The Charlotte Hornets now know how long they will be without Kon Knueppel on the court, and the news is far from encouraging. The North Carolina side have announced that the guard will miss at least four weeks of action because of the left hamstring injury he aggravated while trying to return, making an already difficult season, which has started with plenty of problems, even more of an uphill battle.
Knueppel managed only six minutes on the floor before having to head to the locker room, turning what should have been a night for optimism into a heavy blow. Charles Lee’s side have begun the season with serious offensive problems and a poor 3-7 record, and with six consecutive defeats now behind them, their season is at increasing risk of being practically unsalvageable by the time Kon is back.
With 99.7 points per 100 possessions, Charlotte currently have the worst offence in the NBA, not just this season but of the last decade. You have to go back to the 2015-16 76ers, in the midst of The Process, to find another team so inefficient on offence, which is a drastic collapse from the fun-loving Hornets who attracted many fans with their dynamic and devastating attack less than a year ago.
And, although the LaMelo Ball trade has undeniably had a lot to do with it, it is also obvious that Knueppel’s absence is a key factor.
Charlotte’s hope now rests on trying to recover the best version of Coby White, whose return should have helped improve things but who is playing at a dismal level that makes it hard for him to have any kind of positive impact. As the guard regains his rhythm, perhaps his performance will improve and Charles Lee’s men will manage to right the ship, at least slightly. Until then, hopes appear to be minimal.
