After missing their two starters for a handful of games, the Hornets depth showed up, as they continue to hold onto the 10th spot in the NBA Play In standings.
Imagine you’re a fan of a team on the rise, but in the midst of your playoff run, two of your starters are suspended for four games.
Both center Moussa Diabate and power forward Miles Bridges were front and center in the brawl that the Charlotte Hornets got into with Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart and the Detroit Pistons.
In the midst of an already-chippy game, Diabate and Duren got into a physical altercation that later included Bridges and Stewart.
No team ever likes to see their top guys crash out, but moments like these are usually a build up of pent up aggression. And Diabate had just about enough of it.
Charlotte knew that taking on the league’s-best Pistons was going to be a challenge.
Challenge accepted.
And for a team like the Hornets who hold a 2.5 game lead on the final spot of the NBA Play-In, you can multiply the weight of these games by 10.
Sometimes teams will take certain liberties on other teams, but Diabate, who initiated the brawl, wasn’t going to easily get outworked by Duren.
Short term pain, for long term respect.
After Sunday night’s 129-112 win against the Wizards, the Hornets went 2-2 in Diabate and Bridges' absences, with an average loss-margin of just 4.5 points.
Even in those losses, Charlotte still came to play, and it was all due to the depth of this roster.
In Diabate and Bridges’ absences, both rookies Sion James and Ryan Kalkbrenner stepped up to start, giving everything coach Charles Lee wanted out of them.
James’ stats may not pop off the board, but he had a significant impact on the floor doing the dirty work. Something he made a career in college doing.
Over the four games as a starter, James averaged 4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and a steal per game.
Hardly eye-popping stats. But in the latter half of that stretch, he grabbed six rebounds in each game, and recorded seven assists and three steals in the loss against Cleveland.
Kalkbrenner was never an elite scorer either, but even dating back to his college days as a Creighton Bluejay, he made his presence known in the paint.
In those four games, Kalkbrenner averaged 8.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and just under two blocks per game.
It was Kalkbrenner who received immense praise from head coach Charles Lee and said that has been overjoyed with the 7-foot-2 giant’s progress.
"As the season has gone on, he's finding his confidence, he's finding his rhythm more and more every game. I think his 'dad strength' is starting to come into effect lately. I love the physicality..."
Outside of those two, the Hornets also received solid games out of PJ Hall, Tidjane Salaun, Josh Green, and Grant Williams.
No one is asking the Hornets to contend yet. But all the fans want is progress.
And progress is exactly what they have gotten.
With Diabate and Bridges coming back, it’s open season for the league. Just as Kon Knueppel, who is overjoyed to get them back.
"We'll be back rolling like we were when we had 'em. It'll be good to have them back, and I'm excited to play with those guys again."
There are just 24 games left in the season, and there’s plenty of ground to gain. Currently, they stand just a half game behind the ninth-seed Atlanta Hawks, but chasing is nothing new.
Before the Hornets landed where they are right now, they trailed the Bulls and the Bucks.
What’s another obstacle to stand in their way?
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