Nic Batum facilitates the Charlotte Hornets.

The guard’s innate ability to move the ball quickly with purpose, while also driving the ball into the paint, allows the Hornets to capitalize on his style of play.

“He’s a facilitator more than a creator,” coach Steve Clifford said Monday following Charlotte’s 100-88 win against Indiana. “There’s a difference between a facilitator and a creator. He creates a ton of offense just by the nature of the way he plays, like he moves the ball quickly. For our group, we’re somewhat challenged with the way we can drive the ball into the paint, and he is one of the guys who can. He’s really smart. He understands that when things start to get away from us, you can tell, he’s less of a ball mover, and he’s driving the ball more. I don’t think you ever want someone to change the nature of the way they play when they’re as good as he is. I think he understands that right now for 24 games or whatever, we need him to be going toward the basket.”

Batum averages 15.3 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game and leads the team with 352 assists.

“You watch guys play; they just have a basic nature about the way they play,” Clifford said. “Nic naturally makes the right play quickly, which not many guys can do.”

Said Batum: “I’m starting to take more shots. I tried to be a playmaker for like 50 games, but we don’t have Al” Jefferson, who left for the Pacers in free agency. “We don’t have J-Lin [Jeremy Lin, who took off for Brooklyn in free agency] anymore. We all have to [make more shots], including myself.”

In the final quarter of the season, the Hornets (28-35) chances for a playoff appearance starts with the backcourt of Batum and point guard Kemba Walker (23 points per game, 4.1 rebounds and 340 assists who was named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

“They set the tone for the whole game,” Clifford said. “That’s how it’s going to have to be. The ball has to be in their hands. If we’re going to make a run here, it’s going to have to start with those two guys.”

Said Batum: “We have 19 games left. The way we’ve been playing lately, we’ve gotten better. We just have to focus on those details.”

Comments