Hornets vs Nets: Coach Charles Lee Postgame Media Availability | 10/22/2025

Hornets vs Nets: Coach Charles Lee Postgame Media Availability | 10/22/2025

Yeah, it was uh number one the crowd was lit as I was expected. Um it was fun to be back in the spectrum and it was also just good to have another opportunity to play a game and try to build some better habits on both sides of the ball. Um I think defensively we did a lot of really good things and um things that we’ll continue to try to emphasize and then there’s some areas where we can get better. Um you know you have a 37 point third quarter and in the second quarter you feel like you put them in the bonus kind of early. So, um, as as good as I thought we were, we can also, again, like I said, get better. And then offensively, I loved, um, the pace that we were able to pretty much sustain, which was good. The ball movement was great. I think it was 33 assists on like 48 made field goals, which always means that there’s a the ball’s moving a lot. And I thought actually in the first half, what I think we have five turnovers, so we were taking care of the ball and passing the ball. And then the second second half, they did a good job of, I think, turning us over, forcing some turnovers. We got to continue to just be strong with the ball and value every possession from the beginning of the game to the end of the game. Rookies tonight, Khan and Ryan, what can you say about their performance and having them come out there and start um their first rookie game in the NBA today? Yeah, I was, you know, we celebrated all four rookies. Uh it’s cool when you get your first NBA victory. Uh especially to do it here uh at Spectrum in front of our great fans. And so they they’ve made an impact from day one uh just with like their work ethic and who they are as people. And it was cool to see them be able to impact the game today in a lot of different ways. Like I said, uh the guys that did play from from that group and the guys that didn’t, I just felt like they were all engaged and communicating and bringing positivity and great communication. And then the guys that hooped, I thought that there there was a competitive spirit to to all three of them. Um offensive rebounds, Ryan blocking shots at the rim, um Seon being the the elite connector that he is in terms of um rebounding and pushing and guarding. Um, so it was a great learning experience for all three and I’m, you know, not surprised by the impact that they had because they they’ve earned that opportunity to be out there. Charles, how much was that decision to start the two rookies and then have Seion come off of the bench so early matchup based compared to winning camp battles, preseason battles? What was the mix and going into that decision? It was a combination of all those factors. Um, I thought that uh for what we needed tonight going up against this team and just where we are in the season right now, uh, that Ryan and Khan made sense for that unit. And I thought that Seion um how he again how he’s connected and how he’s brought a physicality on both ends of the floor and just like a a nastiness, a grit to him, a toughness, uh it’s just what we needed today. Uh especially when you play a really good competitive Brooklyn team. How do you balance finding a routine and a rhythm with your rotation alongside experimenting as the season goes on? Yeah. Um, you know, I thought today was a good opportunity for me to get a better feel of how to rotate um, these 10 guys. Um, every night it’ll be a different type of jigsaw puzzle to probably figure out because even though Lamar and I sit there pregame and we kind of map it all out, uh, there’s fouls that happen. Brandon picks up two, which then all of a sudden changes your rotation a little bit and um, certain guys get it going. So, you got to be flexible. Um, but I think we know that we come in with a mindset of how many minutes we would like our guys to get to. And that was even a little bit why we kept them in at the end of the game. Like they didn’t play in the la a couple of them didn’t play in that last preseason game and it’s an opportunity for us to try to get their minutes up as we kind of try to get into some game shape. Uh, Colin, you had him come off the bench first sixman role tonight. What did you see from him and how can he flourish if that’s something you do for him uh with, you know, most of the season? Yeah, I think whenever he’s in in that spot to come off the bench, he he shows you what he brings as soon as he comes in. Instant energy, um passion, toughness, picking guys up full court, getting deflections. Um he’s also really helped us, I think, offensively just be able to get the ball into the paint. Um last year, you know, I thought that we created some good shots, but probably a lot of it um was screenbased and not as much driving. And this year, I think that we just got some guys that can really get downhill um if you mess up your coverages. And so he he brings that uh to our team and I think he’s doing a much better job of also facilitating. I know a lot of people do recognize that he can score the ball um but he’s embraced the opportunity to try to be a playmaker and a facilitator for um for his teammates. Brandon Miller, how different are you with him back on the floor than without? Yeah, he adds an extra punch to our team. Uh Melo gets it going, Miles gets it going. Uh, now you throw Brandon into the mix and he’s he’s going to be an elite two-way player for us, too. And also, I think just for other teams trying to figure out their matchups, you know, like where are you putting your best defender? Where are you putting your second best defender? Um, a lot of times that he’s going to benefit uh for however um the they rotate their defenders. But I think that um he he just brings another element, another pop. You can see him on some of those drives. he’s finally getting his like legs, his game legs under him and he’s got that extra burst and the ability to finish on the break uh with with his great athleticism and his connection with Mel and those guys and so um I’m really excited to see him back. I’m really proud of him. Um I know it was like a a long journey back. um no injury like that is is fun to go through and every day of the process you have some good days and then you have like a slight little soreness as you come back and he’s he’s done a phenomenal job I think of just staying engaged with his teammate and approaching every day with the right mindset and attitude.

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