Hornets loss Highlights Cor...

Defending the 3 has become a major, major problem. They're giving up 8.8 three's made per game on 40% shooting in January. 8.8 three's made per game would be good for worst in the league if it held up for an entire season. We're talking about 12 games here. They simply can't win consistently if they're defending the perimeter like they have been lately. These two back-back defensive outings have been spectacularly bad in that regard.

Turnovers was another fairly big problem tonight. Granted, the Hornets are fairly good at forcing turnovers, led by Chris Paul, but that was no excuse to give the ball up 21 times tonight. When Miller, Williams and Iguodala combine for 14 turnovers, you're not going to win too many games.

For what it was worth, I thought Brand was perhaps our best defender tonight. I give him credit for not forcing the issue. He's being worked back slowly, and I don't think the team changed its style of play while he was in there too much.

I'm again questioning the decision to play Speights 3 minutes. I'm not sure if the Rook's done something to get in the doghouse again, but he's averaged only about 11 minutes per the last 3 games after getting 20+ minutes 4 straight games. There would not be many games where I would have Evans and Ivey combine for 30 minutes and Speights only 3. Speights should get virtually all of Evans minutes, and most of Ivey's minutes I would put to having Thad at the 3 and having Speights play. I think Speights should consistently get 20-25 minutes.