The Toughest Stretch (Happy New Year, everyone! May all your wishes come true in the new year.)

The Hornets' current backcourt rotation consisted of Josh Giddey, Dinwiddie, Dyson Daniels, and Joe Harris.

Of the four, only Joe Harris posed a real threat from outside. But he was also physically limited and had little ability to create off the dribble, so the danger he posed was fairly modest...

The other three, with their shaky shooting, could only put their heads down and drive—straight into the Knicks' ironclad wall of wing defenders. The consequences went without saying.

Especially when the game reached the Third Quarter and Thibodeau "went completely crazy," rolling out an imposing wing unit of Chen Xi, Ethan, Grant, Toppin, and Harten, combining size with athleticism. The Hornets were finished.

That lineup played for six minutes in total.

In those six minutes, Charlotte scored just six points. One came on a corner three by Joe Harris.

It was a miracle shot, taken over Grant's outstretched defense.

The other three came when Prince Wiseman, in a "burst of potential," muscled in a layup through Harten's defense and drew a foul for a 2+1.

In short... that was another miracle shot.

In other words, during those six minutes against the Knicks' imposing wing defenders, the Hornets had no way to break through their defense. All they could do was chuck up miracle shots and hope they went in.

Thibodeau was extremely pleased with that absurd defensive efficiency.

The sample size wasn't large, but he believed New York was unquestionably heading in the right direction.

As for the problems on offense—Grant's average efficiency, Ethan's inconsistent outside shot, Toppin's low scoring output...

Who cared~~

He had Chris on his team!

Chris would take care of everything~~

How was this not a remake of the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers?~~

Time flew by in the blink of an eye.

After beating the Hornets, the