Brooklyn Nets overpower inept Charlotte Hornets squad, win 97-89

“We know coming in that they really ain’t got no paint presence. So we’re just trying to attack the basket.”

That was a characteristically blunt Day’Ron Sharpe, speaking with YES Network’s Meghan Triplett at halftime of Brooklyn Nets vs. Charlotte Hornets on Monday night.

Sharpe may have a been a bit too dismissive of third-year center Moussa Diabaté, who the Hornets just rewarded with a three-year contract. Diabaté, a skinny but very lively 6’10”, muscled his way to 21 and 10 with two blocks on the night, though his production dipped after lob-thrower extraordinaire LaMelo Ball exited with an ankle tweak.

But while Diabaté impressed, Sharpe’s larger point was correct. Diabaté wasn’t enough of…