48 Minutes on the Charlotte Hornets with Nick Carboni of WCNC-TV

0:00 .... Show open ... Bruce welcomes the panel and dedicates show #235 to the late Reggie Lewis of the Boston Celtics, whose number 35 was retired by the team shortly after his death in 1993.

1:07 ... Bruce introduces Nick Carboni of WCNC-TV who covers the Hornets on a daily basis.

2:10 ... Nick is excited about finally covering the Hornets in the playoffs after 10 years working in the city and shares a brief story from the recent Dell Curry jersey retirement ceremony.

3:11 ... World B, who has been on the Hornets bandwagon gets the first question and asks about the evolution of LaMelo Ball and his impact on the team's success. Nick thought Melo was going to be traded a few months ago but his progress has really helped the team.

6:50 ... The Hornets have been sparked by rookie Kon Kneuppel and his spectacular 3 point shooting and all around floor game.

9:37 ... Nick points out the moment when he realized the Hornets were not the same old Hornets from recent years. It was their wins over Utah and Oklahoma City that convinced him they were different. And their defense has improved dramatically.

11:55 ... The Hornets have played spectacular ball for second year head coach Charles Lee for two straight months. Are they peaking at a good time?

14:27 ... Lee is part of the Boston connection plus some other veterans like Grant Williams, Xavier Tillman, and Pat Connaughton that are helping a young team to realize its potential.

17:02 ... The Hornets have been healthy and good chemistry has logically followed due to the players having more experience together on the court.

20:15 ... Rebounding has been a key improvement that has led to more winning in Charlotte.

23:19 ... The Charlotte market is not one of the largest TV markets but they support the NFL's Panthers and the Hornets. Major League Baseball may have interest in expanding into Charlotte, but can the city support a third pro franchise?

27:07 ... Bruce asks about the sports culture in Charlotte and whether the fans are more like college fans since the state is so college hoop oriented.

29:59 ... Bruce point out that the Hornets have had many blowout wins but wonders if the team needs to win some close "nailbiter" games in order to be "playoff ready?" Nick agrees and cites a few examples of close games that were losses when they could have been wins.

31:59 ... Kemba Walker was a great player in Charlotte and is now a member of their coaching staff. Nick says Kemba remains his favorite player of all time. And his presence on the bench connects the Charlotte fans of different generations.

35:11 ... Bruce reintroduces Nick and tosses to the mid-show break

35:30 ... Bruce resets and tees up a discussion of the 65 game rule for postseason awards and All-NBA teams. Everyone agrees that some tweaks are needed to minimize the unforeseen circumstances of the rule.

38:45 ... Jayson Tatum's return to the Celtics has Boston fans dreaming of a second title in 3 years. Do these fans need to tap the brakes?

41:49 ... The Lakers have been on fire as of late with Luka Doncic leading the way. Are they a legit threat to win the title?

44:54 ... Which teams are lurking below the radar but who could make a meaningful playoff run? Nick likes the Hornets, World B likes Miami, and Bruce likes Minnesota.

48:00 ... Bruce wraps things up and teases the weekend preview show later in the week.

TRT 48:45

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