Charlotte Hornets' Schedule Breakdown and Record Predictions for February
The Charlotte Hornets are back from the dead and right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. They are finally starting to live up to lofty preseason expectations, as evidenced by a 10-4 January.
Their unquestionable best month of the season surprisingly came amid a flurry of gut-punching injuries. As soon as Lance Stephenson and Al Jefferson re-emerged from extended absences, Kemba Walker went down with a knee injury for at least six weeks. Walker had been white-hot, ringing in the new year with six straight games over 28 points from January 3-14.
Bismack Biyombo also went down with a knee injury, so Charlotte is very thin along the front line at the moment. Biyombo had been playing some of the best ball of his career.
Somehow, the Hornets have kept it together. Guys like Cody Zeller and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist have kicked it into high gear, which is encouraging given their limited experience. The Hornets now roll into February in sole possession of the East's No. 8 spot.
We are going to be breaking down each week of this month, highlighting the most notable matchups and predicting weekly records. After that January, the outlook for February will be much less bleak, even without Walker.
Due to the All-Star break, Charlotte has just nine games in February. It has already started the month off wonderfully with a tough 92-88 win in Washington over the Wizards on Feb. 2, so let's see how it might be able to extend that momentum.
Week 1: February 1-7
1 of 4
Games: at Washington Wizards (W), Washington Wizards, at Philadelphia 76ers
Most Notable Matchup: Washington
Charlotte did a fantastic job opening February with a big win on the road in the nation's capital. After the win, head coach Steve Clifford had a noteworthy take on coping without a healthy Kemba Walker.
"We have a couple of guys who are going to have to score every night," Clifford said, per Joseph White of The Associated Press, via Yahoo Sports. "Al's going to have to score, I believe Gerald will score every night, and then I think it'll be different guys different nights."
Clifford was referring to guys like MKG. No player has stepped up for this team quite like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, the 6'7" former No. 2 overall pick. The third-year pest averaged 11.4 points and 9.4 rebounds in January, including scoring in double figures during each of his past five games for the first time since the first month of his rookie season.
MKG also posted three assists six separate times. Charlotte went 6-0 in those contests.
No matter how well Walker or Jefferson are doing, MKG is the linchpin. He is the engine that keeps this train chugging along, and it is evident lately how much this team needs him. Charlotte should have no trouble with the Sixers, who to their credit have been playing better of late. However, a second consecutive matchup with the Wizards will be tough.
The Hornets will look to press many of the same buttons against Washington as they did in the previous matchup. Charlotte has the ability to control the pace of the game and keep John Wall and Bradley Beal from wreaking havoc in the open floor. The Wiz shot 40.7 percent in the Feb. 2 matchup and scored just 10 points on fast breaks. They also got just four points from Marcin Gortat down low, and only 30 overall in the paint. The way Charlotte is going lately, they should be able to dial up another performance like this.
Charlotte has won four in a row at home, allowing 80 points or less in each. A red-hot MKG not only provides added offense, but he gets the whole squad going on the defensive end. The Wizards have lost three in a row, and they have a meeting in Atlanta with the Hawks the night before they head to Charlotte. You know the Hawks will be looking to avenge the end of their 19-game winning streak.
Prediction: 3-0
Week 2: February 8-14
2 of 4
Games: Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons
Most Notable Matchup: Detroit
Charlotte hasn't seen the Pistons yet in 2014-15, and their first meeting should be fun. The Pistons are suffering from similar injury woes at the point guard position with Brandon Jennings out for the year, and they are playing extremely well since dealing Josh Smith to the Houston Rockets.
Detroit's overwhelming strength is the frontcourt. Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe are two handfuls who will give the Hornets everything they can handle. Those big guys will prove the biggest test of all as to how rejuvenated Charlotte's defense is, especially that of Jefferson and Zeller. That has the potential to be a dangerous battle on the glass, but Drummond and Monroe are not the kind of players who will tear you apart in the scoring column. Guys like MKG and Stephenson will look to carve up Detroit's subpar backcourt and bench.
Two home games heading into the break will give Charlotte ample time to rest up for a push down the stretch. The Pacers are swooning after a spirited start to the season, so Charlotte could make quick work of them. Charlotte smothered them on Jan. 17, blanketing the Pacers to just 71 points in an overtime victory. Indiana missed 19 of 21 threes and turned the ball over 19 times. It would take a lot for them to pull off an upset this time around.
Call me crazy, but Charlotte is setting itself up to head into All-Star Weekend on a nice little streak.
Prediction: 2-0
Week 3: February 21-28
3 of 4
Games: Oklahoma City Thunder, at Dallas Mavericks, at Chicago Bulls, at Boston Celtics
Most Notable Matchup: Chicago
The Hornets have lost six of seven against the Chicago Bulls dating back to 2012-13. They could find themselves colliding with Chicago in the postseason, and the Hornets need to continue to validate themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
OKC and Dallas will be huge matchups as well with two unfamiliar foes. Both are trending downward at the moment, and they are susceptible to being stymied by Charlotte's rejuvenated defensive efforts. The Celtics have fully embraced their rebuild and will be fodder to the Hornets provided they don't play down to the competition.
This will be the only tough stretch of February for Charlotte, but it will finally be able to catch its breath during the break and hopefully be a little healthier for that run. At Chicago will be the biggest battle of the month, pitting two defensive-minded coaches against one another. If Charlotte can neutralize Pau Gasol and have MKG do a number on Jimmy Butler, it can definitely swipe one from the Bulls.
Look for Charlotte to take advantage of the Celtics and Mavericks matchups, but fall just short against OKC and at Chicago. The Thunder are simply too talented to be toiling around outside the playoff picture, and the All-Star break will give them time to recuperate and get Kevin Durant healthy. The Bulls are in a similar scenario. Even though they are just 13-11 at home, they will pull that one out due to their depth.
Prediction: 2-2
February Prediction
4 of 4
The Hornets finally got on the right path in January, and there is no reason to believe that doesn't continue in February.
Charlotte has a handful of easier games sprinkled throughout the month, which should serve as ways to build up confidence for the tougher battles with Chicago and Dallas. Walker isn't coming back in the immediate future, but Clifford's troops have rallied around Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Gerald Henderson of all people, with Lance Stephenson using his playmaking ability to ease the pain.
The supporting cast stepping up is keeping this team afloat. Even Noah Vonleh is chipping in. However, the Hornets will still need more from Zeller and Henderson to keep pace. Zeller looks very comfortable, but he has not been as assertive as fans would like to see. Whipping up on teams like Philly and Indiana could hopefully build his confidence up even more.
The injuries to Stephenson, Walker and Jefferson this season have revealed somewhat of a blessing in disguise. It has given the other players more of a defined role. Now with the big guns working their way back in, things are going much more smoothly. Basketball is fun again in Charlotte, and we can only hope February will bring more of the same.
February Prediction: 7-2
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