More bad news in North Carolina. Surely fate is haunting the Hornets: between troubles with the law, off-field drama and serial injuries, the Hornets are having a complicated start to the season. Last date dated tonight with LaMelo Ball who is injured in his ankle…
If the Hornets didn’t seem to promise big ambitions before the season started, they certainly didn’t expect so many setbacks. It started with LaMelo Ball, victim of a severe ankle sprain that caused him to miss the first 13 regulation games. While Terry Rozier quickly took his young son Ball’s place in the lead, Scary Terry was quickly forced to join his teammate… in sickbay. Also victim of an ankle injury, T-Ro was replaced by… Dennis Smith Jr.
From ? Rozier has recovered and is now playing in top form, but LaMelo hasn’t had the same luck. Back last Saturday against the Heat, the young North Carolina star didn’t shine. Uncomfortable to shoot, Ball seemed to need some time to get going: in two games, the Great Guard posted a 5/24 from distance. After two trips to Florida, Miami and then Orlando, the Hornets returned to Charlotte yesterday for the Pacers reception. And what was the joy for the Hornets fans to see their leader regain color and flourish 100% on the ground… But this happiness was short-lived: a minute and a half from the end, despite the fact that Indiana had just inflicted against the Hornets a run that relegates Charlotte to nine points, LaMelo throws himself to save a ball and there is the drama:
The very bad news of the evening: LaMelo Ball has probably injured his ankle again.
He had just returned, he immediately entered the locker room after a bad action at the end of the match.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) November 17, 2022
The point guard’s ankle twisted, and the Hornets’ PR account quickly mentioned a sprained left ankle for Lonzo’s younger brother. The same left ankle that made him miss the first three weeks of regular play. All the more infuriating that LaMelo has looked his best in this game, which he will leave with 26 points, 6 assists and 2 interceptions, all on 10/17 shooting and 5/8 from long range. We are still waiting to find out more about the seriousness of the injury, and in particular to have an estimate of LaMelo’s probable return date. Steve Clifford is also awaiting word from the creator of him:
“I hope it’s not serious. We won’t have the results until Thursday.”
However, ROY 2021 came out of a magnificent second season, both from a statistical point of view (20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.6 assists on average, and almost 39% of successes behind the arc) and in terms of highlights: impossible passes, improbable shots, shots from 3 to two meters behind the line and even some great dunks. Selected to the All Star Game, LaMelo LaFrance (yes, that’s his middle name) even led the Hornets to their first winning streak since the 2015-16 fiscal year. This year is definitely very complicated for Michael Jordan’s protégés.
The Hornets’ season is definitely not a long, calm river. Cascading injuries and shovel defeats, we will quickly place them in the favorites column to accommodate Victor Wembanyama at this rate.
Text source: The Sporting News
