Hornets vs Knicks: Coach Charles Lee Postgame Media Availability | 11/26/2025
Obviously game turned there probably in the second quarter mostly. What stood out to you most um in that period of the game? Yeah, did not like how we played in the first half at all. Um I think defensively the just the effort overall there was just too many transition buckets that were given up. Um not getting matched up with Brunson early in the clock. Um Bridges face cutting us for a layup. Um just things that we know what to expect. You know what this team does. You’ve watched them um in playoffs. We’ve watched them in scouting reports and it wasn’t anything that we weren’t ready for. Um we just weren’t um giving the action or giving the effort that’s needed um in transition or just on defense in general. It’s been a struggle for LaMelo since coming back from injury, not shooting the ball well. What do you think is the biggest reason for that? Is it Russ coming back from the injury? Are there things that you can point to on the court that have made it a struggle for him? I just think we all got to focus on what it takes to win. Um, I think that if we give a little bit more focus to the defensive end of the floor, a little bit of those competitive plays where you got to come up with a 50-50 ball or a defensive rebound, um, that’ll put you in a better spot. Um, I think to have success throughout the whole game, uh, the game usually rewards hard work and effort and competitiveness. And I just think that, uh, all of us can be better and we’ll play better offensively. With, uh, second half, you went with Musa starting. Uh, just why did you decide to do that? Yeah, I just thought uh you know with uh Towns starting at the five, the ability to maybe switch a little bit more um not get disconnected on pick and pop threes. Um and so I thought Musu did a good job banging um in the post at times with Towns and made it tough for him to have to finish and got a couple unfortunate foul calls, but I thought both the bigs did a good job in their coverages and gave us something different. Um in the half court, I actually think that we did a pretty good job of guarding them. Um there’s some times where we could be better on the glass, but um we forced him into some tough buckets and got some unfortunate foul calls. You mentioned the effort. Why do you think it wasn’t there? Um especially when you guys have lost, you know, six games in a row coming to tonight. Yeah, it’s a great question. Um I I have to do a better job of preparing them and putting them in a position to give that effort. Um so I I will definitely take that. In another area, Jaylen Brunson’s a terrific player, small guard. There’s so few small guards in the NBA today. They don’t really get a chance for the most part. I mean, it’s mostly length, wingspan. Why do you think more small guards don’t get the opportunity? A lot of times they’re more talented players. Is it is the size the only thing that reason why organizations don’t let when you see a guy like that, there’s other guys out there too that might have an opportunity? No, he’s uh he’s going to help a lot of those small guards. Uh but I actually wouldn’t even call him a small guard. as physical as he is, as strong as he is, his great footwork before and after the dribble, um he’s really crafty. Um and then he he gives you everything he has on the defensive end, too. So, um I think every organization is different for what they value, um from a size, um athleticism standpoint, offensive skill set, defensive skill set. So, um to each his own, but he’s a good player. You just said the game rewards people who work hard and have competitiveness. This seems like with this loss, it could be a turning point for the season. How do you make sure it turns in the right direction for this team? Yeah, I think just, you know, uh, everyone enjoy their Thanksgiving a little bit. Um, think about, um, the words that we say every day and try to find a way to actually have some action um, to follow up those words because I think that we talk we talk about the right things. We we we are um, preparing ourselves in the right way. Um, but now the action has to follow and you have to be able to sustain it through for a whole game. um embrace the adversity that comes with the game, the foul trouble, um the different rotations, the different coverages. Um but you still got to dig down um and figure out what it’s going to take to just impact winning on both ends of the court throughout a whole game.
Charles Lee speaks to the media following the 101-129 loss vs the New York Knicks on November 26, 2025.
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9 comments
Sad times are here
Lamelo is trying to play his way out of here 😮
If you look at lee’s coaching staff not one proven vet on his bench and the summer league coach left for N.Y. tht says it all for me It’s the blind leading the blind and his message has grown stale. IQ and dna ain’t jack without any dogs on your team. Jordan in his prime couldn’t save this team smh
Team played like trash tonight. No effort on defense. Stupid turnovers. Lack luster play. The coach doesn't know who to start. The imbalance is making it hard to win. Plus we shoot the dumbest shots. And we launch long distance shots as bail outs when we should be driving as bail outs. But I blame management. I believe we have good players. However, I don't believe when have good coaches and management. I'm just waiting for yall to let me be assistant GM for free. I have a coaching staff and European scouts already in place.
Please get rid of this dude, this team looks like it coaches itself, bad shots, no defense, turnovers, let this dude go clap at the crib. How you let a team shoot 60% from the field
This franchise is depressing
Charles Lee needs to go ! End this ridiculous experiment! Can the Hornets actually get an experienced head coach with a winning record and championship experience !
Lamelo lowering his value to get traded 100 iq play😂 😂😂
This team has so much potential but lacks intention. They are so individually talented without the second nature reflexes that come from team chemistry and reliability. The only ones that play with intention are Kon, Moose, Colin, and KJ. Watch how they play versus Miles, Brandon, Melo, Tre who almost look like they are hesitating. Lazy one handed passes, always searching for someone else to make a move, slow to come help. It takes time, sure. It also takes watching film, and nonstop running together until you know each other’s next moves. study the greats. Ill be happy to see when it finally starts clicking and, Oh what an underdog story that would be!