The Charlotte Hornets found themselves trailing by double-digits against the Zion Williamson-less New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. It's unfair to pin the blame on just a single factor, but the Pelicans were able to erase a 17-8 deficit and go up 26-22 in the four minutes KJ Simpson played in the first quarter.
To be fair to the second-year point guard, Moussa Diabate also registered a -13 plus/minus during that span. But a huge reason the Hornets struggled to maintain their rhythm was the lack of playmaking, as Simpson has yet to show that the team can trust him in that department.