Can Charlotte Hornets Save Season in Time to Still Make NBA Playoffs?
The recurring theme for the Charlotte Hornets in 2014-15 has been one step forward, two steps back.
Case in point: Charlotte won a thriller against the New York Knicks on Dec. 5, followed by another win over the Boston Celtics, a small streak that ended a 10-game losing skid. This was then followed up by a heartbreaking overtime loss in Memphis against the Grizzlies on Dec. 12 (113-107), a subsequent thrashing at the hands of the Brooklyn Nets (114-87) and then a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers (97-88) on Monday.
This was supposed to be a playoff team?
Once again, the Eastern Conference is a dumpster fire compared to its more successful adversary in the West. Regardless of Charlotte's putrid 6-18 record, it is still well within striking distance of a seed in the lower half of the bracket.
In order to get that done, there are some glaring weaknesses that the Hornets must iron out first.
Defend the Three
A squad that could lean on its defense last year is no longer able to do so. The loss to the Nets stands out as one of the most startling in recent memory. Losing in Memphis in overtime is understandable, as the Grizz sit pretty with the second-best record in the NBA. Brooklyn has been underperforming but whipped out 16 threes from Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Sergey Karasev, Bojan Bogdanovic and Alan Anderson.
Following the loss to the Cavaliers, Charlotte had concluded a seven-game stretch during which it allowed 71 threes. Following the Brooklyn game, The Associated Press (via ESPN.com) noted that coach Steve Clifford attributed this to the team being "undersized," which results in the Hornets packing the paint, subsequently leaving opponents free to fire away from deep.
Charlotte does not have the offense to keep up with teams that get hot from the outside. The roster has added some shooting prowess, but it is still nothing close enough to compete with squads like Cleveland or the Atlanta Hawks in that aspect. If Clifford can get this team playing big again so it doesn't have to clog the paint, threes might stop falling like raindrops.
Get Lance Stephenson Going
It wouldn't be the holiday season without a little buyer's remorse.
According to a recent report from ESPN.com's Mark Stein, the Hornets front office is already exploring trade offers for its new high-profile free-agency addition. It was reported that Charlotte is being rather aggressive in talks as well, pushing hard and listening on anyone other than Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker.
It is too early to move a player with this amount of talent. We have seen it in brief glimpses, including the preseason, but he and Walker have the ability to dismantle opposing backcourts. The subpar performance of these two has been staggering, but 24 games is not enough time to cut the cord.
This is a case of Charlotte making its own bed, and now it must lie in it. Stephenson's scoring was supposed to spike alongside his new counterparts, but the opposite has occurred. Moving the ball around in the half court would be a good way to start getting him going, as he and Walker often find themselves in iso situations, with the only outlet being to roll the ball into Jefferson.
His outside shot has been ice cold all year, and he has seen his free throws take a nosedive as well. The untapped source of offense for Charlotte remains in transition. This is a supremely athletic team that seldom gets out in the open floor.
Imagine the thought of Jefferson throwing outlets to Walker and Stephenson as they knife through the paint with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller trailing them, waiting to be spoon-fed for big finishes.
Is that not music to Hornets' fans ears? I can hear the buzz coming back already.
Kick em' While They're Down
Charlotte has suffered seven of its 18 losses to teams currently under .500. The easiest way to get back on a roll is to whoop on some of the league's fodder, specifically in the Eastern Conference.
In December, the Hornets still have contests against the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets and two against the Milwaukee Bucks. These guys must start to show a sense of urgency and not simply assume that the weak conference will allow them to hang around all season.
The East is slated to get weaker as well, as the Miami Heat have just endured two devastating injuries to Chris Bosh and Josh McRoberts, the Brooklyn Nets are, according to an ESPN.com article by Stein and Ohm Youngmisuk, holding a yard sale with everything available for purchase and the Milwaukee Bucks might have to endure a potentially devastating Jabari Parker knee injury.
These are the teams currently locked into the East's final three playoff slots, and all could plummet at any minute. It would be stunning to see any of them lock it in and continue ascending up the ranks. The other teams in front of the Hornets are the young and aimless Magic, the Paul George-less Indiana Pacers and the "we're going nowhere" Boston Celtics.
With this season going downhill fast, Charlotte has to get back to the basics. Build up some confidence by smothering some weaker teams on the defensive end and get a few 20-point efforts under Stephenson's belt in the process. A 6-18 record is pitiful, but fans should be able to see a dim light at the end of this tunnel.
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