Unstoppable force versus immovable object: can the Hawks’ tank, which never lets them win a game, be stopped by the Hornets’ total inability to win close games? We found out our answer tonight: the Hornets’ end-of-game brick stopped the Hawks’ tank dead in its tracks. Oh well, Hawks. Better luck next time.
The Hawks could’ve avoided this by simply rolling over and welcoming the loss way earlier in the game. The Hornets don’t have any problem winning games by comfortable margins. Did John Collins really need to score 23? Did Trae Young really need to re-find his shooting stroke and hit a bunch of threes? Those things are nice in a vacuum, but this is draft position we’re talking about. Even a few careless early-season wins can have a big impact on whether you get Zion Williamson or Bol Bol (who is totally gonna be a bust just calling it now).
I don’t blame Collins for the game-sealing block. He’s a basketball player, paid to make basketball plays. The coaches are the ones to blame. They’re the ones who put him in that position in the first place.