Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Joshua Gateley Getty Images
Maybe Charles Lee sensed it.
Leading into the finale of a three-game road trip, the Charlotte Hornets coach was asked what’s changed lately, resulting in a more balanced overall record.
“We are able to have an open mind,” Lee said. “I think we are able to have a lot more layers to how we play defense, a lot more layers to how we are playing offense. I think guys are finding that enjoyment of being problem solvers, to solve problems when we are undersized or undermanned.
“And I think just our overall competitiveness has gone up.... And they’ve noticed physically, we have to be better defensively and offensively.”
That’s exactly what they went out and did against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night, pounding the defending NBA champions 124-97 at Paycom Center.
In building a lead as large as 30 points, putting the Thunder (30-7) in its deepest hole of the season, the Hornets trailed for only 2:23 and weren’t really threatened. Paced by Brandon Miller’s 28 points, their starting unit combined for 93 points and registered assists on 25 of their 41 made field goals. Kon Knueppel added 23 points and Miles Bridges had 17.
LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Joshua Gateley Getty Images
“Just having that mentality of being two-way players,” Miller said. “Of course, they’ve got great guys who compete at the highest level. I think what affected them was our shifts. We had a lot of help presence. That gets a lot of teams sped up and that’s what we are going to keep doing — just keep helping each other.”
If nothing else, at least they have a blueprint on how to get it done against the league’s upper echelon.
“For most of the game, offensively we had purpose behind what we were doing,” Lee said. “We were strong with the ball, we weren’t complaining, expecting calls, whining, we knew it was going to be a physical game and we brought the physicality on the defensive end and kind of took them into some of the stuff they wanted to do early.”
Here’s what else the Hornets (13-23) had to say of note in Oklahoma City:
On improvement from Brandon Miller since returning from shoulder injury:
“Man, so many things,” Lee said. “I think Brandon’s really in a good place right now. I’ll start with just his overall conditioning level. It’s been nice to play him extended minutes these last couple of games. I think that his ability to fight through fatigue is just getting a lot better. Because we need him in a lot of big moments.
“With all the rotations that we have and injuries that we have had lately, it’s good knowing I can play him a whole quarter if I need to and he’s still able to go out there and compete at the level he needs to compete at. I think defensively, I’ve loved his ability to guard the primary creators for the other team.... And offensively we know he can score, I’ve noticed a lot of improvement in his decision making.”
On Brandon Miller’s thunderous dunks:
“It’s passion, it brings a lot of joy to our bench,” Lee said. “It brings an extra gear, a spirit, a juice. His transition chase down blocks or contests fuel our competition level. His dunks out on the break with LaMelo (Ball) finding him, I think it gets him going. Not only that, but it lifts our whole team spirit.”
Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets puts up a shot at the rim during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center. Joshua Gateley Getty Images
On only being outrebounded seven times all season before Monday night:
“It’s just a high care factor,” Lee said. “You want to finish possessions. Our guys understand the value of the possession, game, shot margin. The competition level is one of the biggest areas of just who wants it more?... . I don’t know where everybody is going to be on the court when that shot goes up, but we just have to be physical, we have to find a way to want to go through somebody’s chest and get a defensive rebound.”
On Liam McNeeley:
“I love that kid,” Lee said. “And I love everything he’s about and the energy that he brings. He’s had to try to find a role and minutes sometimes are inconsistent. But the thing that’s been really consistent with him is his approach sometimes, he comes in every day with the mindset of trying to get better, trying to learn. He asks excellent questions. He’s in the right spots a lot of times, now he just has to do it with a little bit more force. … Offensively he’s able to do so much, but I’d love to see him simplify. It starts with your ability to catch-and-shoot. Just be shot ready.”