The First Spark

The first spark became a flame on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Charlotte hosted a nationally televised afternoon game because the league had scheduled it before realizing the Hornets might be terrible. The opponent was a veteran playoff team, the kind that punished mistakes with bored professionalism. They led by eighteen in the third quarter. Old Charlotte would have folded. Dawson called timeout and did not draw a play. "Look at them," he told his players. "They think you are still the team from the scouting report. Are you?" No one answered. "Good. Show me." Tyrese forced a turnover. Marcus hit a pull-up three. Jamal blocked two shots in one possession, the second with his left hand as he fell backward.