NEW YORK — This had the makings of perfect litmus.
Victories in their first two games of the season had the Charlotte Hornets feeling good about themselves. But Brooklyn represented a different challenge.
“It’s a great test for us,” Hornets coach James Borrego said before tipoff. “Obviously, a great team, a title contender full of talent, full of experience. They are going to be right there in the mix this season for an NBA title this season. For us, it’s a great challenge early on to see where we are at.”
They passed. And with flying colors, knocking off the Nets 111-95 at Barclays Center on Sunday to move to 3-0 for the first time ever.
Here are three things we learned:
MILES BRIDGES IS ON FIRE
Where would the Hornets be without the stellar play of Miles Bridges?
On his path to restricted free agency, the fourth-year forward is off to a flying start and is turning in some rather impressive performances. Following up Friday’s 30-point, seven-rebound showing in Cleveland, Bridges was a force against the Nets with 32 points and 9 rebounds.
He even had a nifty 360-degree slam after collecting a steal off a James Harden turnover, displaying some slam dunk contest flair in effortless fashion.
LAMELO CONTINUING EFFICIENCY
LaMelo Ball apparently has an admirer who’s pretty famous in the borough the Nets play in.
Jay Z struck up a conversation with Ball at halftime, chatting it up courtside before getting warmed up. Perhaps the hip hop icon and entrepreneur was trying to distract Ball and throw him off his game, because he had it going again.
It didn’t work, though.
Ball accounted for 70.6% of their offense during the first seven minutes of the third quarter. Five points, three assists and seven points created off assists.
Just another typical outing by Ball, who posted 18 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists..
“He doesn’t have a bad day,” Borrego said. “He comes in with a joy and a spirit every day to practice. That’s tough to do for 82 games and he’s done it consistently. Even coming off a bad game, a tough loss, a bad play, his spirit is the same. It’s fearless, it’s joyful and our group rallies around that.
“We may have a bad half, but coming out the second half he’s coming with that same spirit and attitude. So that’s the biggest thing. His playmaking is elite, his finishing is much better than I expected this early in his career and then obviously making shots, that’s just the cherry on top when he’s making shots.”
NO FALL OFF WITH ISH
Ball and Bridges weren’t the only visiting players to get a rise out of the Brooklyn faithful.
That honor also goes to Ish Smith. Yes, him. Smith was the recipient of plenty of “oohs” thanks to some of his ankle-breaking, quick moves. He was a catalyst for the second unit, pouring in 15 points to go with four rebounds and three steals.
There was no drop off when he was running the offense with Ball resting. Behind Smith’s energy and incredible decision-making, the Hornets grabbed their largest advantage of the evening at 11 points. In crunch time, he was nearly flawless and it couldn’t have been more needed.
“Ish is instant offense,” Borrego said. “He’s always done this. Playing against him all these years, he’s a one-man fastbreak. And we thought he was a great fit for us that way. There’s no drop off. Sometimes our pace goes up more when Ish is in the game. Melo might do it more with the pass, the kick ahead. Ish does it with his legs and his speed. So for us there is no drop off. Devonte (Graham) last year was a little more methodical. Obviously, he shot the ball at a higher clip. He was more ball in his hands, control the offense, shoot it from 3. Ish is more downhill speed and pace, and i think it fits our personnel.”
