Jeremy Lin (Photo : Hornets)
The Charlotte Hornets brought in Jeremy Lin this offseason to primarily back up Kemba Walker at the point. But knowing well Lin's versatility, head coach Steve Clifford hinted at putting both guards on the court at the same time. In a league where new systems are drawn and applied, perhaps the next great playmaker for the Hornets is indeed a duo.
Baseline Buzz tackled the idea of Hornets' two point-guard backcourt and how it will affect the team's efficiency on the offensive and defensive end of the floor. While neither of the two are elite-level playmakers yet, the site highlighted their potent scoring prowess and the unique skills-sets each can provide.
Jeremy Lin vs. Kemba Walker:
Walker has always been a great isolation player who thrives in a one-on-one situation. His ability to create his own shots out of nothing probably makes him one of the best in the business in that area. However, his subpar field goal shooting (40 percent over his career) and struggle to defend bigger guards (-3.0 plus/minus rating) are issues he must address if he wants to take that next step.
Lin, on the other hand, is a superior shooter (43 percent FG%, 35 percent from 3-point line) and has better physical tools (6-foot-5 wingspan with 8-foot-2 standing reach) to match up with bigger guards than Kemba Walker, but his struggle to protect the ball remains a red flag despite lowering his turnovers to career low 2.3 tpg last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.
While the combination of Walker and Lin gives the Hornets a high-scoring point guard duo, Baseline Buzz is not much convinced that Clifford will give this backcourt experiment an extended look, especially with their frontcourt defense taking a step back following the departure of rim protector Bismack Biyombo.
"After the Lin signing was made public, Coach Clifford spun tales of playing the two together for big minutes. I'll believe it when I see it. Clifford hates going small and the team tried a similar experiment with Mo Williams late last season to mostly poor results. With a weaker defensive frontline this season, heavy dual point lineups could get even dicier."
Ray of Hope:
It would be interesting how Walker and Lin play next to each other next season. The Hornets filled the void left by Gerald Henderson at shooting guard position by acquiring Jeremy Lamb in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Lamb is expected to get big minutes at the wing for the Hornets next season, but it seems Clifford is determined to find out what he can get out of a backcourt of above-average playmakers.
Walker-Lin tandem is a strange fit as both are a ball-dominant guards, but there's a ray of hope this experiment would actually work as what Baseline Buzz indicated.
"One guy can protect the ball and break ankles but can also shoot you out of a game. One guy can hit threes and score off the pick but is reckless with the ball. One can manufacture offense out of nothing while the other can elevate a team's defense. Same same. But different."
For complete numbers detailing Jeremy Lin vs. Kemba Walker match-up, you can read the full article at Baseline Buzz.
