The gamble in starting Jeremy Lamb was never about scoring. That skill had kept him in the NBA as a reserve for six seasons.
His ball-handling and decision-making were decent, too. The doubt when new Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego contemplated this shift in the lineup was at the other end of the court.
“I think that was the biggest question I had: Could he defend on a top-level team’s starting unit,” Borrego said after a 126-94 home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“I give Nic (Batum) a lot of credit because he’s helping him. Nic has come out with a purpose defensively.