Effort is non-negotiable at the Charlotte Hornets. That, at least, is the message Charles Lee seemed keen to drive home tonight, as his side lost 97-89 to the Pistons in a game in which the head coach did not hold back in singling out one of his players. Even if he is one of those who arrived to be among the team’s most important figures.
Naz Reid has started the regular season with the best numbers of his career, but his first-half display in Detroit was not pleasing his coach. With several possessions in which he was selfish and created nothing, plus other moments of little commitment, he passed through the first two quarters without making any impression. But nobody expected that he would not be seen at all in the next two. Annoyed with his performance, Lee chose to keep him on the bench.
The Hornets opened the third quarter with Royce O’Neal on court instead of the former Timberwolves man, and although it was expected that Reid would return at some point, it never happened. And before anyone could speculate about a possible injury, his coach made clear what the reason for his absence had been.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t meet our standards in the first half, so at half-time we decided he wasn’t going to play in the second,” the coach said bluntly. “But I’m looking forward to him reaching that level in the next game.”
Naz therefore did not even play 13 minutes, in which he finished with 7 points, 2/6 from the field and 6 rebounds. His spells on court ended with a -4 plus-minus for his team, who nevertheless were unable to improve matters when the forward stayed on the bench.
The truth is that Lee’s plan did not quite work out. After holding double-digit leads in the first half, the Hornets fell apart in the second, scoring only 38 points and failing to contain a Pistons side that grew stronger as the game went on. That makes it impossible not to wonder how much would have changed with Reid on the court.