SOUTHEAST DIVISION
HORNETS
Hot: Charlotte owns a top-five offense, it is fifth in three-point shooting, LaMelo Ball averages 28-7-6, the club owns an identity.
What: Charlotte’s identity is “we are bad at defense.”
MAGIC
Hot: Franz Wagner is 51/39/93. Defense-first backcourt hound Jalen Suggs’ True Shooting is about the same as Franz’.
Also Hot, simply using an apostrophe and no “s” after names ending in “z.”
What: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Cole Anthony are 12-48 from the field, Cole owns a 32 percent turnover rate and KCP looks rather out of place with his teammates offensively.
HAWKS
Hot: Atlanta is the reason games are so long. No team’s made more free throws than Atlanta and by a lot, thanks to De’Andre Hunter and Trae Young and Jalen Johnson.
What: Zaccharie Risacher gave us a bon mot to remember:
“Back in France I was super athletic, and now I’m just a regular dude.”
Our top rookie has two dunks, including a nice one in Wednesday’s win over Washington. Three of his field goal attempts have been blocked. He doesn’t look like a regular dude, he doesn’t look like a dude at all, he looks like a really tall kid. Who is also super, super athletic and already good at NBA basketball.