2017/18, Charlotte Hornets | Analysis

2017-2018, Charlotte Hornets

In the present day NBA, any fan or anyone who has a certain insight or knowledge of the game, knows the biggest teams in the league. Everyone seems to know Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and of course the reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Though this is the case, it is hard to ignore or forget to talk about the Charlotte Hornets due to their young core, and especially if the owner of the team is a guy named Michael Jordan. Jordan acquired the Hornets (known as the Bobcats during the time) in 2010, and since then, the Hornets made the postseason three times. However, though that is the case, the Hornets have not been able to get past the first round, losing to the Orlando Magic in a 4-0 sweep during the 2010 playoffs and the Miami Heat twice in 2014 and 2016 postseasons. Though this may seem deceiving, the fans in Charlotte, North Carolina should be optimistic when looking towards the future of this franchise.

At the end of the 2015-2016 NBA season, Hornets fans had every reason to be satisfied with their team’s performance. That season, the Hornets finished with a 48-34, having been placed 6^th in the Eastern Conference. Though the East is known to not having as good competition as the West, this was still a significant improvement for the franchise, especially when compared to their 33-49 record in the previous season. So, the Hornets were only going to get better from here on out, right? Well, that wasn’t the case for the 2016-2017 NBA season. The Hornets finished the season with a record of 36-46, having been placed 11^th in the Eastern Conference. Though having a 7-3 record from their first 10 games of the 16-17 campaign, finding a consistency was tough. The Hornets were constantly being either a game or two above or below the .500 mark. On Monday, January 16^th, it was the first time in the season in which the Hornets fell one game below .500 with a record of 20-21 in the hands of the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas of the Celtics dropped 35 points to lead all scorers. At the end of the month, the Hornets record dropped to 23-26 on January 31^st against Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. To say the least, the month of February was a complete debacle for the Hornets. Out of the eleven games played, Charlotte would end up with a record of 3-8 for the month. The silver lining to all of this were the teams they played and where they played time. Four of these games were played at home, while seven were on the road. The Hornets almost clinched the win against the Los Angeles Clippers, but came up short and lost 124-121 in overtime at the Staples Center. Though they were neck and neck against the Clippers, it still didn’t change the fact that Hornets were in a slump when it came to their performance on the court. April, the last month of the regular season, the Hornets would drop five of their last six games, ending the season 36-46. The one win the Hornets were able to get was notable, however: The Hornets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-101 in Oklahoma City. They were able to get the win, even with Russell Westbrook notching his 40^th triple-double of the season by scoring 40 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists.

After a season that turned out to be mediocre, though showed promise in the beginning, the Hornets and the Charlotte faithful shouldn’t have their heads down. Kemba Walker, the 9^th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, took this game to another level during the 16-17 season. He was nominated as an NBA All-Star, the first Bobcat/Hornet to do since Gerald Wallace in 2010. Walker also improved in regards to this stats, averaging a career best 23.2 PPG, and shooting 44% from the field all by playing in 79 games. It is easy to say that Walker “lived up to the hype”? Walker played three seasons for the University of Connecticut under legendary college basketball coach, Jim Calhoun. During this Junior year as a Husky, Walker was the talk of college basketball alongside that season’s National college player of the Year, Brigham Young’s Jimmer Fredette; the two were compared often throughout the season. Walker finished the season having averaged 23.5 PPG, while shooting 42% from the field and 81% from the charity stripe, all from playing in 41 games. With such a performance all throughout the season the 2010-2011 College Basketball season, Walker took UConn to the promise land by winning the NCAA National Championship against coach Brad Stevens and the Butler Bulldogs on April 4^th, 2011 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. It is easy for one to say that Walker transitioned well into the league, improving his stats year in and year out. In terms of leadership, Walker seems to be the go to man. Though that is the case, do the Hornets have enough depth to be considered a contender in the following years to come? A short answer would be, yes. By looking at the Charlotte Hornets from the 16-17 season, it would seem as if they have some of the most notable college basketball players from recent times.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, an NCAA Champion alongside a “stacked” Kentucky Wildcat team with Anthony Davis and Marquis Teague, was drafted in 2^nd overall in 2012. Cody Zeller, a First Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten Freshman of the Year for Indiana University under coach Tom Crean, was picked 2^nd overall in 2013. Lastly, Frank Kaminsky, the National college player of the Year during the 2014-2015 College basketball season, was picked 9^th overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. With such notable college basketball players, what was the problem? There were also veterans, such as Marvin Williams, 2^nd overall in 2005, Nicolas Batum, picked in 2008, and Marco Belinelli, 18^th overall in 2007 and an NBA Champion with San Antonio in 2014. The simple answer to their struggles would be depth. Charlotte needs a quality backup point guard for Walker. With Ramon Sessions not having nearly as good of quality play compared to Walker, the Hornets went out of their way to sign former Rookie of Year, Michael Carter Williams.

The organization also decided to draft Kentucky Freshman sensation, Malik Monk in the 2017 NBA Draft. Monk will have to fight for minutes this upcoming season, though if proven, he will earn playing time. Dwayne Bacon, picked 40^th overall, will add more depth for the shooting guard position. With the leadership and guidance of Nicholas Batum as a shooting guard and the departure of Marco Belinelli, Bacon will find his spot on the team within time. Whether it was Shaquille O’Neal for the Lakers, or David Robinson for the Spurs, each team in the league needs a solid big man. Dwight Howard, who jumped from high school to the NBA in 2004, has been moved around the league quite a few times since leaving the Orlando Magic in 2012. Though this upcoming season, the Hornets organization seem excited to work with the 8x NBA All-Star. According to an article by Scott Fowler for the Charlotte Observer, Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, who worked with Howard when he was an assistant in Orlando, had this to say: “I’m excited about working with Dwight again. He brings a defensive mindset, shot blocking ability and a level of physicality that will be a huge asset for us.” The word defensive would be an understatement. Howard is a 3x NBA Defensive Player of the Year, winning the award for three straight seasons from 2009 through 2011. With the departure of Miles Plumlee, the backup rotation for the big men will consist of Howard, Zeller, and Kaminsky. With Howard’s experience and skill, hopefully he can guide both Zeller and Kaminsky with their continuing transition and development into the league. For Howard, the fans can only hope that he returns to the form he once had with the Orlando Magic.

For the upcoming 2017-2018 NBA season, the Hornets could make the playoffs as a 5^th seed at best. With Jimmy Butler and Paul George now in the West, the Eastern Conference has been weakened again. Though, this should be in favor of the Charlotte Hornets. If the All-Stars players and veterans work together, along with the former college stars, the Hornets can be a dominate force in years to come. Though that does sound hopefully, it can only be done with sheer discipline and commitment from the players and coaches. Will the Hornets get a top lottery pick once again in the 2018 NBA Draft, or will they be good enough to the point where they won’t need to? This question remains unanswered, well until the season starts, that is.