This game was looking really good for the Bucks. Everything was clicking, Hornets were bricking, clock was ticking. Then Kemba Walker went off for 40 points, but that wasn’t even the problem, because it was obvious from the opening tip that he was going to do that. The real problem was Malik Monk fully casting off his Cliffordian shackles forever and (kinda) putting the team on his (kinda) back.
The Bucks ended up winning, thank god, or my whole night would’ve been ruined so hard that even Chick Fil A and a whole bunch of scrublights couldn’t save it. Monk was exactly clutch enough to make these highlights exciting and nothing more. Hornets fans, I’m sure, would’ve liked to see a huge comeback win in the first game with their new coach, but their desires are irrelevant to me. All things considered, this final result probably resulted in the greatest hypothetical total world happiness increase.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see bigger things from Monk this year. After all, Walker really sucked dong in his rookie year, and look at him now. Why can’t Monk have that same trajectory? He’s got all the tools, he’s got the crappy tattoos, and now he’s got a coach that isn’t actively trying to stymie his development.
Plus, the ugliest or awesomest alternate court design in the league.