In the two games since Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford returned from a medical leave last week, guard Nic Batum has looked more engaged.
That is no coincidence, Batum said Monday morning: Clifford is finding ways to get Batum, the Hornets’ best passer, more involved, particularly early in games. Sometimes that specifically means running plays featuring Batum. Other times, it just means leaning the offense more toward actions that have optimized Batum’s skill set in the past.
“The way he’s (had) me play the last two games, I’ve moved (with or without) the ball a lot more,” Batum said at shootaround before Monday night’s home game against the Sacramento Kings.