It’s a weird sort of compliment that is sports-centric: The better you become at your craft, the more determined and focused opponents become at attempting to make you look bad.
Charlotte Hornets guard Malik Monk looked bad during the recent three-game road trip, averaging 7.3 points and shooting 7-of-37 from the field and 2-of-21 from 3-point range.
Those games in Philadelphia, Detroit and Cleveland followed a four-game span that were as promising as any time in Monk’s brief NBA career: In consecutive home games against Miami, Oklahoma City, Cleveland and Atlanta, Monk averaged 17.5 points. In those games, he made 26 of his 50 shots from the field, including 11-of-27 from 3-point range.