Charlotte Hornets (10th in Eastern Conference)
The question is not about what’s happening in Charlotte, but why is it happening? The Hornets sit at the 10th spot in the East, five games back of where the team finished at the conclusion of last year’s campaign. Here’s a team that should be in the 4-5 seed range in a very weak Eastern Conference, but find themselves outside the top 8 and in need of a run in the ensuing months. It wasn’t long ago that Charlotte looked like they found their stride with the young pool of talent present on the roster.
More from Sir Charles In Charge
- Dillon Brooks proved his value to Houston Rockets in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
- NBA Trade Rumors: 1 Player from each team most likely to be traded in-season
- Golden State Warriors: Buy or sell Chris Paul being a day 1 starter
- Does Christian Wood make the Los Angeles Lakers a legit contender?
- NBA Power Rankings: Tiering all 30 projected starting point guards for 2023-24
The Hornets started the season (6-1) and were atop the East with studs like Kemba Walker finding his own, Frank Kaminsky acting as a weapon off the bench and the emergence of Nick Batum after being injured early.
Walker was shooting an exceptional percentage from three-point land (43.4 ) to start the season, but that has dropped below 40 percent now. Struggling the most is Walker’s inability to score close to the basket. In shots ranging in three feet or less, Walker is shooting a dismal (.317) percentage.
With teams recognizing the dribble-drive threat, the pressure for Walker to find the stroke near the rim is sooner than later. With Cody Zeller out since January 24 (quadriceps contusion), the Hornets have struggled to find success on offense with the pick and roll, a staple to Kemba Walker’s effectiveness to score and spread the floor.
With only six matchups against teams currently in the top 4 of the Eastern Conference remaining on the schedule, the Hornets have a reasonable chance to improve the 2016-17 season with the parity within the East. Things need to turn around fast as guys are already hitting the panic button. Per Tom Sorenson of The Charlotte Observer, Nicolas Batum guaranteed a win over the Sixers on Monday. Yes, the Sixers. That result, Charlotte would go on to lose 105-99, and their third straight at home . . . times have definitely changed in Buzz City.