Hive Hoops

Karter Baughan joins the show for his second appearance alongside our host Joshua Balta to discuss the 11-31 Hornets, can LaMelo Ball be a number one option on a winning team, number two option even? Balta and Karter talk about the two dookies, we mean dukies, on the Hornets and their recent uptick in play and production in Mason Plumlee and Mark Williams. The episode closes with a Rapid Fire (not...

The Hornets allowed Ja Morant to bleed 26 seconds off the clock before touching the ball, and that pretty much sums up the Charlotte Hornets' performance against the Memphis Grizzlies. The team looks pathetic, not focused, and completely out on competing this season. Our host, Joshua Balta, discusses his concerns of the players on this roster, their "winning-DNA (or lack thereof)" and if there are...

Hive Hoops is back with the first episode of the New Year. The Charlotte Hornets are 10-28 and our host Joshua Balta is RANTING. Following poor performances against the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, as well as poor individual performances from some of the team's biggest names: LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Gordon Hayward; the season is all but over which has this Hornets team looking ahead to...

Jamal Darby and Keyza Soulsay from Under Construction join the show to talk LaMelo Ball's return, what it has done for this team, worried about his fouling tendency, and does Ball have enough time to make a case for his second All-Star bid?? Cody Martin and Dennis Smith Jr. remain out and the guys discuss their importance to this team, and just how badly does Charlotte miss the two defensive-minde...

The Charlotte Hornets are 7-23 thirty games into the season, riding an 8 game losing streak and just lost to a Detroit Pistons team led by Kylian Hayes, Alec Burks, and Jalen Duren (Yes, THAT Jalen Duren). LaMelo Ball returned hoping to inject a boost into this team, yet despite averaging 27 points and nearly 7 assists since re-insertion this team is 0-3 and giving off zero vibes that they will tu...

Hive Hoops welcomes Karter Baughan of the KarterKast Podcast to the latest episode! Balta and Karter team up to discuss the only direction the Hornets should be going in this season, how that affects LaMelo Ball's outlook for this season, selling all James Bouknight stock?, and a Hornets edition of OVER/UNDER. 

The Charlotte Hornets dropped two close contests this week against two contenders in the Clippers and the Nets. Too much Kawhi Leonard late against the Clippers, and then the same with Kevin Durant against the Nets cost the Hornets two games in which the injury-laden team battled and fought, yet to no avail. The Hornets could not grab that final board versus LA, and then had to rely on JT Thor and...

Hive Hoops was joined by Evan Birchmore of "Swarm and Sting" as the first guest in Hive Hoops history! Balta and Evan discuss their early season assessments of the season. To what degree can this team be judged based on their performance to date? Does Coach Steve Clifford deserve blame? Terry Rozier? Or does it rest more so on the organization as a whole? Find out here and more on the latest episo...

The Hornets just won two games against the Philadelphia 76ers and the Minnesota Timberwolves to finish off last week yet instead of talking about Kelly Oubre's performance, the Mint City edition jerseys and court, or Kai Jones' emergence we have a medical staff (and perhaps coaching as well) issue in the Queen City. Our host Joshua Balta details the events of Robyn Hayward's social media post as w...

The Charlotte Hornets dropped two more games over the weekend in which they held the lead in the 4th quarter or overtime. That brings the Hornets to 4-14 on the year and the question of whether or not it is time to start cranking up the trade chatter. Joshua Balta details who on the Hornets is trending up and who is trending down on the trade market as well as the young rookies from the 2021 Draft...

The Charlotte Hornets dropped yet another game in which they led, losing to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night 125-113. LaMelo Ball led the team with 26 points and 6 assists on 10/17 shooting, yet left the game late after re-injuring his ankle. The Hornets are now 4-12, have lost nine of their last ten, are 1-6 at home this season, and have lost six games in which they have held the lead in the...

The Charlotte Hornets are no longer on a losing streak! The 8 game slide is a thing of the past! The Hornets won 112-105 over the Orlando Magic on Monday night to start a new streak, one that has the Hornets in the win column. Seven players scored in double figures, LaMelo Ball flirted with a double-double, and Mason Plumlee led the team in scoring. Our host Joshua Balta breakdown individual perfo...

The Charlotte Hornets welcomed back their All-Star in LaMelo Ball, yet his placement into the lineup wasn't quite enough to overcome the blistering Miami Heat shooting and backdoor cuts on Saturday night. Charlotte has lost 8 in a row now with a four game week coming up that includes games against Orlando, Indiana, and Washington. Our host Joshua Balta speaks on the importance of this week in rega...

Episode 10 looks back at the first 11 games of the Hornets' season that has brought Charlotte's record to 3-8 to date. Yuck. The Hornets have been banged up and missing multiple players including LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, Cody Martin, and even Terry Rozier for a stretch, yet the Hornets have had multiple 4th quarter leads despite these key players being out. Balta speaks to the frustration of t...

Miles Bridges plead no contest on Thursday and the former Hornets forward is now under probation for the next three years including an extensive list of demands that must be met during this time. Balta gives his takes on the Miles Bridges' domestic violence case and where does the NBA, the Charlotte Hornets, and even Miles Bridges himself go from here?

The Charlotte Hornets lost to the Sacramento Kings on Halloween night after leading by 15 at the break. Gordon Hayward didn't score in the 2nd half, Kelly Oubre couldn't figure out screens, and the Hornets' turnovers plagued them as they move to 3-4. Our host, Balta, gives his top 5 halloween candy list, mentions a few bright spots, and goes in on the 120 million dollar man in Charlotte. 

The Hornets finally win a game in overtime, and it comes against the reigning champions, the Golden State Warriors. Balta highlights key performances from the game as well as asking the question, is this the same team that Hornets fans have seen from previous years, or is there something different about this team that can place the Hornets over the hump?

The Charlotte Hornets got throttled in Orlando on Friday night to a previously winless Magic side who was missing five of their rotation players. Balta rec aps the lows and the lower lows of the game while asking more from PJ Washington, Kelly Oubre, and more. Our host also mini-previews the short turnaround for Saturday's game at The Hive against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Kenny A...

The Charlotte Hornets lost in heartbreaking fashion on Wednesday in MSG against the New York Knicks. Balta details the importance of these early games on the schedule as well as the three that turned two. Balta has the boys in Purple and Teal on upset alert against the Orlando Magic in their next game on Friday and how a win here could be a sign of things to come in Charlotte. 

Tank shmank. The Charlotte Hornets just went to the ATL and took down a fully-loaded Hawks team while the boys in Purple and Teal had to go to battle without their All-Star in LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier III, and Cody Martin. Big Nick Energy, DSJ, and the reincarnation of Kelly Oubre Jr. led the attack and defense for Charlotte leading them to a 2-1 start through the first week of the season! Let's...

In his pre-game interview with Ashley ShahAhmadi, Mitch Kupchak blew Hornets fans' minds with the expectation that Charlotte will win more games this season than last. Also, Balta details as to why he doesn't believe that the loss of Miles Bridges will be as detrimental as many think. 

In the post-game presser, Head Coach Steve Clifford called out the Charlotte Hornets for playing bad basketball after a 124-112 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on 10-21-2022. This is a welcomed sight in the Queen City that had gotten used to "we will watch the tape" and "growth" over the past few seasons.  

This off-season/pre-season was hellacious to say the least. But, with the Hornets' first game of the season resulting in a 129-102 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, there was a bit of relief and joy in getting the season underway and off to a 1-0 start to put the off-season semi-behind us. Balta highlights the dominating win over the Spurs, briefly addresses some of the issues from the off-seaso...