Charlotte Hornets Have Guns To Make A Run In Eastern Conference
When the Charlotte Bobcats made the playoffs last season, they drew the Miami Heat in the first round, which resulted in a quick loss (as it did for everyone but the San Antonio Spurs over the last four years.) With the new season right around the corner, it’s time to make predictions about how teams will perform. This Hornets team is better than their playoff squad last year, especially with Lance Stephenson in the backcourt now. The Hornets have lacked explosiveness the past couple of years, and Stephenson gives the team a lot more than Gerald Henderson did last year (who is now the sixth man).
In my opinion, the Hornets are the fifth-best team in the Eastern Conference this season behind the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards and ahead of the Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks. If this is the case going into the playoffs, then Charlotte will be matched up with Miami for the second straight postseason.
There are several reasons why people are high on this Hornets team, and the biggest reason is their defense and newly acquired talent. If Steve Clifford could get last year’s team to the playoffs, then the 2014-15 team should excel. Take a hypothetical playoff matchup with the Heat as an example.
Kemba Walker can out-duel Mario Chalmers or Shabazz Napier. Lance Stephenson would have no problem defending a decaying Dwyane Wade. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist would matchup with Luol Deng very well. Deng would have a tough time dropping buckets against the Hornets’ best defender. Marvin Williams would struggle mightily against Chris Bosh. Al Jefferson would dominate whatever big man the Heat throw at him, as he does with most big men.
This Hornets team has some serious talent and has the ability to out-play many of the teams in the East. Even though they have a lot of questions at the power forward spot, the rest of their lineup looks promising moving towards the start of the season.
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