Lost In The Hornets’ Slow Start: Bismack Biyombo’s Steady Improvement

Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

The Charlotte Hornets have been a disaster this season, going 4-and-15 in a year where many expected them to improve on their playoff standing from 2013-14. The addition of Lance Stephenson has been difficult and the Hornets have struggled on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. But in a young season full of surprises, the continued development of Bismack Biyombo has slid under the radar. In his fourth season, the power forward is finally starting to find his groove.

While Biyombo started the season behind 10-year veteran Jason Maxiell — he played just two minutes and 41 seconds in the Hornets’ first eight games — he slowly gained the confidence of coach Steve Clifford. Just two weeks into the season Biyombo was again part of the rotation, putting in his first double-double in over a year against the Phoenix Suns in 14 minutes of play. Since then, he has bumped Maxiell out of the rotation and is back to playing the 15 minutes per game he garnered last year.

The reason for Biyombo’s return to the rotation is that his role is more concentrated. Instead of playing two quarters per game in the hope of him developing into an offensive or defensive threat, he’s able to push the pedal to the metal in brief stints and use his athleticism to make plays on both ends of the court. An injection of energy off the bench — something Maxiell failed to bring — is something the Hornets so desperately need.

The Hornets don’t necessarily see Biyombo as a backup center to Al Jefferson anymore, rather a running mate for Brian Roberts, Lance Stephenson and Gary Neal when the bench gets court time. Their starting five plays the third-slowest rate in the NBA. Their bench, on the other hand, plays much faster, which fits Biyombo’s skill-set as he gets out in transition and alters shots for opposing players.

This is a big change from last season. When Biyombo was trying to find his role on the team, he hurt the Hornets when it came to spacing because defenses allowed him to roam free on offense. While he still relies heavily on his teammates to create shots for him and is most effective in second chance opportunities on the offensive glass — of his 20 made field goals this season, 13 have been putbacks or dunks — he has been effective in short stints against second units when coupled with a playmaker like Stephenson.

Stephenson has looked more comfortable with the bench unit so far this season because he acts as their primary ball handler and pushes the ball more in transition. He has great vision, too, and he’s able to find Biyombo when defenses lose sight of him. As a result, Biyombo can get away with clogging the floor in brief spurts.

This newfound niche as a change-of-pace player has altered Biyombo’s numbers in hustle plays. In comparison to his first three years in the league, Biyombo is rebounding and blocking shots at a much higher rate. His Player Efficiency Rating of 19.1 ranks him 56th in the NBA and second on the Hornets. He’s also averaging career-highs across the board on a per-36 minute basis of 11.1 points, 14.5 rebounds and 3.6 blocks.

It’s becoming more and more clear that Biyombo was never supposed to be a backup center, or even a defensive-minded starter that could relieve pressure off of a dominant low-post player the way Robin Lopez has done in Portland for LaMarcus Aldridge. Instead, he’s worked his way back into the rotation by being a help defender and athletic opportunist when paired with an active bench unit.

It’s not what the Hornets wanted when they drafted Biyombo with the seventh overall in 2011, but as Charlotte tries to make a push out of the gutter and back to the playoffs they’ll take all the positive production they can get.