Analytics on Hornets future, Part 1: Long-term viability of starting backcourt

It’s easy to forget, given it happened two months ago and how days often feel much longer now in these unprecedented times. But leading into the Hornets’ final game prior to the season’s suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, their starting backcourt was providing precisely what the coaching staff had been hoping to see more of — a balanced offensive attack from starters Devonte’ Graham and Terry Rozier. % Rim Att Percentile % Corner 3FGA Percentile Both 2,639 38.80% 17 10.60% 7 Just Rozier 1,594 39.40% 12 10.30% 9 Just Graham 1,700 38.40% 20 9.30% 21 Neither 110 32.70% 87 7.70% 57 Though we don’t have public data to be able to say this shot profile is caused by backcourt defensive issues, in my experience, this defensive shot profile is often associated with teams that get broken down at the point of attack. 2019-20 Hornets Backcourt Player Lineup Poss Usage TS% %3FGM Asst'd Devonte' Graham With Rozier 2663 23.6 51.1% 62.9% Devonte' Graham Without Rozier 1765 26.3 57.3% 45.1% Terry Rozier With Graham 2663 22.9 58.6% 86.1% Terry Rozier Without Graham 1657 24.3 50.4% 70.2% His efficiency was substantially higher, driven I think by the greater preponderance of assisted shots. But the duo illustrates one of the fundamental problems of team building in the NBA: It’s far easier to get to “solidly competent” than it is to get to “actually good” and the long term worry for the Hornets with this backcourt is locking themselves into the former without much chance at the latter.