In better health, Hornets are playing their best basketball

PHOTO | TROY HULL

The Charlotte Hornets are playing their basketball of the season during a six-game stretch where they’re 4-2, including 2-0 with the return of LaMelo Ball (right) and Gordon Hayward to the lineup from injury.

The Charlotte Hornets are at their best when their best players are available.

The Hornets, who are on their best stretch of the season with four wins in their last six games, including 2-0 since LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward returned to the lineup. Combined with the continued development of young players forced to play extended minutes, Charlotte (15-36) has showed the potential of what could be with any sustained rotation consistency.

“We know we didn’t see it as much as we’d like to this season due to injury, but it feels good to finally have the starting five that was set out to be the starting five at the beginning of the season, and playing well,” guard Terry Rozier said. “It just makes you think about a lot of things, but obviously we don’t dwell on the past, we move forward. Just focus on how we can get better from here on out.”

The expected opening day lineup of Ball and Rozier in the backcourt; Hayward and P.J. Washington at forward and center Mason Plumlee have been far from ironmen. Ball and Hayward have missed a combined 53 games this season, and their absence leaves the Hornets at a deficit in creativity and leadership.

Kelly Oubre, a key reserve who averages 20.2 points per game, has missed 16 games; Cody Martin, a top perimeter defender off the bench, has played in just seven games.

“It’s great” to have an intact starting lineup, center Mason Plumlee said. “Obviously having Gordon, ‘Melo, everybody, it’s a big lift. It’s not a knock on anybody who was filling in – we have a lot of good players – obviously G is just a different level of player. To have him back, obviously ‘Melo, he just changes our whole offense. Hopefully we can keep it together down the stretch.”

Having Ball and Hayward on the floor together pays immediate dividends. In a 122-117 win Sunday against Miami that broke a seven-game losing streak to the Heat, Hayward became the first Hornet in franchise history to score at least 20 points on 100% shooting efficiency.

Hayward finished with 20 points on 7-of-7 shooting, 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and 3-of-3 free throws.  Ball’s presence as a passer and scorer, of course, opens opportunities for everyone.

“’Melo can be a guy, like [Friday against Chicago in a 111-96 win] not shoot the ball as well, but he can still impact the game with rebounds, assists, just being a guy that the other team’s main focus point is on,” said Rozier, who scored a team-high 31 points against the Bulls along with seven assists to tie Ball. “He frees up a lot of other guys, and having G back, another guy that can create his shot or create shots for his teammates. So, it’s just good having guys, those two especially.”

Said Ball, who has missed 27 of 51 games: “Just to be able to be back out here and play basketball again, it’s great. It’s a great feeling being able to touch the rock, so it’s definitely great.”

Considering the rash of injuries the Hornets have endured during the season, they have an opportunity to change the collective narrative with a healthy run that ultimately includes a full rotation – a problem coach Steve Clifford hasn’t faced.

“I think [rookie center] Mark Williams has been, I wouldn’t say a surprise, but I think his play’s been better and better,” Clifford said. “He’s more confident. I think Mason’s (Plumlee) play over this last stretch of games. But getting ‘Melo and Gordon back, obviously you’re a different team. Then I think that we can hopefully get these other guys back – get Cody back, get Kelly back – and get into playing groups.

“Then we’ll have a good chance to hopefully put some good stretches together and try to get to a game where these guys are playing and they know who they’re playing with, they know where the shots are coming from. That’s how you get into good tempo and play consistently well.”

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