the organization, but attracting
top talent. In Charles Lee said as part of the ceremonies,
players talk. They know who is putting the time, the
resources into the latest and greatest for its players, and
this will certainly reverberate around the NBA the investment that
(05:51):
the Hornets are making, and once it's completed and becomes
the leading facility in the entire association, all those dreams
will become reality and hopefully we'll continue to bring the
Hornets closer to being the premier franchise in the NBA
on and off.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
The court, for sure. And I think that's something that
maybe has kind of flown under the radar a little bit.
As this can be used as not necessarily a recruiting tool.
I mean, in a way it is like that, but
it's a it's a symbol of what the organization is
doing in the sense of investing in itself and making
this you know, taking this organization to the next level
(06:27):
and you know, with world class facilities, but the investment
that's making in its players. And if you're a free
agent in the NBA and you're considering going to Charlotte,
you know, NBA players they don't have this infinite life
of playing. You know, you only have eight, ten, twelve years.
If you have a really good, long career and you
want to go to a place where you can get
the maximum team there can get the maximum of your
(06:49):
abilities and you can get you can play the best
to your abilities. And if you have a world class
facility available to do that, that's obviously an enticing resource
when you come to look at, you know, potential free
agent destination. So certainly think it sends a message to
not only sort of the Charlotte community and the organization
that hey, we are serious. You know, Rick Nolingabe Block
(07:11):
is serious about taking this organization to you know, that
premier level, world class facilities that they continue to preach
and continue to strive to be but sends the signals
to the MBA and you know, potential future free agents
that you know if you come here, you're going to
be taken care of because we're investing in our players
and we care about you and we want you to
get the most out of you and to see your
(07:32):
full potential, like you said, both on and off the court.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So obviously, the main thing that we're looking to see
here from the Hornets is the return on investment on
the floor in terms of wins, in terms of competing
in the playoffs, championships one day, all that stuff. That
that's the big thing on its face that you hope
to gain from taking this giant step forward with new
facilities or reimagined Spectrum Center and now the soon to
(07:56):
be novent Health Performance Center. But it's more than a
Hornets basketball asset, Sam, It's a community asset as well.
And one thing I think we have to applaud from
ownership from rich Na and Gay Plockin is the mindset
of being a steward of the franchise.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
This isn't quote unquote their thing, this is our thing.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
And that part of being in charge is being entrusted
to do what's in the benefit of all stakeholders, not
just the shareholders on the ownership level.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
But fans, employees, citizens, people who.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Maybe never have and maybe never will go to an
NBA game out of personal preference or you know, whatever
reasons there might be, but can still take personal pride
in the city being revitalized. And this is just so
much bigger, as you'll hear from co chairman Gay Plocin,
than just about the Hornets the basketball team.
Speaker 6 (08:44):
And it'll provide our community access to a remarkable orthopedics
and sports medicine clinic along with new retail space. It
will uplift the neighborhood around Spectrum Center, as Rick mentioned,
and that's certainly a long term goal of ours as well.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
And something I took away just hearing Rick and Gabe
talk and seeing their vision is the visionaries that they are.
They don't look at the area around Spectrum and Center
and say, oh, one day, you know, a good basketball
team will play inside there, and that's you know, they
have a larger vision for what Spectrum Center looks like,
what it looks like on game day, what the surrounding
businesses will look like, what the practice facility looks like.
(09:19):
You know, we have been for years coming and looking
at a gravel lot and seeing a parking lot. They
saw obviously something so much more, and it will benefit
everyone here in the Queen City, not just those of
us lucky enough to work for the franchise.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
I'm really excited to kind of see. I know, it
feels like two and a half years or two years
you know by the hopefully you know, completion by the
start of the twenty six twenty seven season seems a
ways off, but you know, you know how fast sometimes
these NBA seasons can move. I'm really excited to kind
of see what sort of blossoms out from this. I
think this is going to be, for lack of a
better term, a building block in the sense of it
(09:53):
is a very large building block that the rest of
the city or other developments can kind of expand upon,
you know, and it's you know, they've talked about or
obviously traveled to other NBA arenas and you see some
of the surrounding areas. One comes to mind Sacramento it's
got that, you know, restaurants and stuff around it, and
Milwaukee's got that, Phoenix has got that I think ultimately,
(10:15):
you know, this is it's that's obviously going to take
some more time. You know, you don't want to doing
this step by step, and you know that's not necessarily
a Hornets, but you know, other properties of the developments
can kind of come in and start expanding upon it
and really, you know, kind of revitalize the area a
little bit, like you said, So I'm excited to see
it kind of slowly kind of go up, even though
(10:35):
it's like I said in the first thing, it's it's
moving fast in the sense of they've already started clearing
the parking lot and you know, I've got machinery in
there and everything. So but yeah, I think that'll be
It's as somebody that is, you know, raised in Charlotte
and lived here for probably over thirty years at this point,
to kind of see the growth that the city has
made since I was young, and then to kind of
(10:56):
waitness it firsthand continuing to grow and take another step
is really cool for me personally and ultimately really exciting
as well.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
If you want to hear the full remarks from Hornet's
coach chairman Rick s Nall and Gay plock In, as
well as Hornet's President of Business Operations Shelley Kayak Weston
and President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson, Mayor Vilius so
many great speakers from the groundbreaking on Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
All of it is available at Hornets dot com.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Part of the proceedings, we had a great fireside chat
roundtable session with some Hornets legends Muggsy Bogues and franchise
all time leading scorer Kemba Walker, as well as Hornet's
head coach Charles Lee, about what a new Novon Health
Performance Center would mean for the franchise moving forward. We'll
have that conversation for you next here on the Hornets
(11:43):
I've cast.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Welcome back to the HHC.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
We're talking all about the new lead just had the
groundbreaking a couple of days ago, coming to Charlotte soon,
Novon Health Performance Center. It'll be the next crown jewel
in the Queen's City and it's gonna have a remarkable
impact not just on the basketball team but the community
at large. But we were focused, obviously a lot on
(12:09):
what the impact will be for the team itself, and
part of making that better understood for everyone in attendance
was talking to some people that are gonna basically be
living inside the performance center for large parts of the season.
Hornets head coach Charles Lee, Hornet's all time leading scorer
and a coach right now on the team as well,
(12:29):
Kemba Walker, as well as Hornet's legend Muggsy Bogues, were
all part of a fireside chat with me and we
were talking about the performance facility, and as Muggsy is
always so great at doing, he started things off with
a joker in these high back chairs, and well, here's
how Muggsy Bogues, the great Muggsy Bugues tip things off.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
He can't test the ground.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
All right, here you go, all right, so this is
designed to be more of a roundtable, so you guys
are free to converse amongst yourself and.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
Leave me out of it.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
But I'll just kind of get the conversation started. And
we're here at what's going to be the new Novent
Health Performance Center, and I'm curious what performance facilities looked
like at the different stages you all entered the NBA. So, Muggsy,
when you entered the NBA, what was the idea behind
a practice facility or performance center?
Speaker 8 (13:20):
Well, back an hour, it was just basically practice. We
had a few equipment in an Abdala. I think our big,
our big treatment was mainly getting stem, electric stem. You know,
you get an electric stem, you felt like you was
you know, you was recovered because of you know, all
the things that we go through in terms of the season.
(13:41):
But we didn't have many machinery back then. We definitely
didn't have a hydro therapy. H We had some physical
therapy going on, but.
Speaker 9 (13:54):
Did you have to walk across the broken glass to
get to the facility and everything too?
Speaker 7 (14:00):
White shoes converse.
Speaker 8 (14:03):
They gave they gave us some little little slip on
ones that you get from the hospital. Yeah, so they
kind of gave us that.
Speaker 7 (14:09):
But we didn't have much back then.
Speaker 8 (14:11):
It was mainly all on you.
Speaker 7 (14:13):
What you think about that gap, Kimber, What about you?
Speaker 2 (14:17):
What was the idea behind the performance facility when you
entered the league?
Speaker 10 (14:21):
I mean I didn't just finish that long ago.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
You had a long, great career, so when you started
it had to be a little different.
Speaker 10 (14:30):
I mean the place I started is still there. Yeah,
it was fun with me.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
We just have no bathroom, that's the only thing. Yeah,
but it's cool.
Speaker 10 (14:40):
I've been to a lot of different ones. I'm excited
to see what this one is gonna be like. To
see that video was was unbelievable.
Speaker 7 (14:47):
So yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 10 (14:49):
I think it's it's super important, you know, for our players,
for everyone, you know, kind of it's like a home
away from home. So I'm looking forward to it's gonna
be It's gonna be fun.
Speaker 7 (14:59):
You mentioned home away from home.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
How much time as an NBA player, as a coach,
as a member of a staff do you really spend
in the facilities and what's about to be built here.
Speaker 9 (15:12):
I can't wait to hear this. He's got a different
perspective now as a coach.
Speaker 7 (15:16):
Yeah, it's a lot, A lot of times a lot.
It's not really a number.
Speaker 10 (15:21):
Can then.
Speaker 7 (15:24):
I would say, like, uh, it's like sixty percent.
Speaker 10 (15:28):
It's maybe eighty for him, for me sixty. But it's
a place I love to be. It's a place that
the players should want to be. It's a place for
those guys to get better, Uh, keep their minds right,
keep their bodies right, and just to improve. That's that's
the overall goal, right to as a pro athlete, to
(15:49):
become the best athlete that you can become and this
place is going to be that place.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
So's there.
Speaker 9 (15:55):
It's uh, it's cool to hear all the like well,
first of all, to see the video like this is
a very exciting day.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
I'm honored to.
Speaker 9 (16:04):
Actually be a part of something like this, Like to
see the commitment from our ownership group to invest in
the community, in the team, I think it means a lot.
And as you get these brand new, state of the
art facilities, I think it just shows the staff, it
shows the players, the commitment to trying to be great
at all costs and to give you every resource you
(16:25):
possibly can to maximize who you are as a person,
who you are as a player, to maximize Charlotte and
the Carolinas and everything that we have to give is
really cool. It's even great to you know, I was
in Atlanta and we had a practice facility that was
connected to the arena as well. So you don't have
don't have as many of the bells and whistles and
(16:47):
therapy systems and stuff like that and all the technology,
but you've become a little bit even more grateful when
all of a sudden you get this new practice facility.
It almost creates this sense of like, oh okay, Like
we kind of grinded it out in the dark days
of the practice facility in the arena, and now you
get this phenomenal facility to come to because it's their sanctuary.
(17:08):
These guys will tell you all that goes on in
their lives, all that's going on outside of the gym,
all the things that they do in the community.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
It's amazing. They have families, the whole nine yards.
Speaker 9 (17:19):
But when you step in that building, it is like
your place to kind of get away, your safe space.
And so everyone that's building the facility right now and
all the thoughtfulness that goes into it, it's in an effort,
I think, to just maximize everyone as people. The workspace,
bring a sense of togetherness, to get everybody under one building.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
So it's a great thing to say.
Speaker 8 (17:41):
I just feel bad for the wives because I know
that type of facility is going to allow these guys
to spend more time in that deal than because of
the recover. But it's so good to have that because
it's so competitive. You know, the NBA is a copy
catalade and when.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
You as a child is soluted to.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
He was in Atlanta, he got to see what they
go through and when players understand they have the best
of the best facilities and you know, have opportunity to
recover quickly, and we had the best positions in there.
Speaker 7 (18:13):
I mean, it just helps you recruit.
Speaker 8 (18:14):
It also helped you as a player get back on
court that much.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Quicker, and not just recruiting players, but recruiting talent. I mean,
we all see every game day the fifteen players that
are shooted up to see coach in the spotlight. There's
a lot of people that are working behind the scenes
that will be a part of this new facility that
spend as many or more hours than the players.
Speaker 7 (18:34):
What from your.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Guys individual perspectives, do you feel the impact is going
to be on all of them, their lives, their ability
to bring the franchise forward in their own capacity.
Speaker 9 (18:44):
Yeah, when you have the tools and your tool bagage
just growing now. I think that it helps you just
kind of like continuing in education. It helps you continue
to grow as a person. Know, you have all these
resources at your disposal, and it's gonna help us put
it back into the players, you know. I think that
they are going to reap the benefits of all the
(19:06):
great things that we're gonna have in that building, and
you know, like Kimba said, we obviously spend a ton
of time there. Now it's even gonna be nice to
be able to have a little lounge and as you're
in that lounge, now I get to interact with the
front office, or I get to interact a little bit
more with the performance staff or potentially a novaugh On
employee and stuff, and just even seeing the spaces of like, oh,
(19:27):
if we have a visitor come to practice, they get
a better site line into a viewing practice, and then
what way is the media team coming in?
Speaker 7 (19:34):
And it's it's just going to be like a.
Speaker 9 (19:36):
Seamless, I think, well thought out layout to bring about
a little bit more togetherness, alignment, crossing paths, and allowing
people to just be as good as they possibly can
be at their job.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
It's gonna be a lot more than just some courts
and some racks of balls. There's so much available now
for players in this modern era, kim But what's something
that exists in a practice facility. They maybe already exists
over there, but we'll have bigger, better versions of here
in the new facility that fans don't think of. But
it is vital to a player and this preparation to
(20:10):
be as best out on the court.
Speaker 7 (20:12):
It's a couple different things.
Speaker 10 (20:13):
I mean just space, to be honest, Like right now,
our weight room is is pretty small right now, so
it only allows a few guys at a time. So
now with a bigger weight room, you know, we can
have more guys in there. So that to help out
a lot. Uh, A pool pool with a treadmill, you
know that that helps a lot. I don't know what
(20:34):
else is it is gonna be in here, but uh,
when I was in Boston, actually they had a saltwater
tank which was really nice. I went in there a
couple of times. I actually fell asleep in there. It
was it was really really nice. So hopefully we could.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
This song like that, this song.
Speaker 10 (20:54):
Like that here. So but yeah, that's it.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
I see Rick taking notes. He's got a lot all
coming together.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
Yeah. I shouldn't know. I should have known. This is
the request time.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Let them know whatever you want in terms of the
infrastructure to help the organization attract top talent. Kemba, you
had a long career, monst that you had a long career.
You both had decision points where you could elect to
go somewhere else stay in Charlotte. In terms of what
the next step would be in your career, how much
(21:24):
does a new practice facility, a Nova on Health performance
center go along towards bringing the very best in talent
to the NBA. Where As Munk, as you mentioned, it's
a copycat league. There's a lot of teams trying to
do something like this, and the Hornets going to a
whole new level.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
It helps.
Speaker 8 (21:40):
It helps because players want the best, But of course
that ain't gonna be the final decision on their you
know and half in terms of what they choose. But
it always helped when you had the best facilities and
you got the best positions and you have an opportunity
to get back on the court quickly, because that's what
it all comes down to, having everybody healthy. And I'm
quite sure or are they not trying to spend as
(22:01):
much time in that facility. It's makeually to get anybody
to stay healthy to where we ain't got to get
aid by healthy.
Speaker 7 (22:08):
Great call.
Speaker 9 (22:09):
Uh And to Mousey's point, players talk, and so the
buzz around the league, no pun intended, there will just
be that you know, the Hornets, they're doing it right,
They're doing it the right way. Not only do they
have this great facility, but the people that they have
within the facility are also top top level. That's why
(22:31):
they are They're going to be the premier sports franchise.
And an agent comes in the building one day and
has a meeting with Jaff for the front office, and
they see the facility like when they see that you
were doing things the right way and you're kind of
growing towards being a premier, it's attractive and you want
to be a part of it.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
It's what wooed me here.
Speaker 9 (22:50):
And I think that if we just keep doing the
right thing for our players by adding this facility and
all the other things that we've kind of added since
this ownership group has come aboard those resources, it definitely
pays dividends.
Speaker 7 (23:02):
All right, last question for you guys.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
This is about the message that you're hearing from what's
taking place here today and the work that's being undergone
over across the street as well. Once completed, the Hornets
are going to operate two world class facilities. We'll have
the fully reimagined Spectrum Center phase two of renovations.
Speaker 7 (23:20):
I'm not sure phase one ever ended.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Like every time the lights turn off from a game,
someone in a hard hat goes back in there. But
Phase two begins in earnest at the end of this season,
and there will be the Novant Health Performance Center. What
does the investment that's been made by Rick Shnall and
Gay Plotkin, by our great partners at Novant Health say
to you guys and your roles as players, coaches, alumni
(23:43):
of the team, and also what does it say to
the city of Charlotte and the Hornets fans that you
guys represent.
Speaker 8 (23:49):
But to me, I'm sorry, I'm gonna have months, well
to me to say they committed, Yeah, truly committed not
only to bringing a championship, premier type of franchise here,
but they also committed uplift in the community. You know,
with a partnership with no Vau bring this performance center here.
It's not just for the team and for the organization.
I believe it's also for the public and for them
to have that innovative thought to bring this cutting edge
(24:13):
type of technology to the uptown.
Speaker 7 (24:15):
It's amazing.
Speaker 10 (24:16):
Same thing Muggs said, they care, No, they care. They
want to make the city great, which we all appreciate.
I appreciate, you know, obviously I played for a long time,
and you know, I want to see this, this place
go to the top, and that's when that's that's one
of the reasons why I came back. And I'm excited.
I'm excited for the future. I'm excited to to build
(24:39):
with these guys, get us better, to get the Hornets
back on. I know the city is ready, so it's
gonna be fun.
Speaker 7 (24:45):
They said it.
Speaker 9 (24:45):
Really, I'd just add growth, like to hear the city
has grown from what the mayor had to say. The
city has grown from and the team has grown since
Muggsy was here, since Kimber's been here, since the ownership group,
and like we are growing and excelling and we keep climbing,
and like we are competitive, we are resilient. This journey
(25:09):
is far from over. But I think at the end
of the day, we all want to be the best.
We want to be the best city, We want to
be the best for the Carolinas.
Speaker 7 (25:16):
We want to be the.
Speaker 9 (25:17):
Like just overall great and so like that is what
I see when I think about Hornets, when I hear
about the Nova on story, when I think about this
ownership group and everything.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
So Hornets ed coach Charles Lee, Hornet's legend Muggsy Bogues,
and Hornet's current coach, as well as the franchise is
all time leading scorer Kemba Walker talking about what it's
going to mean having the new Novent Health Performance Center
a part of the landscape of the city's sporting culture
and of course a part of Hornets sports and entertainment
(25:47):
and building a winning basketball team for the future here
in the Queen City. Well, a lot obviously happened on Wednesday. Again,
go back to Hornets dot com. You can see the
full remarks, the full fireside chat, all the festive over
there as well as on Hornet social media. Coming up next,
it's a game day edition of the Hornetsive Cast. Hornet's
taken on the Raptors tonight. We'll have our game preview
(26:08):
next here on the Hornet Time Cast. Sam Farber, Sam
Purley here with you on the HHC. A groundbreaking episode
of the Hornet Tive Cast. Sam, we had a lot
to talk about the groundbreaking for the nov On Health
Performance Center. Definitely encourage you to go to Hornets dot
com and hear all of the remarks, all of the
great speakers from the festivities, on Wednesday, and while you're
(26:31):
going through archives, go on ahead and check out yesterday's
episode of The Hornets Tive cast. We sat down with
Miles Bridges for a great one on one conversation, his
thoughts on the future of the franchise, his partnership with
the Mellow Ball, how he thinks he should be a
model for LaFrance at this point, the gear, not just
the Airbnb partnership in any case, lots of great stuff
(26:51):
there as well. And it's a game day episode, so
we're gonna give you our game preview Hornet's taking on
the Toronto Raptors tonight. Just a little bit of the
lay of the lane and Toronto not mathematically eliminated just
yet from postseason contention, but it seems very unlikely. They've
got ten games left and they're six games back of Miami,
who's just found their way out of a ten game
(27:12):
losing streak. So the Raptors are really gonna have to
go if they're gonna get their Hornets of course eliminated
from postseason contention, but have a chance still to win
the season series against the Raptors as they've only faced
each other one time. They've got two matchups remaining, including tonights,
and if the Hornets win it north of the Border,
they take the season series over at the Raptors. Sam,
you know how these things work when need players to
(27:33):
watch from both teams as well as the stat to
watch other than points, because that's cheating.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Whoever scores the most points wins the game. Where do
you want us begin?
Speaker 4 (27:39):
I will go with Hornet player to watch, and my
hornet to watch is going to be LaMelo Ball. I
thought he was fantastic in the game the other night
against Orlando, finished with twenty five points at fourteen in
the fourth quarter, very efficient, shot over sixty percent three
or four from three, had nine assists, was a big
catalyst for that early third quarter I think was like
(28:00):
a twenty two to five run that vaulted them right
back into the game and gave him about a seven
eight point lead. Obviously the biggest issue in that game
was the foul trouble again got you know, I think
he picked up three fouls midway through the second and
then got a fourth. You know that was maybe kind
of so so ish towards the end of the quarter,
and it just, you know, it's something I think it's
gotten a lot better as the season progressed. But I
(28:21):
mean he was playing I thought so well the in
the night just from a shot making an efficiency is
driving his playmaking. It's through some incredible passes in the
first half to especially hitting Josh Green in the corner
a couple times, and some dump offs to Mark Williams
underneath the basket. To his credit too, I think he
you know, he stayed in for the you know, I
think he got his fifth maybe midway through the third,
and then when he checked back in the fourth, he
(28:43):
basically played the rest of the game until picked up
his sixth I think when the game was essentially over.
But love to see more of that. He just, you know,
make sure he's staying on the court and if he,
you know, continues to play like he was the other
day and just kind of limits the foul trouble and
can keep Charles Lee from having to go really deep
into his rotations. I think the Hornets will and good
shit love it.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
I think it was a really good data point for
LaMelo to be able to see, like, hey, it's not
just in theory. A coach puts me on the court
and says, all right, for this session of practice. You
got five fouls, don't get another one. It's a game,
and there's live refs and a live opponent and all
the things that come with that for him to put
on tape. Hey, I can go into a fourth quarter
with five fouls being told gotta be careful, your team
(29:22):
needs you, and not just survive it, but thrive under
those circumstances and keep the team in it throughout. Really,
it was his best quarter by far of the game
for his own personal offense as well as orchestrating everything
going on. I thought it was a remarkable game and
definitely a positive sign for the future. So great pick there.
I'm gonna go with Nick Smith Junior. Nick is on
a really good run right now. He's had five consecutive
(29:43):
games in double figures. He's playing his best basketball of
the season right here, right now. I think back to
December before the injury to Brandon Miller. Obviously no one
wanted that, but Nick was playing very sparingly. His three
point percent was down, it was right around thirty percent.
Fast forward into late Jananuary into February, he gets more
consistent playing time, his teammates around him become more uniform.
(30:07):
We see him playing a lot more with Josh Green,
with Miles Bridges, with Mark Williams, with lamellow Ball, his
shot quality goes up and his shooting percentages start to
shoot up, to the point that now February March combined,
he's averaging north of thirteen points per game. He's shooting
about thirty five percent from three. These are all really
good numbers. And one other thing to keep in mind here.
Don't know if he's going to start to come off
(30:28):
the bench for this one, but just an interesting stat
line right now when it comes to NSJ coming off
the bench, he is shooting thirty eight percent from three.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
That's notable to me because he's likely.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
To have that role next season if he's able to
earn it, maybe that lead scorer off the bench, knowing
how to come off and sub in, be a pinch
hitter at times, or just fold into the starting group
and be able to operate at that kind of efficiency,
it's going to be huge for him. He's only twenty
years old. The best is way way out in the future.
It's only yet to come here for Nick Smith Junior,
(31:01):
but we're seeing some really positive signs of growth for
the young man and I'm excited to see the next
data point from NSJ. All right, next up, you got
a stat to watch or a raptor to watch?
Speaker 4 (31:10):
I will go with raptor to watch, and my raptor
to watch is Emmanuel Quickly. He did not play in
the first game against the Hornets back in late October.
I think it was the Hornet's fourth game of the season.
He's only played twenty nine games this year, has had
some lingering what I read was a pelvic contusion he
suffered on opening night. He's also had an elbow injury.
So he's only played twenty nine games this year, but
(31:31):
playing a little bit more consistently in March in February
doesn't seem to be playing the entire part of back
to backs. That would not apply necessarily to tomorrow's game
because Toronto will not be on a back to back.
But this month in eight games played again not a
huge stample size, but twenty point six points on forty
three percent shooting thirty six percent from three, almost six
(31:52):
assists in over a steal per game. You know he's
in his I guess this is his first full season
with Toronto. Again. He has obviously missed a lot of time.
But when he in New York, I mean just a
really quick point guard. I think you have to be quick.
If your last name is Quickly, it's required. You got
to get up and down the court really quick. And
he's a guy that can push the pace in transition.
He can get to the basket. His three point shooting
(32:13):
is coming around a little bit. He's a good facilitator.
It's kind of a mixed bag this year for him,
just because he's been hurt and Toronto's had some other
injuries too, about to what he can really do when
taking on a lead point guard role in Toronto full
time after being a six man in New York. I
know he played. He started thirty eight games for Toronto
last year after coming over in the Siakam trade, but
haven't been able to do as much of this season
(32:35):
as I thought, or I think Toronto thought he was
going to be able to do just because of the injuries.
But he's finding a little bit of a stride right now.
And if he turned the ball over and he gets
his hands on it, he can push the pace in
transition and turn those takeaways into points.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
Like the pick.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
I'm gonna go with someone I'm a little hesitant to
because he's been in and out of the lineup. They
ected to rest him even last game, but we'll see.
I think he's gonna play tonight based of the indications
I'm hearing as the recording of this podcast. But their
center Yaka Perle, he had an enormous game in the
first matchup of the season, Hornets win way back on
October thirtieth. That seems like years ago. Charlotte won one
(33:10):
thirty eight to one thirty three.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
But Pearl was big. Twenty points.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
It's always biggest seven footer, twenty points, sixteen rebounds. He
had a really really good game. Keep in mind this
was before Mark Williams was playing for the Charlotte Hornets.
So now we fast forward to the present day. Again,
Pearl's been in and out of the lineup, but when
he's in, he's been a.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Pretty consistent forres.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
He's shooting right around seventy five, almost eighty percent from
the floor. In that stretch, he's averaging nineteen points per game,
just shy of a double double in terms of rebounds
about nine to night. He's a very high quality big
and whether the matchup is going to be Mark Williams
use of Nerkic Mussa diabante. It is a great player
to test yourself against. I don't know if there is
(33:54):
a definition of league average in the NBA, and by
the way, to be a league average NBA starter means
the fifteen best at something in the world, so that's something.
But Perdle might be in that type of category. He's
very consistent, durable, productive, and I think it's a good
opportunity for whomever is matched up against him to show what.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
They can do and show where they belong.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
In regards to that dividing line. Are you an above
average center or are you trying to compete your way
back to that spot.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
So this is a good test here for the Hornets
against the Raptors big man Yaka Perdle. Last, but not least,
we need a stat to watch.
Speaker 4 (34:29):
In quick note on Yaka Pearl, I think he's been
in the league for eight or nine years now. I
still have difficulty spelling his last name because it does
not spell the way it is sounded out. It is
a tricky tricky name to spell. Can spell at Takumpo
fine Perle still have difficulties with.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
All right, and put that computer down, fold it down,
fold it down, all right, spell Perdle.
Speaker 4 (34:49):
I know there's two spellings of it. There's like and
there's one with.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
I don't need to do the little funky notes on it.
You don't need that, just the letters.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
Because I just looked at it and I'm trying to
remember as it.
Speaker 7 (35:00):
E E.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
L T L.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Yes, you got it right now, because you were so
bold as to say you can put the computer down.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Put it down. Spell onto takompo.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
A n T E t O ko U n mpo.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Very impressive, Sam, very very impressive. All right now to
your stat of the game.
Speaker 4 (35:17):
I think I'm good. That was it. That was my
stat spelling how to spell Perdle. My stat to watch
for the game is second chance points. In March this month,
Toronto's first in the NBA and second chance points at
twenty point six, their second in offensive rebounding percentage. Hornets
are fifth and second chance points at just under seventeen,
ninth in offensive rebounding percentage. Last time these two teams met,
(35:40):
Toronto had twenty three second chance points, the Hornets had
twenty one. They both shot nine to fifteen. Both had
about thirteen fourteen offensive rebounds. Toronto's offense is twenty seventh
in the NBA this month, they turned the ball over
a lot. Their defense is very good though it's fifth
in March they're seven to five, But you know where
they're getting their points and kind of making up for
that twenty seventh rand offense is taking advantage of those
(36:01):
extra opportunities, those second chance points. Right now, Yaka Pertle,
p E lt L, Scottie Barnes, Jacoby Walter, Colin Castleton,
and Orlando Robinson are all averaging multiple offensive rebound offensive
rebounds per game this month for the Raptors. It's something
the Hornet's just got to be really attentive to crash
the defensive glass, finish those possessions, and then on the
(36:24):
flip side, also making sure they're getting those offensive rebounds
and turning them into second chance points because that was
an area I think against Orlando they didn't. You know,
Orlando's obviously a very good defensive rebounding team. Hornets only
had fourteen second chance points on five of twelve shooting.
So clean up the defensive glass and you know, take
advantage on the other end.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
I like the pick. I'm gonna go with turnovers.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
You mentioned it briefly, but I'm not counting as a
full pick as you went with another stat, so I'll
go with.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
Turnovers for this one.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Neither side has been all that reliable with the basketball.
Both are in the bottom five of the NBA and
team turnover percentage that's the percentage of your possessions of
the end up with a straightaway giveaway, and neither team
can really afford to. Toronto's a little bit better of
a shooting team overall based off the percentages than Charlotte is,
but both are in the bottom third, and so the
(37:11):
reason so many of both these teams games have gotten
away from them has been purely they don't shoot it
as well as their opponent, and they're not shooting as
much as their opponent. So now, going head to head,
this can really kind of crystallize as a winning component
of this game. Charlotte, of course, got the upper hand
in the first meeting between the two. We'll see if
Charlotte can do it again this time around, and in
(37:33):
my opinion, think turnovers will be a big factor however
it turns out. We will have you covered tomorrow with
a recap edition of the HHC and sends it to
a weekend, likely a game preview episode as well as
we get you ready for Game two of the road
trip on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans, part of
a back to back Hornets back in action on Monday
at the Hive hosting the Utah Jazz. Very very busy
(37:56):
time right now for the Hornets and for these surroundings
of Spectrum Center, and of course Sam Purley will have
it covered as well on Hornets dot Com as he
did for the fantastic groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for the soon
to be novant Health Performance Center. We're very excited about
it and always thrilled to talk to you about it
and anything else to do with Hornets basketball.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
Sam.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
Of course, thank you for having me have one quick
thing I want to share on the Raptors All Time
series forty nine forty nine between the Hornets and Raptors.
So this is the race to fifty. We'll end tonight.
Speaker 3 (38:27):
Don't want to miss it.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
We'll have it covered on the Hornets Radio Network and
again Sam Purley, we'll have the recap of the rubber
match once it's all said and done on Hornets dot Com.
Thanks to Sam Purley, for joining me in studio. Thanks
to our producer Rob Longo for putting this podcast together.
Most of all, thanks to all of you for tuning in.
Go to hornets dot com for all of the festivities
from the groundbreaking of the Novant Health Performance Center. Go
(38:50):
back through the archives, check out our conversation with Miles Bridges,
and join us tomorrow when we have another episode of
the Hornets Ivecast.
Speaker 1 (38:58):
Thank you for listening to The Hornets Podcast, brought to
you by Santa, the official I ear nozen Throatcare provider
of the Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit hornets dot com.
Welcome to the Hornets Hoodcast, presented by Charlotte I ear
Nosen Throat Associates, the official I ear nos in throatcare
provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Sam Farber.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Welcome to another edition of the Hornet Timecast, your Hornets
podcast with all the notes, quote, san daily buzz around
your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it is
a pleasure and a privilege have you with us here
once again on the Hornet Time Cast, brought to you
by Santa Charlotte, I hear nos and Throat Associates, the
official I hero Nosen Throwcare provider of the Charlotte Hornets.
Really big episode of the HHC you might have heard
(00:34):
on Wednesday, the Hornets broke ground on what will soon
be the Novon Health Performance Center, a state of the
art practice facility for the Hornets basketball team, as well
as offices for the squad and a community asset in
a variety of ways as well. We'll get into that
shortly here on this episode of the Hornets have Cast.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Also, it is a game day.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Episode of the HHC, so we'll be giving you our
preview for Hornets Verse Toronto raptors, and because we had
so much fun talking to Miles Bridges yesterday. By the way,
if you missed the podcast, go back into the archives
check out yesterday's episode one on one exclusive sit down
with Miles Bridges. But we, as part of the groundbreaking
ceremony yesterday or two days ago, now had the opportunity
(01:17):
to talk to Hornet's head coach Charles Lee, all time
leading scorer, Kemba Walker and Charlotte and NBA legend Muggsy
Bogues about what a new practice facility really means to
any NBA city, let alone here in the Queen City.
So I'm excited to bring you that conversation here as well.
Helping me on all of these topics. One of our
favorites here on the Hornets podcast, a part of every
(01:39):
two Sam's episode of the AHHC. Senior writer for Hornets
dot Com, Sam Purley, Sam, thanks for joining.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
Me, of course, thank you for having me.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Thrilled to have you here.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Let's start off with the biggest news maybe of the year,
quite frankly for the team, and that is that on Wednesday,
the Hornets broke ground on the Novent Health Performance Center,
which will be the next jewel in the crown of
the Queen City. If you'd like to see the entire
roundbreaking ceremony, all the pomp and circumstances and listen to
me hosting the thing, you can go to Hornets dot
(02:08):
com or the Hornets YouTube page and see the full ceremony.
All of the leaders of our community, including Mayor vy
Lyles as well as Hornets co Chairman Rich Nall and
Gabe Plotkin. President of Basketball Operations, Jeff Peterson was there.
President of Business Operations Shelley kayat Weston was there. A
lot of great speakers and talking about delivering a state
(02:28):
of the art practice facility for the players, coaches, for
the support staff of the Charlotte Hornets, but much more
than that, sam because it will also serve as home
base for the front office and staff, state of the
art in that way as well, and it'll be a
community asset providing medical services to the local area as
well as revitalizing the surroundings of Spectrum Center, so on
a variety of ways. This is a big undertaking and
(02:52):
a huge step forward, not just for the franchise.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
But for the city.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Absolutely and obviously echoing what everybody else is saying that's
been involved at the project, in and around the organization
right now. It's you know, very very exciting. It's you know,
this is a big investment, like you said, not only
for the franchise but also for the city of Charlotte.
(03:16):
It's you know, it kind of just continues to echo
the commitment and the determination that you know, Ricktional and
Gabe plot can have about making this a premiere NBA
franchise and to go through the arena renovations that are
you know, basically halfway done at this point, and then
to kind of also take on this project at the
same time. It's pretty rare, I think for both these
(03:39):
things to be happening concurrently, let alone separate. So it's
really exciting and it's crazy to think that, like, okay,
it's going to be in the gravel parking lot and
as soon as kind of it starts, you hit the
ball roll and you look over there and it's trees
are getting torn down and I mean they're hitting the ground,
running and going. So this is not something they're kind
of waiting around to do. It's it's ready to go,
and the you know, construction is already underway.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
The hitting the ground, running it and not sparing any
time is really remarkable. I mean, obviously it is a
major investment to assume ownership chairmanship of any professional sports franchise,
but in the NBA in particular, as strong as the
league as it is. That's quite the investment you're making
just to get in the door.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Then do, on top of.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
That, immediately put down a whole lot of money and
time and resources to build a practice facility, to revitalize,
reimagine the playing facility. That's a lot to put in,
particularly when you haven't had a lot of time to
start to, you know, recoup your initial investment for the team.
So it's notable, it's remarkable, and it's something we wanted
(04:44):
to note here on this episode of the AHHC. We
did hear from both co chairmen of Hornet Sports and Entertainment.
Want to let you hear from them. First up, Rick Schnall.
He talked about the difference that this building can make
towards becoming the premier franchise in the NBA and building
a winner here in the city of Charlotte.
Speaker 5 (05:04):
We think this is going to be the best practice
facility in the league. We think it's going to have
facilities that free agents are going to want to come
and play with us, that our players are going to
want to stay and be here, and that we'll be
able to develop our players into stars over time.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
Sam, we'll talk in a little bit about all the
other things this is going to be for the community.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
But it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's a practice facility, a performance facility.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
This is about making.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
The Charlotte Hornets better, more competitive for the future, not
just with the guys already in the organization, but attracting
top talent. In Charles Lee said as part of the ceremonies,
players talk. They know who is putting the time, the
resources into the latest and greatest for its players, and
this will certainly reverberate around the NBA the investment that
(05:51):
the Hornets are making, and once it's completed and becomes
the leading facility in the entire association, all those dreams
will become reality and hopefully we'll continue to bring the
Hornets closer to being the premier franchise in the NBA
on and off.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
The court, for sure. And I think that's something that
maybe has kind of flown under the radar a little bit.
As this can be used as not necessarily a recruiting tool.
I mean, in a way it is like that, but
it's a it's a symbol of what the organization is
doing in the sense of investing in itself and making
this you know, taking this organization to the next level
(06:27):
and you know, with world class facilities, but the investment
that's making in its players. And if you're a free
agent in the NBA and you're considering going to Charlotte,
you know, NBA players they don't have this infinite life
of playing. You know, you only have eight, ten, twelve years.
If you have a really good, long career and you
want to go to a place where you can get
the maximum team there can get the maximum of your
(06:49):
abilities and you can get you can play the best
to your abilities. And if you have a world class
facility available to do that, that's obviously an enticing resource
when you come to look at, you know, potential free
agent destination. So certainly think it sends a message to
not only sort of the Charlotte community and the organization
that hey, we are serious. You know, Rick Nolingabe Block
(07:11):
is serious about taking this organization to you know, that
premier level, world class facilities that they continue to preach
and continue to strive to be but sends the signals
to the MBA and you know, potential future free agents
that you know if you come here, you're going to
be taken care of because we're investing in our players
and we care about you and we want you to
get the most out of you and to see your
(07:32):
full potential, like you said, both on and off the court.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
So obviously, the main thing that we're looking to see
here from the Hornets is the return on investment on
the floor in terms of wins, in terms of competing
in the playoffs, championships one day, all that stuff. That
that's the big thing on its face that you hope
to gain from taking this giant step forward with new
facilities or reimagined Spectrum Center and now the soon to
(07:56):
be novent Health Performance Center. But it's more than a
Hornets basketball asset, Sam, It's a community asset as well.
And one thing I think we have to applaud from
ownership from rich Na and Gay Plockin is the mindset
of being a steward of the franchise.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
This isn't quote unquote their thing, this is our thing.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
And that part of being in charge is being entrusted
to do what's in the benefit of all stakeholders, not
just the shareholders on the ownership level.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
But fans, employees, citizens, people who.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
Maybe never have and maybe never will go to an
NBA game out of personal preference or you know, whatever
reasons there might be, but can still take personal pride
in the city being revitalized. And this is just so
much bigger, as you'll hear from co chairman Gay Plocin,
than just about the Hornets the basketball team.
Speaker 6 (08:44):
And it'll provide our community access to a remarkable orthopedics
and sports medicine clinic along with new retail space. It
will uplift the neighborhood around Spectrum Center, as Rick mentioned,
and that's certainly a long term goal of ours as well.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
And something I took away just hearing Rick and Gabe
talk and seeing their vision is the visionaries that they are.
They don't look at the area around Spectrum and Center
and say, oh, one day, you know, a good basketball
team will play inside there, and that's you know, they
have a larger vision for what Spectrum Center looks like,
what it looks like on game day, what the surrounding
businesses will look like, what the practice facility looks like.
(09:19):
You know, we have been for years coming and looking
at a gravel lot and seeing a parking lot. They
saw obviously something so much more, and it will benefit
everyone here in the Queen City, not just those of
us lucky enough to work for the franchise.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
I'm really excited to kind of see. I know, it
feels like two and a half years or two years
you know by the hopefully you know, completion by the
start of the twenty six twenty seven season seems a
ways off, but you know, you know how fast sometimes
these NBA seasons can move. I'm really excited to kind
of see what sort of blossoms out from this. I
think this is going to be, for lack of a
better term, a building block in the sense of it
(09:53):
is a very large building block that the rest of
the city or other developments can kind of expand upon,
you know, and it's you know, they've talked about or
obviously traveled to other NBA arenas and you see some
of the surrounding areas. One comes to mind Sacramento it's
got that, you know, restaurants and stuff around it, and
Milwaukee's got that, Phoenix has got that I think ultimately,
(10:15):
you know, this is it's that's obviously going to take
some more time. You know, you don't want to doing
this step by step, and you know that's not necessarily
a Hornets, but you know, other properties of the developments
can kind of come in and start expanding upon it
and really, you know, kind of revitalize the area a
little bit, like you said, So I'm excited to see
it kind of slowly kind of go up, even though
(10:35):
it's like I said in the first thing, it's it's
moving fast in the sense of they've already started clearing
the parking lot and you know, I've got machinery in
there and everything. So but yeah, I think that'll be
It's as somebody that is, you know, raised in Charlotte
and lived here for probably over thirty years at this point,
to kind of see the growth that the city has
made since I was young, and then to kind of
(10:56):
waitness it firsthand continuing to grow and take another step
is really cool for me personally and ultimately really exciting
as well.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
If you want to hear the full remarks from Hornet's
coach chairman Rick s Nall and Gay plock In, as
well as Hornet's President of Business Operations Shelley Kayak Weston
and President of Basketball Operations Jeff Peterson, Mayor Vilius so
many great speakers from the groundbreaking on Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
All of it is available at Hornets dot com.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Part of the proceedings, we had a great fireside chat
roundtable session with some Hornets legends Muggsy Bogues and franchise
all time leading scorer Kemba Walker, as well as Hornet's
head coach Charles Lee, about what a new Novon Health
Performance Center would mean for the franchise moving forward. We'll
have that conversation for you next here on the Hornets
(11:43):
I've cast.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Welcome back to the HHC.
Speaker 2 (11:49):
We're talking all about the new lead just had the
groundbreaking a couple of days ago, coming to Charlotte soon,
Novon Health Performance Center. It'll be the next crown jewel
in the Queen's City and it's gonna have a remarkable
impact not just on the basketball team but the community
at large. But we were focused, obviously a lot on
(12:09):
what the impact will be for the team itself, and
part of making that better understood for everyone in attendance
was talking to some people that are gonna basically be
living inside the performance center for large parts of the season.
Hornets head coach Charles Lee, Hornet's all time leading scorer
and a coach right now on the team as well,
(12:29):
Kemba Walker, as well as Hornet's legend Muggsy Bogues, were
all part of a fireside chat with me and we
were talking about the performance facility, and as Muggsy is
always so great at doing, he started things off with
a joker in these high back chairs, and well, here's
how Muggsy Bogues, the great Muggsy Bugues tip things off.
Speaker 7 (12:49):
He can't test the ground.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
All right, here you go, all right, so this is
designed to be more of a roundtable, so you guys
are free to converse amongst yourself and.
Speaker 7 (13:00):
Leave me out of it.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
But I'll just kind of get the conversation started. And
we're here at what's going to be the new Novent
Health Performance Center, and I'm curious what performance facilities looked
like at the different stages you all entered the NBA. So, Muggsy,
when you entered the NBA, what was the idea behind
a practice facility or performance center?
Speaker 8 (13:20):
Well, back an hour, it was just basically practice. We
had a few equipment in an Abdala. I think our big,
our big treatment was mainly getting stem, electric stem. You know,
you get an electric stem, you felt like you was
you know, you was recovered because of you know, all
the things that we go through in terms of the season.
(13:41):
But we didn't have many machinery back then. We definitely
didn't have a hydro therapy. H We had some physical
therapy going on, but.
Speaker 9 (13:54):
Did you have to walk across the broken glass to
get to the facility and everything too?
Speaker 7 (14:00):
White shoes converse.
Speaker 8 (14:03):
They gave they gave us some little little slip on
ones that you get from the hospital. Yeah, so they
kind of gave us that.
Speaker 7 (14:09):
But we didn't have much back then.
Speaker 8 (14:11):
It was mainly all on you.
Speaker 7 (14:13):
What you think about that gap, Kimber, What about you?
Speaker 2 (14:17):
What was the idea behind the performance facility when you
entered the league?
Speaker 10 (14:21):
I mean I didn't just finish that long ago.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
You had a long, great career, so when you started
it had to be a little different.
Speaker 10 (14:30):
I mean the place I started is still there. Yeah,
it was fun with me.
Speaker 7 (14:35):
We just have no bathroom, that's the only thing. Yeah,
but it's cool.
Speaker 10 (14:40):
I've been to a lot of different ones. I'm excited
to see what this one is gonna be like. To
see that video was was unbelievable.
Speaker 7 (14:47):
So yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 10 (14:49):
I think it's it's super important, you know, for our players,
for everyone, you know, kind of it's like a home
away from home. So I'm looking forward to it's gonna
be It's gonna be fun.
Speaker 7 (14:59):
You mentioned home away from home.
Speaker 2 (15:01):
How much time as an NBA player, as a coach,
as a member of a staff do you really spend
in the facilities and what's about to be built here.
Speaker 9 (15:12):
I can't wait to hear this. He's got a different
perspective now as a coach.
Speaker 7 (15:16):
Yeah, it's a lot, A lot of times a lot.
It's not really a number.
Speaker 10 (15:21):
Can then.
Speaker 7 (15:24):
I would say, like, uh, it's like sixty percent.
Speaker 10 (15:28):
It's maybe eighty for him, for me sixty. But it's
a place I love to be. It's a place that
the players should want to be. It's a place for
those guys to get better, Uh, keep their minds right,
keep their bodies right, and just to improve. That's that's
the overall goal, right to as a pro athlete, to
(15:49):
become the best athlete that you can become and this
place is going to be that place.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
So's there.
Speaker 9 (15:55):
It's uh, it's cool to hear all the like well,
first of all, to see the video like this is
a very exciting day.
Speaker 7 (16:03):
I'm honored to.
Speaker 9 (16:04):
Actually be a part of something like this, Like to
see the commitment from our ownership group to invest in
the community, in the team, I think it means a lot.
And as you get these brand new, state of the
art facilities, I think it just shows the staff, it
shows the players, the commitment to trying to be great
at all costs and to give you every resource you
(16:25):
possibly can to maximize who you are as a person,
who you are as a player, to maximize Charlotte and
the Carolinas and everything that we have to give is
really cool. It's even great to you know, I was
in Atlanta and we had a practice facility that was
connected to the arena as well. So you don't have
don't have as many of the bells and whistles and
(16:47):
therapy systems and stuff like that and all the technology,
but you've become a little bit even more grateful when
all of a sudden you get this new practice facility.
It almost creates this sense of like, oh okay, Like
we kind of grinded it out in the dark days
of the practice facility in the arena, and now you
get this phenomenal facility to come to because it's their sanctuary.
(17:08):
These guys will tell you all that goes on in
their lives, all that's going on outside of the gym,
all the things that they do in the community.
Speaker 7 (17:16):
It's amazing. They have families, the whole nine yards.
Speaker 9 (17:19):
But when you step in that building, it is like
your place to kind of get away, your safe space.
And so everyone that's building the facility right now and
all the thoughtfulness that goes into it, it's in an effort,
I think, to just maximize everyone as people. The workspace,
bring a sense of togetherness, to get everybody under one building.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
So it's a great thing to say.
Speaker 8 (17:41):
I just feel bad for the wives because I know
that type of facility is going to allow these guys
to spend more time in that deal than because of
the recover. But it's so good to have that because
it's so competitive. You know, the NBA is a copy
catalade and when.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
You as a child is soluted to.
Speaker 8 (18:00):
He was in Atlanta, he got to see what they
go through and when players understand they have the best
of the best facilities and you know, have opportunity to
recover quickly, and we had the best positions in there.
Speaker 7 (18:13):
I mean, it just helps you recruit.
Speaker 8 (18:14):
It also helped you as a player get back on
court that much.
Speaker 2 (18:18):
Quicker, and not just recruiting players, but recruiting talent. I mean,
we all see every game day the fifteen players that
are shooted up to see coach in the spotlight. There's
a lot of people that are working behind the scenes
that will be a part of this new facility that
spend as many or more hours than the players.
Speaker 7 (18:34):
What from your.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Guys individual perspectives, do you feel the impact is going
to be on all of them, their lives, their ability
to bring the franchise forward in their own capacity.
Speaker 9 (18:44):
Yeah, when you have the tools and your tool bagage
just growing now. I think that it helps you just
kind of like continuing in education. It helps you continue
to grow as a person. Know, you have all these
resources at your disposal, and it's gonna help us put
it back into the players, you know. I think that
they are going to reap the benefits of all the
(19:06):
great things that we're gonna have in that building, and
you know, like Kimba said, we obviously spend a ton
of time there. Now it's even gonna be nice to
be able to have a little lounge and as you're
in that lounge, now I get to interact with the
front office, or I get to interact a little bit
more with the performance staff or potentially a novaugh On
employee and stuff, and just even seeing the spaces of like, oh,
(19:27):
if we have a visitor come to practice, they get
a better site line into a viewing practice, and then
what way is the media team coming in?
Speaker 7 (19:34):
And it's it's just going to be like a.
Speaker 9 (19:36):
Seamless, I think, well thought out layout to bring about
a little bit more togetherness, alignment, crossing paths, and allowing
people to just be as good as they possibly can
be at their job.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
It's gonna be a lot more than just some courts
and some racks of balls. There's so much available now
for players in this modern era, kim But what's something
that exists in a practice facility. They maybe already exists
over there, but we'll have bigger, better versions of here
in the new facility that fans don't think of. But
it is vital to a player and this preparation to
(20:10):
be as best out on the court.
Speaker 7 (20:12):
It's a couple different things.
Speaker 10 (20:13):
I mean just space, to be honest, Like right now,
our weight room is is pretty small right now, so
it only allows a few guys at a time. So
now with a bigger weight room, you know, we can
have more guys in there. So that to help out
a lot. Uh, A pool pool with a treadmill, you
know that that helps a lot. I don't know what
(20:34):
else is it is gonna be in here, but uh,
when I was in Boston, actually they had a saltwater
tank which was really nice. I went in there a
couple of times. I actually fell asleep in there. It
was it was really really nice. So hopefully we could.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
This song like that, this song.
Speaker 10 (20:54):
Like that here. So but yeah, that's it.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
I see Rick taking notes. He's got a lot all
coming together.
Speaker 7 (21:00):
Yeah. I shouldn't know. I should have known. This is
the request time.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Let them know whatever you want in terms of the
infrastructure to help the organization attract top talent. Kemba, you
had a long career, monst that you had a long career.
You both had decision points where you could elect to
go somewhere else stay in Charlotte. In terms of what
the next step would be in your career, how much
(21:24):
does a new practice facility, a Nova on Health performance
center go along towards bringing the very best in talent
to the NBA. Where As Munk, as you mentioned, it's
a copycat league. There's a lot of teams trying to
do something like this, and the Hornets going to a
whole new level.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
It helps.
Speaker 8 (21:40):
It helps because players want the best, But of course
that ain't gonna be the final decision on their you
know and half in terms of what they choose. But
it always helped when you had the best facilities and
you got the best positions and you have an opportunity
to get back on the court quickly, because that's what
it all comes down to, having everybody healthy. And I'm
quite sure or are they not trying to spend as
(22:01):
much time in that facility. It's makeually to get anybody
to stay healthy to where we ain't got to get
aid by healthy.
Speaker 7 (22:08):
Great call.
Speaker 9 (22:09):
Uh And to Mousey's point, players talk, and so the
buzz around the league, no pun intended, there will just
be that you know, the Hornets, they're doing it right,
They're doing it the right way. Not only do they
have this great facility, but the people that they have
within the facility are also top top level. That's why
(22:31):
they are They're going to be the premier sports franchise.
And an agent comes in the building one day and
has a meeting with Jaff for the front office, and
they see the facility like when they see that you
were doing things the right way and you're kind of
growing towards being a premier, it's attractive and you want
to be a part of it.
Speaker 7 (22:48):
It's what wooed me here.
Speaker 9 (22:50):
And I think that if we just keep doing the
right thing for our players by adding this facility and
all the other things that we've kind of added since
this ownership group has come aboard those resources, it definitely
pays dividends.
Speaker 7 (23:02):
All right, last question for you guys.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
This is about the message that you're hearing from what's
taking place here today and the work that's being undergone
over across the street as well. Once completed, the Hornets
are going to operate two world class facilities. We'll have
the fully reimagined Spectrum Center phase two of renovations.
Speaker 7 (23:20):
I'm not sure phase one ever ended.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Like every time the lights turn off from a game,
someone in a hard hat goes back in there. But
Phase two begins in earnest at the end of this season,
and there will be the Novant Health Performance Center. What
does the investment that's been made by Rick Shnall and
Gay Plotkin, by our great partners at Novant Health say
to you guys and your roles as players, coaches, alumni
(23:43):
of the team, and also what does it say to
the city of Charlotte and the Hornets fans that you
guys represent.
Speaker 8 (23:49):
But to me, I'm sorry, I'm gonna have months, well
to me to say they committed, Yeah, truly committed not
only to bringing a championship, premier type of franchise here,
but they also committed uplift in the community. You know,
with a partnership with no Vau bring this performance center here.
It's not just for the team and for the organization.
I believe it's also for the public and for them
to have that innovative thought to bring this cutting edge
(24:13):
type of technology to the uptown.
Speaker 7 (24:15):
It's amazing.
Speaker 10 (24:16):
Same thing Muggs said, they care, No, they care. They
want to make the city great, which we all appreciate.
I appreciate, you know, obviously I played for a long time,
and you know, I want to see this, this place
go to the top, and that's when that's that's one
of the reasons why I came back. And I'm excited.
I'm excited for the future. I'm excited to to build
(24:39):
with these guys, get us better, to get the Hornets
back on. I know the city is ready, so it's
gonna be fun.
Speaker 7 (24:45):
They said it.
Speaker 9 (24:45):
Really, I'd just add growth, like to hear the city
has grown from what the mayor had to say. The
city has grown from and the team has grown since
Muggsy was here, since Kimber's been here, since the ownership group,
and like we are growing and excelling and we keep climbing,
and like we are competitive, we are resilient. This journey
(25:09):
is far from over. But I think at the end
of the day, we all want to be the best.
We want to be the best city, We want to
be the best for the Carolinas.
Speaker 7 (25:16):
We want to be the.
Speaker 9 (25:17):
Like just overall great and so like that is what
I see when I think about Hornets, when I hear
about the Nova on story, when I think about this
ownership group and everything.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
So Hornets ed coach Charles Lee, Hornet's legend Muggsy Bogues,
and Hornet's current coach, as well as the franchise is
all time leading scorer Kemba Walker talking about what it's
going to mean having the new Novent Health Performance Center
a part of the landscape of the city's sporting culture
and of course a part of Hornets sports and entertainment
(25:47):
and building a winning basketball team for the future here
in the Queen City. Well, a lot obviously happened on Wednesday. Again,
go back to Hornets dot com. You can see the
full remarks, the full fireside chat, all the festive over
there as well as on Hornet social media. Coming up next,
it's a game day edition of the Hornetsive Cast. Hornet's
taken on the Raptors tonight. We'll have our game preview
(26:08):
next here on the Hornet Time Cast. Sam Farber, Sam
Purley here with you on the HHC. A groundbreaking episode
of the Hornet Tive Cast. Sam, we had a lot
to talk about the groundbreaking for the nov On Health
Performance Center. Definitely encourage you to go to Hornets dot
com and hear all of the remarks, all of the
great speakers from the festivities, on Wednesday, and while you're
(26:31):
going through archives, go on ahead and check out yesterday's
episode of The Hornets Tive cast. We sat down with
Miles Bridges for a great one on one conversation, his
thoughts on the future of the franchise, his partnership with
the Mellow Ball, how he thinks he should be a
model for LaFrance at this point, the gear, not just
the Airbnb partnership in any case, lots of great stuff
(26:51):
there as well. And it's a game day episode, so
we're gonna give you our game preview Hornet's taking on
the Toronto Raptors tonight. Just a little bit of the
lay of the lane and Toronto not mathematically eliminated just
yet from postseason contention, but it seems very unlikely. They've
got ten games left and they're six games back of Miami,
who's just found their way out of a ten game
(27:12):
losing streak. So the Raptors are really gonna have to
go if they're gonna get their Hornets of course eliminated
from postseason contention, but have a chance still to win
the season series against the Raptors as they've only faced
each other one time. They've got two matchups remaining, including tonights,
and if the Hornets win it north of the Border,
they take the season series over at the Raptors. Sam,
you know how these things work when need players to
(27:33):
watch from both teams as well as the stat to
watch other than points, because that's cheating.
Speaker 3 (27:36):
Whoever scores the most points wins the game. Where do
you want us begin?
Speaker 4 (27:39):
I will go with Hornet player to watch, and my
hornet to watch is going to be LaMelo Ball. I
thought he was fantastic in the game the other night
against Orlando, finished with twenty five points at fourteen in
the fourth quarter, very efficient, shot over sixty percent three
or four from three, had nine assists, was a big
catalyst for that early third quarter I think was like
(28:00):
a twenty two to five run that vaulted them right
back into the game and gave him about a seven
eight point lead. Obviously the biggest issue in that game
was the foul trouble again got you know, I think
he picked up three fouls midway through the second and
then got a fourth. You know that was maybe kind
of so so ish towards the end of the quarter,
and it just, you know, it's something I think it's
gotten a lot better as the season progressed. But I
(28:21):
mean he was playing I thought so well the in
the night just from a shot making an efficiency is
driving his playmaking. It's through some incredible passes in the
first half to especially hitting Josh Green in the corner
a couple times, and some dump offs to Mark Williams
underneath the basket. To his credit too, I think he
you know, he stayed in for the you know, I
think he got his fifth maybe midway through the third,
and then when he checked back in the fourth, he
(28:43):
basically played the rest of the game until picked up
his sixth I think when the game was essentially over.
But love to see more of that. He just, you know,
make sure he's staying on the court and if he,
you know, continues to play like he was the other
day and just kind of limits the foul trouble and
can keep Charles Lee from having to go really deep
into his rotations. I think the Hornets will and good
shit love it.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
I think it was a really good data point for
LaMelo to be able to see, like, hey, it's not
just in theory. A coach puts me on the court
and says, all right, for this session of practice. You
got five fouls, don't get another one. It's a game,
and there's live refs and a live opponent and all
the things that come with that for him to put
on tape. Hey, I can go into a fourth quarter
with five fouls being told gotta be careful, your team
(29:22):
needs you, and not just survive it, but thrive under
those circumstances and keep the team in it throughout. Really,
it was his best quarter by far of the game
for his own personal offense as well as orchestrating everything
going on. I thought it was a remarkable game and
definitely a positive sign for the future. So great pick there.
I'm gonna go with Nick Smith Junior. Nick is on
a really good run right now. He's had five consecutive
(29:43):
games in double figures. He's playing his best basketball of
the season right here, right now. I think back to
December before the injury to Brandon Miller. Obviously no one
wanted that, but Nick was playing very sparingly. His three
point percent was down, it was right around thirty percent.
Fast forward into late Jananuary into February, he gets more
consistent playing time, his teammates around him become more uniform.
(30:07):
We see him playing a lot more with Josh Green,
with Miles Bridges, with Mark Williams, with lamellow Ball, his
shot quality goes up and his shooting percentages start to
shoot up, to the point that now February March combined,
he's averaging north of thirteen points per game. He's shooting
about thirty five percent from three. These are all really
good numbers. And one other thing to keep in mind here.
Don't know if he's going to start to come off
(30:28):
the bench for this one, but just an interesting stat
line right now when it comes to NSJ coming off
the bench, he is shooting thirty eight percent from three.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
That's notable to me because he's likely.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
To have that role next season if he's able to
earn it, maybe that lead scorer off the bench, knowing
how to come off and sub in, be a pinch
hitter at times, or just fold into the starting group
and be able to operate at that kind of efficiency,
it's going to be huge for him. He's only twenty
years old. The best is way way out in the future.
It's only yet to come here for Nick Smith Junior,
(31:01):
but we're seeing some really positive signs of growth for
the young man and I'm excited to see the next
data point from NSJ. All right, next up, you got
a stat to watch or a raptor to watch?
Speaker 4 (31:10):
I will go with raptor to watch, and my raptor
to watch is Emmanuel Quickly. He did not play in
the first game against the Hornets back in late October.
I think it was the Hornet's fourth game of the season.
He's only played twenty nine games this year, has had
some lingering what I read was a pelvic contusion he
suffered on opening night. He's also had an elbow injury.
So he's only played twenty nine games this year, but
(31:31):
playing a little bit more consistently in March in February
doesn't seem to be playing the entire part of back
to backs. That would not apply necessarily to tomorrow's game
because Toronto will not be on a back to back.
But this month in eight games played again not a
huge stample size, but twenty point six points on forty
three percent shooting thirty six percent from three, almost six
(31:52):
assists in over a steal per game. You know he's
in his I guess this is his first full season
with Toronto. Again. He has obviously missed a lot of time.
But when he in New York, I mean just a
really quick point guard. I think you have to be quick.
If your last name is Quickly, it's required. You got
to get up and down the court really quick. And
he's a guy that can push the pace in transition.
He can get to the basket. His three point shooting
(32:13):
is coming around a little bit. He's a good facilitator.
It's kind of a mixed bag this year for him,
just because he's been hurt and Toronto's had some other
injuries too, about to what he can really do when
taking on a lead point guard role in Toronto full
time after being a six man in New York. I
know he played. He started thirty eight games for Toronto
last year after coming over in the Siakam trade, but
haven't been able to do as much of this season
(32:35):
as I thought, or I think Toronto thought he was
going to be able to do just because of the injuries.
But he's finding a little bit of a stride right now.
And if he turned the ball over and he gets
his hands on it, he can push the pace in
transition and turn those takeaways into points.
Speaker 3 (32:47):
Like the pick.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
I'm gonna go with someone I'm a little hesitant to
because he's been in and out of the lineup. They
ected to rest him even last game, but we'll see.
I think he's gonna play tonight based of the indications
I'm hearing as the recording of this podcast. But their
center Yaka Perle, he had an enormous game in the
first matchup of the season, Hornets win way back on
October thirtieth. That seems like years ago. Charlotte won one
(33:10):
thirty eight to one thirty three.
Speaker 3 (33:11):
But Pearl was big. Twenty points.
Speaker 2 (33:13):
It's always biggest seven footer, twenty points, sixteen rebounds. He
had a really really good game. Keep in mind this
was before Mark Williams was playing for the Charlotte Hornets.
So now we fast forward to the present day. Again,
Pearl's been in and out of the lineup, but when
he's in, he's been a.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
Pretty consistent forres.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
He's shooting right around seventy five, almost eighty percent from
the floor. In that stretch, he's averaging nineteen points per game,
just shy of a double double in terms of rebounds
about nine to night. He's a very high quality big
and whether the matchup is going to be Mark Williams
use of Nerkic Mussa diabante. It is a great player
to test yourself against. I don't know if there is
(33:54):
a definition of league average in the NBA, and by
the way, to be a league average NBA starter means
the fifteen best at something in the world, so that's something.
But Perdle might be in that type of category. He's
very consistent, durable, productive, and I think it's a good
opportunity for whomever is matched up against him to show what.
Speaker 3 (34:13):
They can do and show where they belong.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
In regards to that dividing line. Are you an above
average center or are you trying to compete your way
back to that spot.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
So this is a good test here for the Hornets
against the Raptors big man Yaka Perdle. Last, but not least,
we need a stat to watch.
Speaker 4 (34:29):
In quick note on Yaka Pearl, I think he's been
in the league for eight or nine years now. I
still have difficulty spelling his last name because it does
not spell the way it is sounded out. It is
a tricky tricky name to spell. Can spell at Takumpo
fine Perle still have difficulties with.
Speaker 2 (34:46):
All right, and put that computer down, fold it down,
fold it down, all right, spell Perdle.
Speaker 4 (34:49):
I know there's two spellings of it. There's like and
there's one with.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
I don't need to do the little funky notes on it.
You don't need that, just the letters.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
Because I just looked at it and I'm trying to
remember as it.
Speaker 7 (35:00):
E E.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
L T L.
Speaker 2 (35:03):
Yes, you got it right now, because you were so
bold as to say you can put the computer down.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Put it down. Spell onto takompo.
Speaker 4 (35:09):
A n T E t O ko U n mpo.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Very impressive, Sam, very very impressive. All right now to
your stat of the game.
Speaker 4 (35:17):
I think I'm good. That was it. That was my
stat spelling how to spell Perdle. My stat to watch
for the game is second chance points. In March this month,
Toronto's first in the NBA and second chance points at
twenty point six, their second in offensive rebounding percentage. Hornets
are fifth and second chance points at just under seventeen,
ninth in offensive rebounding percentage. Last time these two teams met,
(35:40):
Toronto had twenty three second chance points, the Hornets had
twenty one. They both shot nine to fifteen. Both had
about thirteen fourteen offensive rebounds. Toronto's offense is twenty seventh
in the NBA this month, they turned the ball over
a lot. Their defense is very good though it's fifth
in March they're seven to five, But you know where
they're getting their points and kind of making up for
that twenty seventh rand offense is taking advantage of those
(36:01):
extra opportunities, those second chance points. Right now, Yaka Pertle,
p E lt L, Scottie Barnes, Jacoby Walter, Colin Castleton,
and Orlando Robinson are all averaging multiple offensive rebound offensive
rebounds per game this month for the Raptors. It's something
the Hornet's just got to be really attentive to crash
the defensive glass, finish those possessions, and then on the
(36:24):
flip side, also making sure they're getting those offensive rebounds
and turning them into second chance points because that was
an area I think against Orlando they didn't. You know,
Orlando's obviously a very good defensive rebounding team. Hornets only
had fourteen second chance points on five of twelve shooting.
So clean up the defensive glass and you know, take
advantage on the other end.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
I like the pick. I'm gonna go with turnovers.
Speaker 2 (36:44):
You mentioned it briefly, but I'm not counting as a
full pick as you went with another stat, so I'll
go with.
Speaker 3 (36:49):
Turnovers for this one.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Neither side has been all that reliable with the basketball.
Both are in the bottom five of the NBA and
team turnover percentage that's the percentage of your possessions of
the end up with a straightaway giveaway, and neither team
can really afford to. Toronto's a little bit better of
a shooting team overall based off the percentages than Charlotte is,
but both are in the bottom third, and so the
(37:11):
reason so many of both these teams games have gotten
away from them has been purely they don't shoot it
as well as their opponent, and they're not shooting as
much as their opponent. So now, going head to head,
this can really kind of crystallize as a winning component
of this game. Charlotte, of course, got the upper hand
in the first meeting between the two. We'll see if
Charlotte can do it again this time around, and in
(37:33):
my opinion, think turnovers will be a big factor however
it turns out. We will have you covered tomorrow with
a recap edition of the HHC and sends it to
a weekend, likely a game preview episode as well as
we get you ready for Game two of the road
trip on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans, part of
a back to back Hornets back in action on Monday
at the Hive hosting the Utah Jazz. Very very busy
(37:56):
time right now for the Hornets and for these surroundings
of Spectrum Center, and of course Sam Purley will have
it covered as well on Hornets dot Com as he
did for the fantastic groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for the soon
to be novant Health Performance Center. We're very excited about
it and always thrilled to talk to you about it
and anything else to do with Hornets basketball.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
Sam.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
Of course, thank you for having me have one quick
thing I want to share on the Raptors All Time
series forty nine forty nine between the Hornets and Raptors.
So this is the race to fifty. We'll end tonight.
Speaker 3 (38:27):
Don't want to miss it.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
We'll have it covered on the Hornets Radio Network and
again Sam Purley, we'll have the recap of the rubber
match once it's all said and done on Hornets dot Com.
Thanks to Sam Purley, for joining me in studio. Thanks
to our producer Rob Longo for putting this podcast together.
Most of all, thanks to all of you for tuning in.
Go to hornets dot com for all of the festivities
from the groundbreaking of the Novant Health Performance Center. Go
(38:50):
back through the archives, check out our conversation with Miles Bridges,
and join us tomorrow when we have another episode of
the Hornets Ivecast.
Speaker 1 (38:58):
Thank you for listening to The Hornets Podcast, brought to
you by Santa, the official I ear nozen Throatcare provider
of the Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit hornets dot com.
Hosts And Creators
Sam Farber
Rob Longo
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