STOP the LaMelo Bench Experiment! Reacting to the Hornets' National TV Loss Against the Cavaliers

Locked On Hornets - Daily Podcast On The Charlotte Hornets · Jan 22, 2026 · 39m

The Charlotte Hornets had a golden opportunity to showcase their growth on a national stage against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but instead, the night was defined by a self-inflicted wound. Coach Charles Lee opted once again to bring LaMelo Ball off the bench in the first game of a back-to-back, and the results were nothing short of catastrophic. We watched as the offense fell into a 13-2 hole almost immediately, trailing by as many as 27 points in a first half that ranked among the worst performances we have seen all season. While the intention is to manage LaMelo's long-term health and…