Hornet Related Grantland Article

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6. Al-Farouq Aminu's Jump Shot

If it could speak, Aminu's jumper would say, "WHEEE!!!! I have no idea where I'm going, but I'm way high in the air right now!" It is a basketball prayer, every time. It has been nice to see Aminu work his way back into Monty Williams's rotation as a rebounder and plus defender, but, man, is he hard to watch on offense.

7. Robin Lopez's Baby Steps

Lopez recorded 43 assists combined in his first four seasons, which included three (!) seasons of single-digit assist totals. Lopez has already dished 35 assists this season, and while that's still below average even for a big-man finisher, it's a small sign Lopez still has little bits of refinement to add to his game. Lopez is now capable at least a few times per game of catching the ball in the paint on a pick-and-roll, and either kicking the ball to a shooter or dropping a short-distance bounce pass to his big-man partner around the baseline. One assist per game isn't much, but it's something, and it will help sustain Lopez's usefulness.

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